A9 hiking loop: Krause Buche and Lutternsche Egge

After starting the Dehmer Rundwege trail network a few weeks ago - a total of 9 trails - I will gradually dedicate myself to the remaining trails as well. Today's A9 is 5.1 km long and starts at the "Krause Buche" hiking parking lot. The only thing that is initially "kraus" (curly) here is the parking order and the search for a parking space, because it is packed... Fortunately, a large family returns from a walk and immediately frees up several parking spaces. It's not surprising that the parking lot is located in the middle of a dense beech forest - just like almost the entire A9 route. However, it gets its name from a very special beech tree, because the "Krause Buche" (Curly Beech) really exists - not far from the parking lot stands the gnarled, quite low beech tree with willow-like hanging branches and a gnarled trunk. It is a descendant of the original "Krause Buche". Why does it grow so unusually? There is no solid evidence for this to this day. The growth form, by the way, has its own name: Süntelbuchen, named after the largest known stand of this beech form in the Süntel near Hameln. This year's state garden show in Bad Nenndorf will, by the way, incorporate the famous Süntelbuchenallee, which holds even wilder growth forms. Here, however, the "krause Buche" is an absolute lone fighter and has therefore been declared a natural monument. Unfortunately, I already know most of today's hiking route from other trails, although not completely. I have walked the ridge path on the Wittekindsweg several times. I still can't warm to the wide gravel path up there. So I turn off onto an unofficial path at the first opportunity. It's not only popular with mountain bikers, but also promises a slightly adventurous character as a hiker along the old quarry, with a sometimes unsettling view downwards, but above all a mega view of the North German Plain, interrupted only once by Stemweder Berg and Rehburger Bergen. I can already see where I'll be tomorrow. ☺️ Completely new to me is that back then, even without mountains, dinosaurs already stomped around here. Thus, in 1998, a completely new species of dinosaur was found in the quarry and promptly named appropriately: the Wiehenvenator. The skeleton can be admired in Münster today. At Berghotel Lutternsche Egge, the path changes direction. I certainly don't wish the owner any harm, but the hotel has looked closed for years, is a permanent construction site, looks like a garbage dump from the parking lot side, and strange figures are constantly wandering around in front of it somewhere. I really research every single time I come here when the hostel closed and every time I find out: It's not closed at all... 😯😅 The path leads down to the edge of the forest and, until then, again through a very dense beech forest with beautiful plays of light. After a short view towards the Teutoburger Wald, the winding path (and a quite considerable ascent again) leads back to the hiking parking lot.

That was a really nice ride in the sunset of spring 2025. Perfect weather, great route, just beautiful through the forest, forest floor under your feet, it couldn't be better. The perfect end to the day. :)