TRAVEL ESSAY. THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

When the Famous Words “I Know a Shortcut” Lead to Abseiling Down a Tree

Because we can’t follow a hiking trail from start to finish

We woke up that morning listening to the birds singing in the trees above our car. We ate breakfast and drove on. A little further into the Czech Republic. Our destination for the day was a camp deep inside the Elbe Sandstone Mountains.

“The Elbe Sandstone Mountains, also called the Elbe Sandstone Highlands, are a mountain range straddling the border between the state of Saxony in southeastern Germany and the North Bohemian region of the Czech Republic, with about three-quarters of the area lying on the German side. In both countries, core parts of the mountain range have been declared a national park. The name derives from the sandstone which was carved by erosion. The river Elbe breaks through the mountain range in a steep and narrow valley.” — Wikipedia

Driving along windy roads through the mountains, we got to the camp before lunchtime just as we turned off on a small pond. We couldn’t check in yet, but left the car in the parking and headed out.

The forest was lush green, countless birds were singing and we breathed in the fresh air.

Soon, we reached the first boulders and rock formations typical for this area. Rock climbers were out and about trying to conquer one of the countless challenging routes leading to the top.

We stayed with our feet on the ground and our eyes toward the sky.

Launching the drone though allowed us to get a view from above and I must admit, this is a very unique landscape. Spectacular rock formations surrounded by lush green forest.

And sure, I played a little. Just for the show.

We soon left the collection of boulders and steep cliffs behind and continued our hike through the forest.

Walking right on the border between the Czech Republic and Germany, we passed every few meters another landmark and countless signs of former border posts.

The trail was leading for a while right next to the edge of the plateau and I was waiting already for a sign showing ‘viewpoint’. And there it came. And what a view.

Another group of impressive sandstone formations was peeking out of the forest. The mountains aren’t very high but these cliffs make up for every lack in anything else.

Sitting atop a flat rock, we enjoyed our lunch and a beer.

But for a picture, I had to climb a little further. But I don’t just leave you here the Instagram-worthy shot but drop right next to it the behind-the-scenes picture. How I got there and back.

Walking on all four…

But enough talking. After taking in the views from all directions, listening to the birds for half an hour and breathing in the fresh air, we decided to move on.

We hiked along the beautiful trail right on the edge of the sandstone plateau. Looking for a trail to go down and eventually turn back to camp, David was the one leading us down.

"I found a shortcut".

Hearing those words I should have known what was to come next.

I wouldn't call it a trail but a few steps down and we were far enough not to turn around again. A small gap in between two towers made of sandstone. That was where he chose to descend.

He wrapped his arms around a tree, swung around and stepped two stories lower onto the boulders.

Seriously?

I was too slow and certainly didn't believe what happened in front of my eyes to have reacted and captured the moment on camera. But believe me, I had to follow.

How?

I walked a few steps lower on the slippery foliage and then listened to his words. Grab the tree and swing around.

Now imagine this. Me. Holding onto a tree like a monkey. Wrapping my arms twice around the stem. Then slowly slipping down until my feet eventually touch the boulders below or something that felt like safety.

Still holding onto the tree for dear life, I tried to shift to the side and find two roots to hold onto now. I still had a drop of a couple of meters on my side. And I was far from reaching the valley below.

But now, I had the entire tree in my bra. Or at least all of the tree bark. But if there are no other complaints, it's all alright.

The next step, David slipped across that boulder on his butt. And he told me to do the same. But if I can't hold onto something, I don't trust my feet.

He asked me if I wasn't a climbing instructor. Not sure what he was talking about. That must have been in my previous life...

See below. The look on my face. And this wasn't played. I did not know he was taking the picture.

And this wasn’t the end. Once we arrived at the bottom of the rock formations we were only halfway down the mountain slope. No trail was to be seen and we wandered through the thicket step by step.

Just another adventurous hike.

About an hour later, we made it back to the car, could choose a camping spot and sat back and relaxed. There was no fence between us and the forest but only birds came over and visited us.

The view from camp. The sandstone rock formations and the forest we looked at while lying in bed. A song thrush (songbird) was curious enough to come over and say hi.

Telling my mom about where we were, she asked me if I remembered I was there in 1999. With them. Of course, I do not remember. But she helped me with some pictures from the album. Apparently, we also sat on the rock formations near the edge. And, back then already I was wearing yellow...

This was day two of our road trip through Czechia (or the Czech Republic, how you’d know the country as)

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