The Splendour of the Schwarzwald (Satis Shroff)

The SPLENDOUR OF THE SCHWARZWALD (Satis Shroff)

A wonderful 12 kilometre walk in the Schwarzwald countryside

First by train then on foot through the fresh snow.

You breathe in the fresh Schwarzwald air

On your way to the wild romantic Feldsee,

Hidden near the Bärental (bear valley),

At an elevation of 1108m,

The highest lake in the Black Forest.

 
You discern the silence of the snowy woods.

No cricket, no grasshoppers,

No croaks of frogs and no bird cries.

Winter demands energy and activity

Be kept low.

The snow stifles the noise.

Nature in winter sleep.

You walk along the snow-trail from Bärental,

Made by a wanderer like you,

Who was earlier in the virgin snow.

The crunching of your boots

Is the only sound you hear,

As you march at your pace

Over the glittering snow top.

Stille.

You listen to the silence

Of the snow-covered Schwarzwald.

Not even the Zermatt is so quiet

As the Schwarzwald in winter.

After a long, exhausting 6km uphill walk from Bärental

You make for the Berggasthütte,

A hut with a farmer’s warm stube for mountains guests,

Known for its warm cuisine.
You can spend the night in a hut of your choice:

Räuberhütte, Sägerhäusle or Raimartihütte.

The meadows and forests in the vicinity

Provide sanctuary to the wild animals,

Covered with a thick mantle of snow.

The Feldsee lies at the foot of the highest peak Feldberg.

The Schwarzwälder are proud of its height:

1493 metres above sea level.

It is still snowing outside as you peer

Through the small Schwarzwälder window.

Snow flakes like strewn feathers,

Flying about and landing on twigs,

Rooftops, pine trees and on the ground.

After fortifying yourself with warm goulash soup and tea,

You bid Aufwiederseh’n and leave the hut.

The sun is fading in the west,

As you trudge back to the Valley of Bears.

You see Feldberg fading in the distance.

The snow is knee deep as you trudge downhill.

Now and then cross-country skiers pass by.

You’re pleased that you’ve seen

The splendour and Stille of the Schwarzwald.

Glossary:

Bärental: Valley of Bears

Räuberhütte: robber’s hut

 Sägerhäusle: Saw miller’s hut

 Raimartihütte: hut belonging to Raimarti

Stille: silence

Schwarzwald: Black Forest

Stube: warm living room

Aufwiedersehen: see you again, bye