Walhalla Winter Light
Arrived at the Walhalla temple on new year’s eve as the sun was getting low on the horizon. Warm light on a cold winter day.
Windloch Sackdilling – Night Caving
I’ve been getting more interested in caving lately, as I should, since the Franconia area around here is full of them. So when I got an invitation for a night trip to the Windloch Sackdilling cave, I had to go along.
This cave has several entrances into the first section. The easiest way is to just walk in, as seen here.
We figured the sub zero temperatures of the last weeks would create some cool ice features, as this cave in known to have. But these ‘interesting’ shaped ice-stalagmites were all that we saw. I also forgot to remember that an underground cave would stay warmer than the surface (during winter), and indeed it was, once we got back to the surface, it was utterly cold again. This ice was in the first ‘surface’ section, so maybe a bit more will form in the next months.
Rappelling down into the first lower chamber.
A little climbing was involved to get to another area at the back of the lower section.
View looking straight up towards the ceiling in the ‘rear upper’ section.
This little hole led to a 20-25 foot tunnel to crawl/slide through into another fairly small chamber
Heading back through the forest, trying not to get lost in the darkness…
Pottenstein Ewige Anbetung – Lichterfest
Every year on the 6th of January the hills above Pottenstein are illuminated by fires for the Ewige Anbetung.
Seeing it in person is way more impressive than any of my photos. 17˚f (-8˚c) temperatures meant the hands were quite frozen after an hour or so up on the hillside
Regensburg
Last light of 2008 over Regensburg.
Winter Details
A bit different from what I usually shoot, but pointing the camera towards the sky these days isn’t all that inspiring due to the weather (‘German gray’ – my new term for the low gray and hazy clouds the cloak the landscape seemingly every day, and most especially at the weekends), so I’ve started to look towards my feet a little more than normal.
Walberla in white
A couple panoramics from my wanderings to Walberla on Friday. I had hoped there would have been a bit more snow, but I seemed to forget that its the last hill before the ‘low’ areas around Forcheim, Erlangen and Nuremberg so it stays a bit warmer than here in the hills of the Oberpfalz. I also realized on Saturday, while heading to Sachsen for the weekend, that I could get to the mountains (big hills) of the Fichtelgebirge area as quickly as I can get to Walberla, so I’ll try and head there on my next little excursion.
First photo is that same tree from from back in October. Unfortunately, someone walked in the snow at the base of the tree (really, why would anyone walk there? Must of had a dog that wanted to take a piss or something) so I’ll have to go back again to get a better version. With more snow too! Second pic is Saint Walpurga’s chapel (Walpurgiskapelle).
Ghost Sheep
I was cruising around the the countryside on Friday afternoon looking for something interesting to take photos of. I was on my way back as it was getting dark, about 4:30 pm this time of the year, when I stopped to take a few pictures of a castle ruin. Anyhow, I was heading back to the car when I saw something strange in the distance. It was pretty dark, so I couldn’t see what it was right away but I wandered towards it. Turned out to be a big herd (flock?) of sheep some field. Here’s a 20 second exposure of them. I wish I could have gotten closer but I was blocked by a few fences.
Franconian Winter
This afternoon: typical scene of ‘Franconian switzerland’ after a bit of snow.
Oak
The moon was peeking through the clouds on the way back from Nuremberg Friday night so I thought maybe this tree would make a nice photo. It’s at a place called Fishstein, just a few km down the road.
The photo I really want to take is when there is a good layer of snow and a clear night with at least a quarter moon. Might look cool.
Nuremberg Christmas Market
Nuremberg Christmas market last night (Friday).
Christmas markets here are quite popular and a large and historic one like Nuremberg’s draws tourists from all over. Hot Glühwein is a popular drink which helps keep off the cold and every stall selling it always has a huge crowd standing around and talking with friends in the crisp winter air. Lots of cool little crafts to see along with all the cookies as sweets to be bought.
Seasons On Lofoten Winter eBook
Kungsleden Trail eBook
Kungsleden Trail Hiking Guide