Harzer Wandernadel
Encyclopedia
The Harzer Wandernadel (literally: "Harz Walking Badge") is a network of checkpoints for walkers in the Harz mountains in North Germany. It includes a system whereby the hiker can earn badges at different levels by walking to the various checkpoints in the network and recording them. With 222 checkpoints in three federal states and across five districts in the Harz
and with membership in five figures, the system has gained a following Germany-wide.
In addition the system helps holidaymakers and locals to get to know the many, varied and particularly attractive walking destinations and hiking trails of the area. To that end the control points have been located at good observation points, at geological or botanical places of interest, and at places that are rich in culture or steeped in history. With a few exceptions, the control points have been sited at locations that can only be reached on foot or bicycle.
It is permitted, to gain the awards gradually. There is no time limit within which the stamps have to be collected.
In addition there is another hiking badge, the Harzer Hexenstieg ("Harz Witch's Climb") for the total of 11 stamps on the Harzer Hexenstieg
route.
It is also possible, in addition to collecting all 222 stamps, to collect several special stamps that are recorded at the end of a walking pass. These special stamps are only collector's items and do not count towards any award.
The hiking pass must be stamped at each control point. If the stamp is missing, a number can be noted down as an alternative, so that vandalism cannot do any serious damage to the system.
On gaining the requisite number of stamps, the pass is handed in again at a counter and the badge can be bought at little cost after the pass has been checked.
Unlike other hiking badge projects, the hassle of enrolling as a 'customer' is avoided, because the stamps may be freely collected with leaving anyone a telephone number or address.
Harz
The Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz...
and with membership in five figures, the system has gained a following Germany-wide.
Purpose
The idea of the Wandernadel ("hiking badge") is to give those holidaying in the Harz a worthwhile goal to achieve and that, in doing so, they will stay for longer. In addition it will encourage those local to the area to become walkers.In addition the system helps holidaymakers and locals to get to know the many, varied and particularly attractive walking destinations and hiking trails of the area. To that end the control points have been located at good observation points, at geological or botanical places of interest, and at places that are rich in culture or steeped in history. With a few exceptions, the control points have been sited at locations that can only be reached on foot or bicycle.
Hiking badge system
The Harz hiking badge can be awarded at several levels depending on the number of control points reached (and 'stamped' on a card):- 8 stamps: Harz hiking badge in bronze
- 16 stamps: Harz hiking badge in silver
- 24 stamps: Harz hiking badge in gold
- 50 stamps: Harz Hiking King (Wanderkönig)
- 111 stamps: Harz Climber (Steiger) (111 different control points, of which 22 are special mining checkpoints)
- 222 stamps: Harz Hiking Emperor (Wanderkaiser)
It is permitted, to gain the awards gradually. There is no time limit within which the stamps have to be collected.
In addition there is another hiking badge, the Harzer Hexenstieg ("Harz Witch's Climb") for the total of 11 stamps on the Harzer Hexenstieg
Harzer Hexenstieg
The Harzer Hexenstieg is a footpath, just under 100 km long, in Germany that runs from Osterode through the Harz mountains and over its highest peak, the Brocken, to Thale...
route.
It is also possible, in addition to collecting all 222 stamps, to collect several special stamps that are recorded at the end of a walking pass. These special stamps are only collector's items and do not count towards any award.
Process for getting a hiking badge
Before the first walk a hiking pass (Wanderpass) has to be bought, which can be obtained cheaply in the tourist and spa facilities in the towns and villages of the Harz, and sometimes in bookshops too. It is also worthwhile buying a map on which the control points are marked, although this information can be found in other ways (including the organiser's website).The hiking pass must be stamped at each control point. If the stamp is missing, a number can be noted down as an alternative, so that vandalism cannot do any serious damage to the system.
On gaining the requisite number of stamps, the pass is handed in again at a counter and the badge can be bought at little cost after the pass has been checked.
Features
The Harz hiking badge is significantly different from other hiking badge systems. For example, there are hardly any other places where there is a system with as many as 222 control points crossing state and district boundaries. In addition the system is relatively well protected from vandalism and can be set up anywhere on the terrain, whilst with other systems the control points are at restaurants, shops, etc, and can only be used during opening hours.Unlike other hiking badge projects, the hassle of enrolling as a 'customer' is avoided, because the stamps may be freely collected with leaving anyone a telephone number or address.
History
The initiator and operator is the Gesund älter werden im Harz ("Get old healthily in the Harz") with its head office in Blankenburg, which is supported by various public institutions. The first control points were set up in 2006; since 2007 the current system of 222 control points has been available. There are no plans to extend it.Resonance
The system soon gained extraordinary popularity, as can clearly be seen from the number of walkers stamping their passes at the control points. In 2009 alone about 10,000 hiking passes were sold. It is also noteworthy that in each year there has been a three-figure number of walkers that have achieved the highest award, the "Harz Hiking Emperor". Because the control points are spread across a 110 km long and 30 - 40 km wide range of low mountains, that can only mean that individuals have spent a total of several weeks driving by car or motorcycle to the area of the control points, and then walking or cycling on the hiking trails.Locations
Some of the more prominent locations of checkpoints in the Harzer Wandernadel are listed below:| Checkpoint No. | Name | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eckertalsperre (Staumauer) | Barrier of the Ecker Dam Ecker Dam The Ecker Dam is a dam near Bad Harzburg in the Harz mountains of Germany that went into service in 1942. It impounds primarily the waters of the river Ecker.... |
4 km SE of Bad Harzburg Bad Harzburg Bad Harzburg is a town in central Germany, in the Goslar district of Lower Saxony. It lies on the northern edge of the Harz mountains and is a recognised saltwater spa and climatic health resort.- Location :... |
| 5 | Froschfelsen | The Froschfelsen Froschfelsen The Froschfelsen is a natural monument near Ilsenburg in the northern Harz in central Germany. It is a formation of granite rocks that take the shape of a frog, hence the name.... rock formation that looks like a frog |
2 km SW of Ilsenburg |
| 9 | Brocken | The Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz | Brocken summit |
| 17 | Trudenstein | The Trudenstein Trudenstein The Trudenstein is a rock formation and popular hiker's destination in the Harz Mountains of central Germany. It is located in the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt.- Location and surrounding area :... rock formation |
2.5 km NE of Schierke Schierke Schierke is a village and a former municipality in the Harz district, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2009, it is part of the town Wernigerode.Schierke was first mentioned as Schiriken in a 1590 deed... |
| 80 | Burgruine Regenstein | Regenstein Castle Regenstein Castle Regenstein Castle is a ruined castle that lies three kilometres north of Blankenburg in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is a popular tourist destination where, each year, a knight's tournament and a garrison festival are held.... |
2 km N of Blankenburg |
| 98 | Ruine Hohnstein | Hohnstein Castle Hohnstein Castle Hohnstein Castle is a one of the largest and best-preserved castle ruins in Germany and is located near Neustadt in the vicinity of Nordhausen in Thuringia.- Location :... |
1 km NNE of Neustadt/Harz Neustadt/Harz Neustadt/Harz is a municipality in the district of Nordhausen, in Thuringia, Germany.-Culture and places of interest:The area around Neustadt is rich in places of interest, which are all accessible on footpaths. Of the three castle ruins Hohnstein Castle, the oldest in the entire Harz, is the most... |
| 101 | Einhornhöhle | Unicorn Cave Unicorn Cave The Unicorn Cave is the largest show cave in the West Harz, about 1½ kilometres northwest of Scharzfeld in the borough of Herzberg am Harz in central Germany. It is a karst cave set in Zechstein dolomite rock.- History :... , a popular show cave |
near Scharzfeld Scharzfeld Scharzfeld is a village in the borough of Herzberg am Harz in the district of Osterode am Harz in South Lower Saxony, Germany.Scharzfeld lies at a height of about 220 m above sea level and has 1,765 inhabitants .... |
| 122 | Kreuz des Deutschen Ostens | Ostlandkreuz Ostlandkreuz Ostlandkreuz or Kreuz des deutschen Ostens is the name of memorial crosses in Germany remembering the expulsion of Germans after World War II from the former Sudetenland areas of Czechoslovakia, from Poland and the Soviet part of the former Province of East Prussia... cross in memory of former eastern German lands |
Above Bad Harzburg Bad Harzburg Bad Harzburg is a town in central Germany, in the Goslar district of Lower Saxony. It lies on the northern edge of the Harz mountains and is a recognised saltwater spa and climatic health resort.- Location :... to the SE |