One of the most important things on my PCT checklist was the visa for the USA, as here a simple ESTA visa (only valid for citizens of a “Visa Waiver Program” country) for 90 days is not sufficient, instead a “Business / Tourist Visa – B1 / B2” is required. An important part for the visa application is the form DS-160, which I will introduce here also a little more precisely.
With a business/tourist visa – B1 / B2 you can stay in the USA for a maximum of 180 days per entry. Since the average hiker needs 150 days for the PCT, this visa is perfect.
With this little help I would like to show you how I got my visa. Before you start to apply for a visa, be sure to check the USTRAVELDOCS Business / Tourist Visa website. All important information for the B1 / B2 visa is summarized there.
Since it is very likely that my information will not match yours, it is important that you provide your own information truthfully. Some fields in the forms are not always clear, so I try to explain them.
However, there is no guarantee for a visa with this assistance, as this is always at the discretion of U.S. officials!
With the following 4 steps I will show you what to do to get a B1 / B2 visa for the USA.
If you don’t have a recent photo, have a coloured passport photo taken
Fill in form DS-160
Pay the visa application fee and arrange an interview at the respective embassy/consulate.
Go to the interview appointment and complete the interview
The central contact point for visa applications and the DS-160 form is https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/. On this page you can test if your photo complies with the photo regulations and start, upload or edit your visa application.
Create a Photo and Test it
The first step is to have a passport photo taken of you. Click here for the photo regulations. If your photo meets the standards, you can test it on the DS-160 form page (https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/). IMPORTANT: Since November 1, 2016, glasses are no longer allowed on photos!
Link to the test page for the photo
I scanned my passport photo and uploaded it for testing. However, scanned images have different terms than digital images. The photograph shall be square, colour, 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) and 300 dpi resolution.
If the photo meets the standards and passes the test, you will receive the following confirmation:
Confirmation of passed photo test
The DS-160 Form
If you meet all the requirements for the DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Form, you can start filling out the form. To do this, go to the following page: https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/
Start of Application Process
On the website you first have to specify the city where you want to apply for the US visa. This is also where the interview is held for the visa afterwards. For Germany you can choose Berlin, Frankfurt am Main and Munich. Then start the application by clicking on “Start an Application“.
Visa application home page
IMPORTANT: On the following page you will receive your access data (Application ID) for processing your visa. Make a note of these dates if you want to edit the form later or if you can’t finish it the first time. I also recommend that you save your data on a regular basis, as the sessions for processing the visa are not exactly stable and you don’t know exactly when a session for processing the visa has expired. Oh yes, and an answer to a “secret question” must also be given.
Application information for the visa
Personal Information 1
On the first page of the visa application you enter first name and surname. The part “Full Name in native alphabet” is only to be filled in if your name is not in Latin letters in the passport. In this case just click on “Does not apply”.
One of the most frequently asked questions about the first page is: What is the Telecode? The telecode is a unique conversion code for 16,356 Chinese characters organized in two levels. For German names there is no telecode and here you can simply click on “No“.
To understand what a telecode is, I have a small example for you. I translated my first name in Google Translator into simple Mandarin (Chinese) and then converted it into a telecode generator. My name “Martin” in Mandarin “้ฉฌไธ” (Mวdฤซng) would therefore have the telecode “7456 0002“. But like I said, you can just click “No” here.
Example for a Telecode
All other data such as gender, date of birth, place of birth, marital status etc. are actually self-explanatory. For Germans: at the birthplace you can click in the area “State/Province” “Does not apply”. My details:
Full Name in nativ Alphabet: DOES NOT APPLY
Do you have a Telecode that represents your Name?: NO
Date and Place of Birth – State/Province: DOES NOT APPLY
Form DS – 160 – Page 1 – Personal information I
Personal Information 2
In the Personal Information 2 you only need to enter your citizenship as a German, or both in the case of dual citizenship.
With “National Identification Number”, “U.S. Social Security Number” and “U.S. Taxpayer ID Number” I clicked “Does not Apply” everywhere. If you have already lived in the USA and applied for a Social Security Number, enter it in the field below. My details:
National Identification Number: DOES NOT APPLY
U.S. Social Security Number: DOES NOT APPLY
U.S. Taxpayer ID Number:ย DOES NOT APPLY
Form DS – 160 – Page 2 – Personal data II
Address and phone
Enter your address, telephone numbers and e-mail address in the next field. At “State/Province” you can click on “Does not apply” if you are german. It is important that the country code of the telephone number is not given in +49 but in 0049 format. My details:
State/Province: DOES NOT APPLY
Form DS – 160 – page 3 – address and telephone number
Passport
On the fourth page of the form you enter the data of your passport. In the field “Passport/Travel Document Type” I have selected “REGULAR”. On “Passport Book Number”, enter “Does not Apply” if you are a German. My details:
Passport/Travel Document Type:ย REGULAR
Passport Book Number: DOES NOT APPLY
Form DS – 160 – Page 4 – Passport
Travels
The “Travel” page is one of the most important pages in the form, as concrete travel plans are given here. I filled out the document as follows:
Purpose of Trip to the U.S.: TEMP. BUSINESS PLEASURE VISITOR (B)
Specify: TOURISM/MEDICAL TREATMENT (B2)
As I didn’t know for which date I would receive a PCT Permit during the visa application process, I indicated “NO” for specific travel plans and the planned arrival date was April 1, 2019. For the duration of my stay I have chosen 6 months.
Have you made specific travel plans?: NO
Intended Date of Arrival: 01. APRIL 2019
Intended Length of Stay in U.S.: 6 MONTH(S)
If you want to enter the USA, you will need to provide an address where you will be staying. Here you can enter the address of local friends you have visited before, or of Trail Angles who offer this (for example Scout and Frodo in San Diego) or of your hotel where you will stay the first nights. However, you should check with the hotel to see if this is in order.
Form DS – 160 – Page 5 – Travel
Travel Companions
If you are travelling alone, simply fill out this form and click “No”. If you travel with a travel group or friends, you must enter their details here. My details:
Are there other persons traveling with you?: NO
Form DS – 160 – Page 6 – Passengers
Previous USA Trips
On this page you can indicate whether you have visited the USA before or if you have been denied a visa application. You will also need to indicate if someone else has submitted a visa application in your name. Since none of the cases applied to me, I could negate anything. My details:
Have you ever been in the U.S.?: NO
Have you ever been issued a U.S. Visa?: NO
Have you ever been refused a U.S. Visa, or been refused admission to the United States, or withdrawn your application for admission at the port of entry?: NO
Have you ever been denied travel authorisation by the Department of Homeland Security through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation: NO
Has anyone ever filed an immigrant petition on your behalf with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services?: NO
Form DS – 160 – page 7 – previous US trips
USA Contact
For the further processing of the visa it is now necessary to specify a contact person from the USA, who can confirm your identity if necessary. If you don’t know anyone
Form DS – 160 – Page 8 – Contact person in the USA
in the USA personally, you can also enter the address of Trail Angels if they offer this. You’d better check with them first, though.
Family
On the ninth page of the form the names and dates of birth of your parents as well as close and distant relatives in the USA are queried.
Form DS – 160 – Page 9 – Family Information
Work, Education and Training Information
Present: The area of work, training and further education is divided into three parts: “present”, “past” and “additional information”. On page 10 of the form, the current employer, training place or college/university with address and monthly income is queried. In addition, a description of the activity, training or study is required.
Form DS – 160 – page 10 – current job, training or studies
Past: In the second section you will be asked about the previous employers and positions of the last 5 years. For this not only the addresses but also the names of your former supervisors are queried.
Form DS – 160 – page 11 – previous jobs or studies in the last 5 years
Additional information: In the last part of the area additional information is requested. This includes the question whether you belong to a clan or tribe, what languages you speak and to which countries you have travelled in the last 5 years.
Additionally there are questions about the affiliation of paramilitary or insurgent groups or if you have a special training with special weapons. Even if these questions seem strange to you, you should take them seriously and answer them truthfully. The whole thing could look like this:
Form DS – 160 – Page 12 – Additional Information
Security and Background
The Security and Background section has 5 parts and should be taken very seriously as it deals with very personal questions.
An important note on the website is that a question answered with “YES” does not automatically mean that you are not eligible for a visa. If a question has been answered with “YES”, you may have to appear in person before a consular officer who will clarify the answer in a personal interview.
In the first part, questions are asked about the state of health (illnesses, psychological illness, drug addiction).
In the second part, questions will be asked about the criminal past, prostitution, money laundering and human trafficking.ย
The third part contains questions on espionage, terrorist activity, killing or mass murder.
The penultimate section of the Security and Background section asks whether you have ever tried (or helped) to obtain a US visa through fraud, intentional misrepresentation, or other illegal means.
In the last part, questions on custody, electoral fraud and US citizenship renunciation of tax evasion are asked.
If you have truthfully filled in all five parts, proceed to the photo.
Photo
On the first page of the photo form, you will find the note that since November 1, 2016, glasses are no longer permitted on photos. Then click on the upload button and a new page will open. Here you can select and upload your image file. Then the message should come that your photo has passed the quality standards.
Upload Photo
Summary and Confirmation
The next step takes you to the “Review”, where you can check all the information you have entered and change it if necessary.
On the next page a text appears which should be read carefully. Then you sign the form electronically and submit it.
Sign and Submit Form
The Final Confirmation page contains a barcode and must be printed out and brought to the visa interview.
Visa Fee and Interview Date
If you have successfully submitted the visa application form, you have to transfer the visa fee afterwards. To do this, go to the website https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/ and create a profile. The fee is displayed in US dollars, but must be paid in euros (in Europe). In my case this was 136,00 โฌ (due to currency fluctuations this can also be more or less).
If you have created a profile click on “New Application/Arrange Appointment” and enter the required data for the visa. In my case:
Visa category: Non-Immigrant Visa Diplomatic representation: Frankfurt Visa category: All Others Visa category: B2
Then enter your passport details and your DS-160 confirmation number.
On the payment page, click on “Payment option”, select a payment method and transfer the money. Here you will receive a reference number which must be kept in order to make an appointment. IMPORTANT: The processing fee for visa applications is non-refundable. All further information about the payment options can be found here: http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/de/de-niv-paymentinfo.asp.
In the last step you arrange an appointment based on your profile and the reference number assigned. My diary looked very good and I got an appointment within 7 days.
The Interview
I was really excited before the interview and collected all the documents meticulously. It’s better to have more information than too little, it’s all about a visa for the USA.
Required Documents:
Passport
DS-160 Confirmation Page
Printed copy of the date confirmation letter
current passport photo (not older than 6 months)
Supporting documents
Payroll of the last 3 months
Letter from my Employer
Statement of Account
Map of the PCT
The security regulations in the US consulates are very high, so be sure to check out the following page again: Safety regulations US Consulate. Electronic equipment may not be brought into the consulate, but may be delivered at the entrance. Since I didn’t know this before, I went to the consulate in Frankfurt with a classic paper ticket of the Deutsche Bahn and without a clock or telephone. Kind of a weird feeling.
After passing through the security check, digital fingerprints are taken and you then queue up at an interview counter. When it was my turn, my pulse and excitement went up. I had a very nice officer who asked me a few questions about the visa, which I answered. Of which the following, among others:
What do you want to do in the US?
What do you do for a living?
How can you afford the trip?
She listened to my answers, thought about it briefly, looked at her computer, looked at me again and said: “Ok, your visa is approved, we will send you your passport via mail. This can take up to two weeks.” I breathed deeply and was super happy. Two weeks later, my passport with a valid visa was in my mailbox.
Conclusion
To get a visa for the USA, there are a few things and documents that need to be well prepared. If you are well structured, this should not be a problem. In the end, of course, the US officials in the consulate always decide whether a visa is issued or not. So there is no guarantee for a visa.
Another important point on my checklist for the Pacific Crest Trail was the PCT Permit, which was not easy to get. Here you can go directly to my article PCT Permit โ You need Luck with your Application.
I hope I could give you with this article a small insight into the process for a US visa. If you liked this article, I’m happy about a Like, a heart or a smile on your face. If you have questions, suggestions or criticism, I look forward to your comments.
For a hike on the Pacific Crest Trail you need a permit that allows you to travel and camp on the PCT. On the website of the PCT Association (PCTA) there are many helpful tips, which only help to a limited extent during the application process.
Why it is so difficult to get a permit for the PCT and why you need a lot of luck in the application process, I’ll show you in this article.
There are two important dates for applying for a PCT permit from Mexico to Canada: 14th November and 15th January. On these two days 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time (19:30 german time) places for the new PCT year will be unlocked. On the 14th of November there will be 35 places per day released and on the 15th of January 15 more places per day. This means a maximum of 50 permits are issued per day. The reason for this action is the protection of nature, which I fully support.
Due to the fact that there is only a relatively small time window to start the PCT, the places from April 1st to May 12th are very popular. These 6 weeks are seen as the optimum time window for the start of the PCT. If you start earlier, the Sierras (which you reach after approx. 7 weeks) can still have too much snow, so that they are not passable. If you start too late, an early arrival of winter at the end of September in Washington can become a real threat.
In this time window of 6 weeks 2,100 places are available. According to PCTA statistics, 4,506 permits were granted for a complete hike (thru-hike) from Mexico to Canada in 2018. If you have chosen a start date like me (April 7th), the chances to get a permit for this day are at an incredible 1.11%. Well, better than nothing.
My first Try
It’s November the 14th, 2018 19:20 german time and I turn on my computer. It is recommended not to come too early to the web page, since you have thereby no advantage. Anyone who comes to the website before 19:30 (10:30 a.m. Pacific Time) gets a random place in the queue.
I go shortly before half past seven to the PCT Permit application page and it opens a screen with a timer and the hint that already 10:10 a.m. Pacific Time more than 2,000 people are in the queue. Oh, uh… if that goes well.
The Queue
At 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time I get my number in the queue… it’s place 3,613, my estimated waiting time is more than an hour…. I quickly estimate my chances for the 7th of April and come to the conclusion that it is practically impossible.
PCT Permit Application Process
After an hour and 55 minutes it’s finally my turn. In the meantime, however, all the available places have been filled in April. I’m going back to March and forward to May. Almost all places are occupied here as well. In addition, you have to make a very fast decision.
I see that on March 23rd only 26 places are occupied and consider whether I should start so early. After a few seconds I make a decision, want to click on the date and get the message that the 35 spots for this day are occupied as well. At this time, all available places are full from March the 10th to May the 25th. I guess that didn’t work.
Stay Calm and look for Alternatives
Confusion, disappointment, anger and a little panic rise in me. I still try to keep calm and think about alternative plans. A look at the PCTA website helps me to make the following considerations.
Plan A: I’ll wait until January 15th and with a little luck I’ll get a permit for the appropriate start date.
Plan B:Recommended procedure on the PCTA website, if you don’t get a permit on the desired date: I start further north from mile 152 at Pines to Pals Scenic Byway CA SR 74, the first point behind the Mexican border where the “max. 50 permits per day” rule no longer applies. Here you can choose your starting date in peace, hike south to the Mexican border and then hitchhike back to the starting point to continue towards Canada.
Plan C: I don’t start as planned at the Mexican border but from the Canadian and hike southbound from Canada to Mexico.
For me only option one and two are possible. From now on I have to wait until January the 15th. If I don’t get a permit, I’ll consider plan B and start a little further north.
My second Try
It’s January the 15th, 2019, and I’m really excited. In order to increase my chances I use some tricks – actually everybody does it that way and I have an uncomfortable feeling that you have to do something like this in order to have a chance at all. The trick looks like this: Open the application page in 4 different browsers to get 4 identification numbers for the queue.
PCT Permit Application with 4 different browsers
Did it help? Not really… my best queue place is 2,913. The other three queue places are attached in the three thousands… This starts really well and I decide to extend my starting window up to 6 weeks. My new timeframe now lies between March the 25th and May the 5th.
After an hour I get access to the application portal and see that the whole April is fully booked until May the 15th – crap! In March there’ s a place available on the 19th! This is not within my time frame but I want to decide quickly before the place is gone.
l take the 19th, permit in my bag! Baaaam! I go through the application process, receive a confirmation email and am overjoyed. Now I need a beer to calm down my nerves – cheers.
Luck in the right Moment – My new Start Date
The next day I have Spanish lessons and want to show my Spanish teacher how it works with this permit application. To help him understand it better, I take my smartphone out of my pocket and go to the PCT Permit application page. When I open the calendar overview I can’t believe what l’m seeing! On the 5th of April there is one place free!
PCT Application Calendar – Free place on April the 5th
I leave everything as it is, log into the Permit Management Portal with my login details from the confirmation email and try to change my start date. It’s working! My new starting date is April the 5th.
Less than five minutes later, my vacated place on March the 19th is occupied by someone else. I’ll break it down like this: So damn lucky… ๐ After two weeks my permit is released to download in the Permit Management Portal! YIIIHAAAA!
Conclusion
I must honestly admit that this whole application process has cost me a lot of energy and built up quite a bit of pressure. Not knowing when it finally starts and if it starts at all is very nerve-racking. On the other hand, many hikers have easily obtained a permit for their desired date.
To get a PCT Permit you need some luck, patience, a Plan B and a wide time window in which you are ready to start (at least 6 weeks). So stay flexible and hope for the best!
UPDATE:On my PCT 2019 hike I met Patrick from Karlsruhe. His trail name was “The First One”. Why? He was the first in the queue on November 14th 2018 and had ALL possible start dates to choose from. So it really takes a good portion of luck.
I hope with this article I could give you a little insight into my application process for a PCT Permit. If you liked this article, I’m happy about a Like, a heart or a smile on your face. If you have questions, suggestions or criticism, I look forward to your comments.
Are there shopping facilities on the 8th stage of the Rheinsteig? In Koblenz you will find many shopping possibilities, as Koblenz with its 112.000 inhabitants is one of the biggest cities on the Rheinsteig. In Braubach there is a Netto supermarket, where you can fill up your foodbag. On the way from Koblenz to Braubach there are no direct shopping possibilities, only a small restaurant called “Zum Schleusenhรคuschen”, which is not always open.
Is it possible to refill water on the 8th stage of the Rheinsteig? With a good water filter like the No products found. you can refill and filter water in the Ruppertsklamm. In the restaurant “Zum Schleusenhรคuschen” you can also fill up your water bottles when it is open.
Where can I spend the night on the 8th stage of the Rheinsteig? In Braubach there are several hotels and guesthouses. On that day I stayed at the hotel “Zum Weissen Schwanen” because I still had a lot of pain and problems with my blisters. Alternatively there are 1.5 kilometres before and behind Braubach directly on the Rheinsteig refuge huts where an emergency campground can be set up. I’ve camped here before.
How is the marking of the route on the 8th stage of the Rheinsteig? The labelling is very good and you can’t get lost.
Map – From Koblenz to Braubach
June 1, 2018 10:32 am
Distance20 km
Time5 h 24 min
Speed4.0 km/h
Min altitude61 m
Peak352 m
Climb975 m
Descent971 m
DistanceInstructions
Label
Koblenz at Sunrise
I leave the campground at the “Deutsches Eck” I go directly to a bakery to have a small breakfast. Afterwards the tour continues through the old town of Koblenz to the Rhine and back to the Rheinsteig. Koblenz at sunrise is really beautiful to see.
On the banks of the Rhine I see two employees of the public order office catching a wild camper and letting it go up. In Koblenz it is not recommended to camp wild.
Directly after Koblenz it goes with fantastic weather directly into the forest with incredibly beautiful nature in the direction of Ruppertsklamm. Even today I still have considerable pain from blisters on my feet, but they heal well.
Also my shoes that are too small stretch a little and adapt to my foot shape better and better. Through regular treatment of my feet and many small breaks I make progress. My next destination is the Ruppertsklamm refuge.
The Ruppertsklamm
The Ruppertsklamm is a narrow valley of about one kilometre with a small stream cut into solid rock. I must confess that I didn’t expect very much from the Ruppertsklamm at the beginning, but was overwhelmed by the beauty of this beautiful gorge and the surrounding nature.
Whoever has the idea to take a shortcut to avoid the Ruppertsklamm will miss one of the most beautiful passages on the Rheinsteig. It is definitely worth walking through the Ruppertsklamm!
“The purpose of travelling is to get to a destination, the purpose of hiking is to be on the way.”
Theodor Heuss
From Lahnstein to Braubach
Behind the Ruppertsklamm you reach Lahnstein and walk along the Lahn river to the restaurant “Zum Schleusenhรคuschen”. When the sluice house is open, you can have a great break here and get your strength back. Afterwards it goes on to Braubach.
A steep ascent then leads through a few small villages and beautiful nature. After a steep and demanding descent you reach Braubach and can finish the day’s stage.
Shortly before Braubach you have a breathtaking view of the Marksburg and the Rhine. There is also a shelter where you could set up an emergency campsite if nessecary.
Conclusion
In my opinion, the eighth stage is one of the most beautiful stages of the Rheinsteig. The way through the Ruppertsklamm with breathtaking nature, but also the final view of the Marksburg castle shortly before Braubach are true highlights of this stage.
Day trip: The route from Koblenz to Braubach can also be hiked very well as a single day trip. From Braubach there is a train that takes you back to Koblenz every hour.
I hope with this article I could give you a little insight into the eighth stage of the Rheinsteig. If you like this article, Iโm happy about a Like, a heart or a smile on your face. If you have questions, suggestions or criticism, Iโm looking forward to your comments.
Are there shopping facilities on the 7th stage of the Rheinsteig? Yes, in Vallendar and especially in Koblenz there are many shopping possibilities, because these are larger cities.
Is it possible to refill water on the 7th stage of the Rheinsteig? Yes, along the Rheinsteig there are various rest stops in the forest and smaller villages and towns where you can fill up your water.
Where can I spend the night on the 7th stage of the Rheinsteig? In Koblenz there are many hotels and guesthouses but also a youth hostel in the Ehrenbreitstein fortress. Here, however, you should reserve a bed before. Alternatively there is a very nice and good campground in Koblenz opposite the “Deutsches Eck”.
How is the marking of the route on the 7th stage of the Rheinsteig? The marking behind Sayn is not always very clear. In the forest behind Sayn you should look carefully. If you haven’t seen a Rheinsteig symbol after 15 minutes, you are probably lost. Then just go back and look for symbols.
Map – From Sayn to Koblenz
May 31, 2018 11:14 pm
Distance20 km
Time5 h 20 min
Speed4.0 km/h
Min altitude63 m
Peak274 m
Climb944 m
Descent958 m
DistanceInstructions
Label
Foggy start on the way to Koblenz
I leave Sayn early and head to Koblenz. The path passes first the Sayn Castle and then goes back into the forest. A dense fog prevents the sun from illuminating the day and the dense trees look mystical and spooky. Now I realize where the Grimm brothers got the ideas for their fairy tales.
At the scout camp Brexbachtal I meet again a commemorative plaque with the following inscription: “At this place a German soldier was executed by a firing squad on April 6, 1940 because of a desertion from the flag”, which makes the forest even more creepy and ghostly.
Around noon the fog disappears and the sun comes out. I take a break in the Waldgaststรคtte Wรผstenhof, which offers a great view and is well frequented. Somehow, the loneliness of the hike is bothering me so much that I find myself in a real low. I enjoy a non-alcoholic beer and a cappuccino and hope that I feel better afterwards. But somehow it doesn’t work.
The conversation with a good friend
I get my smartphone out of my pocket and try to distract myself. I see that my good hiker friend Basti is online, who is currently travelling in Australia. We decide to skype and I pour out my heart to him. Somehow everything sucks: condensate in the tent, no one on the Rheinsteig, food is crap and I thought it would be different. I don’t know how Basti did it, but in two or three sentences he completely turned me around and rebuilt me.
“Martin dude! It’s all a brain thing! If you can handle your thoughts here, then you can handle everything! And fuck condensate in the tent and bad food. That’s the price for your minimalist lifestyle. That’s the compromise you make as a Hiker!”
My hiking friend Basti via Skype
I don’t know how others would have reacted, but Basti’s words really motivated me to go on and change my attitude towards myself and the Rheinsteig. Thank you Basti!
I solved the condensate problem afterwards by using my microfiber towel to wipe up the condensate, which worked better than I thought. Now I only needed to get the towel dry instead of the whole tent. Even if the solution sounds simple, it was only Basti’s impulse and the change in my mindset that brought me to this conclusion.
Arrival in Koblenz
It goes on to Koblenz and I am determined to continue the Rheinsteig and to get my thoughts under control. The route continues through forests, the small town of Vallendar, smaller villages and finally to the fortress park Koblenz. Here the Ehrenbreitstein fortress thrones over the town of Koblenz.
Arrived in Koblenz, I want to go to the youth hostel on the Ehrenbreitstein fortress, which is completely booked out. Fortunately there is a beautiful campground in Koblenz directly in front of the “Deutsches Eck”, where I head directly for.
I hope with this article I could give you a little insight into the seventh stage of the Rheinsteig. If you like this article, Iโm happy about a Like, a heart or a smile on your face. If you have questions, suggestions or criticism, Iโm looking forward to your comments.
In this article I write about my sixth stage on the Rheinsteig from Rengsdorf to Sayn, past the Nonnenley vantage point and through many forests. The article is part of my Rheinsteig series, here it goes to the stage overview and here back to the fifth stage.
Day:
02. September 2017
Start:
09:00 am – Hotel Waldterasse in Rengsdorf
Goal:
01:00 pm – Sayn – Accommodation at a friend’s house
Distanz:
15 km / 9,32 Miles
Important notes for the 6th stage
Are there shopping facilities on the 6th stage of the Rheinsteig? No, there are no shopping facilities on the whole stage. Since the distance is comparatively short, you can buy new supplies in Sayn. Is it possible to refill water on the 6th stage of the Rheinsteig? No, on the whole stage there is no possibility to fill up with water. So you should take enough water with you. Where can I spend the night on the 6th stage of the Rheinsteig? In Sayn there are excellent guesthouses and holiday homes, which are however very expensive. Alternatively you can camp behind Sayn at the scout campsite Bexbachtal Campen. How is the marking of the route on the 6th stage of the Rheinsteig? The path is very well signposted and you can’t get lost.
Map – From Rengsdorf to Sayn
May 31, 2018 11:08 pm
Distance15 km
Time3 h 50 min
Speed4.0 km/h
Min altitude76 m
Peak325 m
Climb674 m
Descent903 m
DistanceInstructions
Label
The Nonnenley Viewpoint
After a good night’s sleep and enjoying a mediocre breakfast in the Hotel Waldterrasse, I went directly into the forest behind Rengsdorf and to the Nonnenley viewpoint. Here, you have a fantastic view and there is the possibility to camp in case you can’t find an alternative accommodation in Rengsdorf. Breathtaking, beautiful and completely fascinating I walk through the forest. Despite a very dry weather period, the forest creates its own climate. It is incredible how much water and moisture the forest holds for itself and its creatures.
It feels a bit like a greenhouse – high humidity, controlled temperatures and everywhere it’s teeming with life – I’m really impressed. The whole way to Sayn leads through the forest.
Arrival in Sayn – a mental challenge
After only 4 hours I reach Sayn and visit my old colleague Dennis, with whom I also spend the night. He tells me about an old colleague who died on vacation and how it was at the funeral. I shared a room with this colleague, and the whole story is really hitting me. It seems that death is the main theme on the Rheinsteig for me. On the fifth day I barely found a way to deal with the many commemorative plaques in the small villages on the Rheinsteig about the First and Second World War, now a message that affects me directly and gets the thought cycle going again. It’s hard for me to get positive thoughts. Dennis says that he has a football match in the afternoon and asks me if I want to join him. I accept gratefully and watch the soccer match of the Kreisligaspiel D. Not spectacular but still a change of pace.
How can you weep over a person who died? Those who have loved him and lost him are to be lamented. Helmuth of Moltke
Dennis asked me after the game if I would like to come to the castle festival in Sayn, but I refuse because I was totally exhausted. The last few days have been pretty hard to walk. In addition to the physical exertion, the loneliness and the news of the death of an old colleague hit me hard. I decide to go to sleep and have no regrets about this decision for a second.
I hope with this article I could give you a little insight into the sixth stage of the Rheinsteig. If you like this article, Iโm happy about a Like, a heart or a smile on your face. If you have questions, suggestions or criticism, Iโm looking forward to your comments. Greetings, Martin
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