Derelict Orchard @ The Hölleberg

Yesterday we found that Old Staircase To Heaven. Which we did not ascend. Today I proposed to drive to Deisel. And walk to mount from there over the southern slope onto the “Hölleberg”. Just to enjoy from there the splendid panoramic views all over the Diemel valley. And into the wide deep distance: an old volcanic landscape. And - of course - to look up and inhale the wide open sky. Heaven over Hell-Mountain, so to say.

It could have become a splendid walk. Perhaps if we had departed an hour earlier. And certainly if the sun had not paled and if...You know, in the past we had once lost our way on the bushy slope. I had some idea how to reach the connecting horse-trail on our way to the top, but, well you know. So again we had to struggle through some thorny bushes to reach the right track.

Then came the turn to the left for the final climbing up through an old apple orchard, a real derelict. Just a few apple trees have survived the rough and windy climat up there on the bare, chalky upper slope of the “Hölleberg”. So, heavily breathing, we mounted, step by step through this grave yard full of dead and broken trees. She did not look very happy with this trip. Even the covering sky, hiding the last pale sun rays could not change this mood. As we rested on the only bench up there. Hardly any panorama to lose your sight in. A wind rose. The silence was broken by an rising roaring of an engine. A plane was going to take off over the airstrip behind us.

We crossed over the the mountain-road to the west and turned again southward. To descend back to Deisel from there. As we sat resting for another while, we saw the pale sunlight vanishing behind the big Deiselberg. Time to go home for a hot tea. For tomorrow we’ll prefer an easy farewell walk around.