Could someone gives us advise on a 10 day hike at the Black Forest, out of the tourist clock traders trail? We would like to hike about 30kms/day, carry our rucksack with us and stay at little villages or farms. we don´t care if we miss the highlights of the area, we want to avoid tour buses. any place in the web we can find maps of the trails?

Try the german national tourist office and get their info on 'Wandern ohne Gepack' - walking without luggage, a program where they take luggage between towns. This will give you some idea of routes.<BR><BR>Check for good maps - 1:50,000 from <BR>RV Reise - Verkehrsverlag, Postfach 800863, D-7000 Stuttgart 80 <BR>(hope the address is ok, my map is 24 yrs old)

hi there,<BR>I'm not a hiker, so it is not easy for me to give You advice. Also it is not easy for anyone, for the route is always a very special thing. If You hace a little time, I can ask a friend of mine who's very familar in the "Schwarzwald" so he will give a few real good tips. But he is out till next Thusday. <BR><BR>Anyway: the adress steve gave You is an old one, and I cant find RV in any list. But YOu can take a look at:<BR>www.amazon.de<BR>There You will find every guide and mape that is issued actualy in Germany. They also have english books but I dont know whether there are traveling guide on this. Just try. <BR>My tips for hiking maps (dont know if they are for sell outside Germany9:<BR><BR>Wandern im Schwarzwald, Tl.2, 25 begehbare Wanderwege, autor: Werner Nestler, price: DM 16,90,108 pages, published by: Baden Verlag, ISBN: 3934574017<BR> <BR>Or: 8 Sterne im südlichen Schwarzwald, map 1 : 30 000, Atlasco Wanderkarte Blatt 211, price: DM 11,80, published byHaupka Verlag, ISBN: 388495783X<BR><BR>Drop me a line if You are interessted in more, so I ask my friend.<BR><BR>have fun<BR>Gar<BR><BR>

hi Cristina,<BR>not so shure whether You got my mail (26.June)for I got it sent back by the mailrooter. just give me a wink<BR>Gar

hi Cristina,<BR><BR>so sorry, Your mail dont work with me on two different servers. "Adress unknown" is the message, even when I do a replay. Funny technics. Perhaps Your server has to be online to get mails ... Anyway - so I let my message in this forum:<BR><BR>Hi Cristina,<BR><BR>August is a pretty good time to go for this. It could<BR>be warm/hot, but the weather is very solid. The books<BR>I’ve recommanded last time are only in German, but<BR>I’ve found one (and it lokks like it is the only one)<BR>in English. You will also found in the www.amazon.de<BR>shop. <BR><BR>Landmark Visitors Guide: Black Forest, autors: Grant<BR>Korner-Bourne, Sabine Korner-Bourne; price: EUR 20,78;<BR>239 pages; edited: Landmark Publishing Ltd; ISBN:<BR>1901522393 <BR>Synopsis: With the motorist or independent traveller<BR>in mind, this book explores one of Germany's most<BR>popular holiday destinations along carefully chosen<BR>routes of scenic and historic interest. It takes<BR>visitors from the baroque town of Karlsruhe in the<BR>north, to the splendid mountain scenery of the south.<BR>Apart from practical tips on where to go and what to<BR>see, the authors also provide background information<BR>on the distinctive customs and culture of this densely<BR>forested region. Whether you want to know how the<BR>cuckoo got into the cuckoo clock, or simply need a<BR>hotel for the night, this book sets out to provide the<BR>key. <BR><BR>I’m not shure whether You can shop at amazon, but if<BR>You give You local bookstore the ISBN (international<BR>issue number) and the autor, they might find those<BR>book too. Just try. <BR><BR>"Wandern ohne Gepaeck" means "hiking without luggage",<BR>so I think it is a programm where You have prebooked<BR>hotels and a luggage transportation. If they dont get<BR>You any information about this (and more) drope me a<BR>line, perhaps I can get this better. <BR><BR>I‘m located between Leonberg and Pforzheim, so I can<BR>go 5 minutes by car to see the first trees of the<BR>Black Wood. Not to far, so I know a little about this<BR>part of Germany. You are right, the north is not to<BR>crowded with tourists, but the south is the typical<BR>Black Wood area with the small canyons and the old<BR>houses. But also the north has ist moments. Starting<BR>from Karlsruhe You will find a lot of culture. Beeing<BR>in the south there is more nature. I’ll ask my friend<BR>and do a little peek in a guidebook on the weekend, so<BR>I can give You a few points to make up Your mind. The<BR>tourists are only on a very few points: Freudenstadt,<BR>Triberg, Titisee ... And it is not that bad as perhaps<BR>on the hot spots of the Canary islands. Even if You<BR>have to go to such a point, You can leave in a few<BR>minutes and dont see anyone for hours. Few more<BR>Questions from me: How do You get to Germany? By<BR>airplane to Frankfurt? How do You get along? Just<BR>hiking or using also a car or buses/trains? <BR><BR>So let it be this for now, I give You a mail next week. Till that, greetings from sunny Germany<BR>Gar

Hi Cristina - I recently sent similar information to a gentleman planning to hike the Westweg from Pforzheim down to Basel in eleven days. That trail is broken down into 11 basic stages with just about the same amount of hiking that you plan to do each day. My email to him included possible farms to stay at along the way and other guesthouses near the end of each stage. If you are interested in the same information I would be glad to forward it to you if you send me your correct email address. If you prefer to walk a different route - I would be glad to assist you with farms and zimmer frei located along the trails. Ben<BR>http://www.bensbauernhof.com