Saale – Du Sahnestück

A contribution from Dani Paas

We met Dani from Berlin and her crew in the Hunsrück in the fall of 2021. The four adventurers fell for packrafting after the Multiday course and we are very happy that they were there for the premiere on the Saale in May 2022. There, the idea spontaneously arose for Dani to write a report about the first LWA-Saale Tour.

I already had my packraft premiere in October 2021 at the Multiday Packrafting Training Hunsrück-Tour and fall in love with the possibility of maximum freedom on land and water. Also Johannes I had already gotten to know and appreciate here. As a Berliner, it sounded to me like Easter and Christmas together when I heard about his planned premiere daycourse in May 2022 on the river Saale heard. Compared to the Hunsrück and the other LWA destinations now the Saale and thus me a still unknown river, moreover almost around the corner. Our Berlin-Cottbus crew had then also accepted immediately after announcement and on Saturday, the 21.05.22 it went after something stormy-thunderstormy night then to the meeting place in sight of the Rudelsburg on the edge of Saxony-Anhalt.

Besides the joy of finally having a packraft in my fingers again and besides seeing the creator of today's tour Sebastian again and getting to know the cool squad for the day, nature and the surroundings had already made me want more on the short ride from the campsite in sweet Bad Kösen.

I can say right away: Johannes, you have really thought of everything! Starting with the bakery cart along the way (with cream cakes!), on the numerous charming Kehrwasser (including impressive and fortunately also consequence-free capsize right at the beginning), the illegal passenger in the boat (what a cute frog), the young grumpy guy who seriously dug in the middle of the Saale for gold (for the Canada feeling) to the perfectly prepared paths through jungle-like forest! And what a wonderful 6 km hike that was, please?! To discover such paths in the first place!

From the feeling of freedom, between seemingly endless, velvety soft fields swaying in the wind, rolling hills and vineyards to the feeling of adventure on the hidden paths through a wild forest like I have not seen for a long time. Although I usually only really enjoy hiking when the mountains are high and rough, here it is really wonderful to walk, look and marvel. And definitely also collect altitude meters.

And then I fell in love! Into the Saale! The cream of the crop! What a river!

A beautiful half-hidden entry point offered space for a break and first contact with the pleasantly warm Saale water. Premium kilometer after premium kilometer followed on the Saale. What a variety. A river that meanders quite briskly through green wildness, steep shell limestone walls, past castles and wonderfully little civilization. For me almost too beautiful for extensive technique training, even if there were many great places for different demands. But actually I didn't want to take my eyes off all the wonderful views. And so we all just let ourselves be carried by this beautiful river again and again. I didn't really want to leave it at the intended exit point at the campsite.

But to finish, there was a pretty climb up to Rudelsburg Castle and Saaleck Castle with a wonderful bird's eye view of the vineyards, the rock faces, the rolling hills, the forests and of course the centerpiece of the day, the just paddled Saale River, which makes a picture perfect loop here. What a perfect day!

So then the only "criticism" was: Johannes, there must be a second tour! But I can tell you, it's worth it even for this one perfect day! And I am almost sure, it will not remain. This rather unknown and completely underestimated area has more than deserved to be conquered!

I, for one, want to see them again! The Saale - the cream of the crop! And then probably soon with its own packraft!

Thank you Johannes, thank you LWA! See you soon!

Dani from Berlin