Lennestadt

Steep mountain slopes flank the Lenne valley and its side valleys. They would promise great views if it weren't for the forests. Although they are no longer as dense everywhere as they used to be, they are growing back quickly. Without towers, hikers would be denied many a view.

Tower enjoyment

The Rhein-Weser-Turm and the Aussichtsturm Hohe Bracht are two of the most famous Sauerland viewing towers in the south of the Sauerland-Wanderdorf. Another thing the two towers have in common is the delightful gastronomy in the tower. But there are many more towers to discover.

The approach from Elspe to Hachen is narrow and steep - a road into the sky. You'd think you'd arrived at the hiking parking lot at the top. But far from it: the parking lot is located on a mountain saddle. At least it feels like it's even steeper and much further uphill on foot from there. We are also in a bit of a hurry. On the horizon, clouds constantly threaten to swallow up the picturesque winter evening light. Gray in gray would not be the right start for our hunt for the winter light. Cozy, chewing cows look after us, frantically panting hikers. An uncomprehending shake of the head would probably be too much movement for them. I make notes in my head: picturesque cow pasture in still autumnal lush green with a distant view in blue, hiking trail in the setting sun, bench in an orange leaf frame with a great view - these would all be good photo motifs if there was time. We're in a race with the clouds.

Our destination is the lesser-known Wallburgturm on a mountain spur above Elspe, where the Lenne and Elspe valleys meet. Fortunately, the clouds fly a curve around the sun. In the most beautiful light of a winter evening, we can enjoy the view from the tower, catch our breath and press the shutter release again and again. If you don't have to race against them, as a photographer you're happy about clouds. A pure blue sky would be boring! There's even enough time to catch up on the motifs you've written down in your head on the descent. The result is a perfect winter sunset on the southern slope of the Weilenscheid. Shooting a cover photo candidate on the first evening is not a bad start to the photo project.

A race like this makes you hungry. A cosy inn would be just the thing right now, but there's a catch: even when the sun has disappeared behind the horizon, the remaining clouds are still colored by it in rich tones. And from the east, the royal blue of the night sky works its way westwards. This spectacle of color is such an important part of the winter light that it is not to be missed. However, our hungry and now frozen hiking companions' receptiveness to these celestial beauties is dwindling. And you can't see the sky in the cozy Sauerland half-timbered inns. Fortunately, there is a solution nearby: two old cable car gondolas with a perfect all-round view of the Lennestadt mountains and the colorful theater in the sky are located at a vantage point next to the Hohe Bracht. They can be pre-heated if ordered in advance - which significantly increases everyone's enjoyment of the winter sky colors. The feel-good atmosphere is rounded off by a table that has been installed between the gondola benches, or to be more precise: by what now sits on this table: a sumptuous fondue for up to four people - a gondola fondue with a view of a heavenly winter light and color theater. Our introduction to the hunt for Sauerland winter light could not be better.

Klaus-Peter Kappe