14. - 22.2.2026
In my area, the terrain is rather flat, and even in winter, it doesn't snow much.
Therefore, I chose a snow-sure mountain range for my winter vacation.
My destination was the Thuringian Forest, also known as the Green Heart of Germany.
The main purpose of my stay was hiking.
However, I also had a radio transmitter with me.
I chose Oberhof as my starting point for the hikes.
It's a relatively small town with only 1600 inhabitants, which lives off tourism.
Although no trains have stopped at the station of the same name, located about 5 km from the town, for years, it can still be reached by bus lines 422 and 423 from Zella-Mehlis.
In Oberhof, I had a room at the Panorama Hotel.
My planned evening radio operation from there failed because only 2 of the 4 windows in my room could be tilted open.
According to a sticker on one of the windows, opening it fully was not possible for safety reasons.
Therefore, securely attaching an antenna mast at an angle to the outside of the window was out of the question.
Perhaps a long wire could have been strung diagonally downwards across the streets and paths.
However, I didn't try this, as there was always a considerable wind blowing around the hotel, and the risk of the antenna wire snapping, with its unforeseeable consequences, couldn't be ruled out.
Day 1: Arrival
Normally, when staying for several days, I always take the time to explore the town on my arrival day.
However, this time the sightseeing tour was very brief, as there was simply thick fog, which also settled on the icy ground, turning the footpath into a sheet of ice.
I could only see the lowest floors of the hotel itself.
The photo on the right was taken the following morning.
Day 2: Lütsche Dam (Talsperre Lütsche)
The fog had lifted the next day.
However, no snow fell from the thick clouds, and the remaining snow was hard-packed.
After a nighttime low of -8°C, the temperature was expected to rise to -5°C.
For my hike, I had chosen a circular route to the Lütsche Dam, located northeast of Oberhof in the Thuringian Forest Nature Park DLFF-0128.
From the hotel, I initially followed the road along the southern edge of the Castle Hill Head Nature Reserve (GMA DA/TH-585, 827 m, not a DLFF area).
After passing through the tunnel under the L3247 bypass, I tackled a fairly steep section through the forest, which avoided a longer detour around the Löffelbühl (812 m).
On the almost straight stretch to the Hohe Tanne crossroads (716 m), I made a short detour to the Löffelbühlsfelsen (783 m).
From there, through a clearing, the Snow Head GMA DA/TH-001 (978 m) could be seen, which I headed for a few days later.
On the forest road between Hoher Warte (776 m) and Stieglitzkopf (764 m), and at the Dicke Tanne (667 m) crossroads, I finally reached my destination: the first activation of the Kleine Hohe Warte GMA DA/TH-620 (666 m).
Its highest point would only have been accessible by cutting through the dense forest, as there was no marked trail.
However, just 4 m below, at the At the Kleine Hohe Warte (652 m) crossroads near the signpost, there is a sturdy picnic area.
I set up the station on the table and attached the antenna mast, slightly angled, to the signpost.
However, the guy wire pegs wouldn't stick in the frozen ground, so I had to use pieces of bark to prevent them from slipping.
Although I had announced my activation on both the WWFF and GMA websites, the responses to my CQ calls were limited.
The G2 storm that passed through during the night probably contributed to the problem.
So, after 1½ hours and only 4 successful QSOs, I dismantled the station again.
Meanwhile, the cloud cover had become increasingly patchy.
For the return journey, I had chosen the path around the Kleine Hohe Warte down to the Lütsche Dam.
I had read beforehand that this dam was only partially filled because the dam was in poor condition and repairs had been outstanding for years.
But what I saw was more than disheartening.
Of the once 14-hectare dam, nothing more than a puddle remained.
The extent of the partial filling was particularly evident at the far end of the dam, where the water level should have reached almost to the road.
Therefore, I continued uphill along the forest road beside the Steinernde Lütsche stream.
From the road junction north of Oberhof, it wasn't far to the hotel, which I reached after a total of 11,6 km (↑ 305 m, ↓305 m).
Day 3: Black Head (Schwarzer Kopf)
The snowfall predicted by the weather forecast began during the night.
Upon leaving the hotel, there was already 15 cm of fresh snow.
Since the temperature dropped to -5 °C overnight and was only expected to rise to -1 °C, the snow remained.
Once again, I had chosen a destination in the Thuringian Forest Nature Park DLFF-0128, this time southwest of Zella-Mehlis.
I took the bus to Zella-Mehlis train station (543 m).
After a short stretch on the B62 federal highway, which runs directly alongside the station, I turned right onto a small service road.
On this path, I reached my destination directly: the Black Head SOTA DM/TH-195 (749 m).
Until 1990, the Southern Radio Reconnaissance Center was located on the 33-hectare clearing surrounding the summit, as noted on the information panel next to the entrance to the still-fenced site.
The area, where only the renovated technical building remains of the old facility, is now used by a renewable energy company and the forestry office.
I set up my radio on the crossbeam of the information panel, which has a small roof, and tied the antenna mast to the thin tree by the access road.
While one antenna guy wire could be attached to a nearby fir tree, I had to secure the other to a deciduous tree on the other side of the road.
Note: This must be done high enough so that passing vehicles cannot get caught on it.
Although solar activity was still reported as active, conditions were good enough that I was able to make 51 radio contacts on 40 m.
More would have been possible, but my fingers got cold at some point, and I resorted to using the morse key.
After 1 hour, I therefore dismantled the station and completed the circuit around the Black Head on deeply snow-covered forest tracks before rejoining the aforementioned access road.
After a total of 10 km (↑235 m, ↓235 m), I reached Zella-Mehlis train station again.
Tag 4: Ohra Dam (Talsperre Ohra)
That day I went on another hike in the Thuringian Forest Nature Park (DLFF-0128), but this time not a circular route.
I chose the village of Luisenthal (about 450 m), located north of Oberhof, as my starting point.
I took one of the buses on line 860 towards Gotha to get there.
Although the weather forecast for Oberhof had predicted 0 °C for the day after the mild night with -1 °C, it was definitely warmer in Luisenthal, which lies about 380 m lower, as evidenced by the slush on the streets and the sleet.
Note: Above the village part Schwarzwald, on a hill, are the ruins of Käfernburg Castle (WCA DL-01448, THB-154).
The Ohra Dam, which primarily serves as a source of drinking water, consists of an embankment.
The intake tower rises from the dam.
Although a hydroelectric power plant is also present, its maximum output of 500 MW (57 kW per hour) is primarily used to supply the drinking water treatment plant, as information panels in the small building near the dam explain.
I continued up the road by the dam to the viewpoint located there.
However, the planned radio operation from there was out of the question due to the continuing sleet, as the picnic area had no roof and was completely exposed to the gusty westerly wind.
Therefore, after a short break, I continued along the road, which sloped gently downhill after the corner, to the Silbergrund pre-dam.
This pre-dam is used to screen sediment from the Eimersbach stream and its tributaries.
At the southern end of the pre-dam is the Triefstein, from whose steep wall the water from the Gera Tunnel gushes.
Although there is a covered picnic area there that offered sufficient protection from the wind, I didn't think operating a shortwave station from the deeply incised valley would be promising.
Therefore, I continued my hike upstream along the banks of the Eimersbach stream.
Only shortly before Oberhof did I reach an elevation relative to the surrounding hills that would have been necessary for successful radio operation.
But by that point, I just wanted to get somewhere dry.
At the crossroads north of Oberhof, however, I turned off again to take a look at the bobsleigh track and, a little further on, the ski jumping complex.
After 9,2 km (↑396 m, ↓52 m), I arrived back at the hotel.
Day 5: Big Berry Hill (Großer Beerberg)
Hiking southeast of Oberhof, you soon reach the Thuringian Forest Biosphere Reserve DLFF-0032.
For this day, when the temperature was forecast to rise from -4 °C overnight to -2 °C, I had chosen the Big Berry Hill; SOTA DM/TH-001 (983 m) as my destination.
Mindful of the previous day's experience, I had already selected a sheltered spot at the hotel, within the permissible vertical distance for a SOTA activation.
The Plänckners View observation tower (973 m) is only 10 m below the summit.
There are shorter routes to it.
However, since my primary goal was hiking, I started my tour at the Gasthaus Schmücke bus stop (916 m).
Note: This stop is only served twice a day by bus line 448. I began my hike on the Rennsteig trail, which runs through Schmücke. The large screen at the Schmücke weather station (939 m) displayed 29 cm of snow, which matched what I saw in the surrounding area. The Rennsteig trail branches off from the road at the Adler shelter (928 m).
The summit of the Big Berry Hill; (983 m) itself lies within the core zone of the Beerbergmoor biosphere reserve, and potential routes were buried in deep snow.
Between the observation tower and the surprisingly busy hiking trail, there are a few large benches on the slope, but I chose the tower, which has a roof.
Although it isn't completely enclosed on the sides, some of the partially enclosed sections offer at least some protection from the wind.
I set up the station against a wall of the metal mesh viewing platform, which is about 3 m above ground level.
I attached the mast to the post of the signpost for the moor.
I simply stuck the guy lines into the deep snow.
The response to the amateur radio bands was astonishing.
Within just over 1¾ hours, I managed to make a total of 53 connections on 40, 30, and 20 m before my fingers became too numb from sending Morse code.
After dismantling the station, I continued along the Rennsteig trail and after a total of 10,2 km (↑124 m, ↓230 m) I reached the hotel again.
Day 6: Castle Hill Pulpit (Schlossbergkanzel)
After a cold night with temperatures as low as -5 °C, the temperature was expected to rise to -3 °C.
My destination was the Lärchenkopf GMA DA/TH-145, located northeast of Oberhof in the Thuringian Forest Nature Park DLFF-0128.
After crossing the road south of the Castle Hill Head GMA DA/TH-585 (827 m, not a DLFF area), I continued along wide forest tracks towards my destination.
However, near the summit, the horse-drawn carriage company that offers rides in the surrounding area had set up a sort of turnaround point with a grill and a small hut.
Since quiet radio operation in the immediate vicinity was out of the question, I continued hiking to the Castle Hill Pulpit viewpoint (714 m).
From there, there is a view of the Lütsche Dam and the Frankenstein quarry to the northeast.
Besides the small rescue station building and a building designated as a shelter, there is a covered picnic area at the Castle Hill Pulpit.
I used this to set up the station.
I attached the antenna mast to a bare deciduous tree nearby.
The deep snow again provided sufficient grip for the guy wires.
However, within ¾ hour, only 1 station each responded to my CQ calls on 40 and 20 m.
No QSOs were established on 30 m.
After dismantling the station, I initially returned along the same path I had come on.
However, shortly before Oberhof, I turned off at the crossroads north of the town and thus circled the Castle Hill Head.
After a total of 7,2 km (↑100 m, ↓100 m), I reached the hotel again.
Day 7: Snow Head (Schneekopf)
The weather forecast for that day predicted sunshine and temperatures up to 0 °C after a cold night with temperatures of -9 °C.
Therefore, I traveled once again to the Thuringian Forest Biosphere Reserve DLFF-0032.
From the Snow Head bus stop, which I reached this time by taking bus line 448, I followed the access road to the Snow Head summit GMA DA/TH-001 (978 m).
On this barren but relatively gently sloping summit, there are several benches suitable for setting up a radio station.
I chose the bench here at the Kickelhahn viewpoint, as it was sheltered from the wind.
I attached the antenna mast to the signpost while clearing part of the table and bench of the thick snow and using it as a station table and seat.
Despite the sun shining on my back, it got quite chilly after about ¾ hour, so I dismantled the station despite only managing 4 QSOs on 30 m.
I was unable to make any contacts on 40 or 20 m.
For the return journey, I took the shortest route down to the Wilde Gera river.
Following the path along its banks, I descended through deep snow past the Big Vulture Rock formation to a TEAG training center.
There, I turned into the valley carved by the Schnabelbach stream.
This path is relatively steep.
However, once I reached the foot of the Buchskopf GMA DA/TH-088 (825 m), the remaining 11,3 km (↑253 m, ↓400 m) of the route via Gräfenroda road to the hotel was quickly covered.
Day 8: Star Hill (Sternberg)
After a relatively mild night with temperatures of -2 °C, a thaw with temperatures around +4 °C was forecast for that day.
Therefore, I set off as early as possible on the highest possible route – in the sleet.
I had chosen the Sycamore Maple Avenue, which begins on the southern edge of Oberhof and is equipped with a cross-country ski track.
This wide forest road leads below the Schützenberg (904 m) and also through the Schützenbergmoor nature reserve (not a DLFF area).
At the Veilchenbrunnen hut, I switched to the much lower-lying Stallweg path.
This led me to my chosen destination, the first activation of the Star Hill DA/TH-584 (840 m), located in the Thuringian Forest Nature Park DLFF-0128).
The path now passes about 9 m below the summit.
Next to the signpost, right by the path, is a tree trunk shaped like a low chair, which I used to set up the station and, more importantly, as a seat.
I tied the antenna mast to the concrete post of the signpost; the guy wires held securely in the wet snow.
Although quite a few hikers used this path, no one disturbed my radio operation.
Within ¾ hour, 17 stations quickly responded to my CQ calls on 40 m, but no contacts were made on 30 or 20 m.
The return journey to the roundabout near Oberhof and then along a hiking trail beside the road was difficult, as the remaining 15 cm of snow on the paths had largely turned into slush.
This somehow found its way into my hiking boots – luckily, it was no longer freezing.
Nevertheless, I was glad to reach the hotel again after a total of 9,7 km (↑143 m, ↓143 m).
Day 9: Departure
The weather that day made saying goodbye easy: drizzle and temperatures just above freezing.
The snow had already been washed off the trees the day before, and this continued on the open areas between them.
First, I took the bus to Zella-Mehlis, and from there I took the train back home.
Radio station, QSL cards, Thank you
My station equipment consisted of an Elecraft KX3 with 5W transmit power, a Palm Portable Key, a 4,5Ah LiFePO4 battery, and various accessories.
I only used the transceiver on 40, 30, and 20 m.
For the antenna, I used a 19-meter doublet antenna with an 8-meter two-wire feed line, also known as a Twisted-Hille.
A few plastic tent pegs, short guy lines, and a rope for securing it completed the antenna setup.
Together with a 6-meter mast, this antenna could be set up as an inverted-V configuration almost anywhere.
The entire station setup weighed only 1,7 kg.
When preparing for a hiking tour, not just the one described here, I've found using a traditional printed hiking map to be invaluable.
One reason is that it shows a larger area in detail than is possible on a laptop or even a smartphone.
With electronic maps, details disappear as the area is scaled.
Furthermore, the hiking map I used, "Hiking map Thuringian Forest Nature Park, Sheet 6: Oberhof, Zella-Mehlis" published by Green Heart (ISBN 978-3-86636-341-0), which costs 4,95 € and is available in any well-stocked bookstore,
includes the hiking trails with their respective markers.
Electronic maps generally don't offer this feature.
I always used the "OsmAnd" app for navigation on the trail to prevent the paper map from getting soggy in the rain or snow.
In the meantime, all radio contacts have been entered into the SOTA, WWFF, and GMA databases.
The QSL cards to all stations that were new to me, or from which I had received a QSL card in previous years, have been en route to the recipients via the QSL bureau since 28.2.2026.
Finally, I would like to thank all the radio amateurs who responded to my admittedly rather quiet signals.
