These photos were taken at the Feldberg yesterday morning around 10:30. Mind you, if you do get as cold as these photos convey, bring suitable warm-ups with you (Glühwein in a thermos, heating pillows, etc.). The restaurants do not open before 11 a.m.

This is what you will see on the Feldberg:

Feldberg December 2010

Morning light at the Feldberg/Taunus

These photos are published with friendly permission by my friend, the photographer Boulkaye Klempin.

We have been having quite a bit of beautiful snow in the last couple of days.

Our apartment building is serviced by a snow removal company, the walk way gets salted, and everything I need is in walking distance. Winter shows only its pretty side to me.

Some early morning in Oberursel

Elderly lady braving a walk through last night's snow storm

7:45 the time kids walk to school (school begins at 7:55)

View from my computer desk

The scenery has completely changed again as heavy snow is falling right now, performing many twists in midair. The wind is chasing the snow sideways and even up again.

Nevertheless, I need to get to the supermarket as I promised my family Schweinebraten mit Klössen und Sauce (pork roast with potato dumplings and brown gravy), a good German winter food.

We are lucky enough to have a small hill for sledding right within our neighborhood – the hill in front of the former Officers’ Club (Camp King Oberursel) is just teaming with kids and sleds right now.

Sledding in Oberursel at Camp King

For all others, you might try the following places:

Königstein: between Fuchstanz and Reichenbachweg

Schmitten (Oberreifenberg): near the Haus Brenner

Schmitten: Am Pechberg

Schmitten-Treisberg: in front of the Sporthotel Erbismühle

Vogelsberg: at Herchenhainer Höhe (600m) and Hoherodskopf (1,2 km and 400 m runs)

Birkenau (Löhrbach): in Buchklingen and across from the ski lift

Michelstadt (Vielbrunn): 280 m run at Bremhof

Michelstadt (Würzberg): 200 m run near Gasthaus Adler

List compiled by the magazine Surroundings (issue 4/2008).

Ten days ago, I was told we could expect a new winter record for Germany. To be more precise, this winter of 2010/2011 is supposed to be the coldest winter in a thousand years.

Unfortunately, the source for this information is a Korean website. I imagine this website is geared at Korean expats living in Germany, because this was related to me by one expat family. And then by many others.

This post is intended to raise precaution, not panic.

camp fire in the Taunus mountains

The current temperature is 1° C (34 F), but where we are going this evening, it will be even colder. The Taunus mountains record a temperature of currently 0°C (32 F) at 18:00.

For tomorrow, snow is in the forecast as well.

Another weekend in my hometown left us battling with even more snow coming down Sunday morning. 

We are also still hunting local guest houses for a taste of Doppelbock, which is only brewed and sold during the time of Lent. The locals are supposed to be fasting, but not in regards to liquid bread.

Please note the cyclists daring the roads. They were not the only ones riding bikes in the snow either.

Clearing the windshield

For a couple of minutes, we contemplated changing plans…

Road from Hambach to Dittelbrunn

Good ol' Hambach a.k.a. Hammich

Once I find a guest house offering Doppelbock beer, I will post again.