Editorial

I recently conducted an interview with the innkeeper couple at one of Sauerland's leading hiking hotels: located in the middle of the forest, family-run in the seventh generation and with fresh, regional produce on the menu. When I asked them which guests come to stay with them, I got an answer that I had expected: first of all, it was the "summer visitors" who wanted to escape their everyday city life for two or three weeks. As the name suggests, they only came in the summer, but for two to three weeks. The summer retreat is now a thing of the past. The next generation of guests only came for a few days: briefly out into the countryside to quickly recharge their batteries over the weekend, which was at best a little longer. However, the second part of the answer to the question about the nature of the guests surprised me: the number of guests with longer stays is increasing significantly again. These are the people for whom short journeys and the smallest possible ecological footprint are important for their own vacation. It is becoming fashionable to travel just one or two hours to a vacation destination - at any time of year. What an opportunity for the Sauerland!

The people of Sauerland have created - first and foremost for themselves - an environment in which it is good to live, a real home. The clean villages with uniform building regulations, which convey a sense of security and comfort, form the basis for this. The togetherness, voluntary work, club life and simply: "don't talk, get stuck in" build on this. And the people of Sauerland are always willing to share their self-created homeland with guests to offer them a temporary home. In addition, active farming is still widespread, with more and more self-marketing and farm stores. Fresh, clean, sustainably produced, authentic regional products characterize the menus and can be taken home as souvenirs. Old varieties and recipes are being rediscovered.

Experiencing nature, hiking and - thanks to e-bikes - now also cycling have become experiences for everyone and, above all, for every season. Winter is no longer just the time for various types of skiing. It is therefore only logical to take a closer look at what the Sauerland-Wanderdorf villages and their nature have to offer, especially in winter.

The following stories are merely examples and make no claim to be exhaustive. Almost all the offers described can be found in almost every Sauerland-Wanderdorf. And if you take a closer look, you will find many more experiences. As a photographer, it is of course the light in nature that is of great value to me. When I set off in winter, I go hunting for winter light.

Klaus-Peter Kappe, 2024