Day 3/3 Natursteig Sieg - stage 5 - from Eitorf to HerchenThis time I shortened the access route a little and took the bus to Eitorf train station.
At 9 o'clock I tortured myself back up the mountain that I had just walked down yesterday.
The first half of the stage was very nice, again rich in forests, but with a few views. I also saw deer again.
In the second part, the path went through cleared pine forests again. More on that in a moment.
After I left this behind me, the landscape became a little more beautiful and so did the paths.
At 2:30 p.m. I arrived at the Hotel Löwenburg.
As the storm is forecast for tomorrow, this was my last day of hiking. There are also a lot of dead pines in the next stage, so it's too dangerous for me.My conclusion on the first 5 stages: There are a few nice sections, but unfortunately the path mostly leads through forest. Also, there is little to see and few views, in my opinion.
But the worst is the dead and cleared pine forests. Often it goes for miles like through apocalyptic deserts. The drought and the bark beetle did a great job here. And who is to blame? We!
As sorry as I am for nature, this is not a nice hike, especially since trails have been destroyed by the forest machines.
Therefore I do not think that I will continue to hike the natural trail. I cannot give a recommendation for the first 5 stages.

Thank you for your honest, informative comment and detailed description.

😥🌲 unfortunately not only on the Natursteig Sieg. I did the stage a few years ago and thought it was beautiful. But there is a lot of forest, that's true

I can imagine that it was her. All the more a shame that it is so now

Uii stages 4 & 5 would have been my next goals .. maybe I better skip them and try a later stage! Thanks for the report.

Maybe in a few years "grass" will have grown over it, and then it will be more beautiful again. Stage 7 should be nice. Have fun