Kammweg Section 11 "From Johanngeorgenstadt to Weitersglashütte"

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Weitersglashütte

From Johanngeorgenstadt railway station, we walk through the commercial settlement to just before the Potucky border crossing. Either we plunge into the cross-border market hustle and bustle, discover the "Glöckl" show mine underground or hike straight up along the ridge trail to the former old town. This fell victim to mining decades ago and only the Evangelical Lutheran church remains standing. On the ridge trail, we will see that mining and renaturation are being pushed forward. Even on the way to the youth hostel or the ski jumps, we experience distant views as far as the Bohemian Ore Mountains, flowering mountain meadows and wildly romantic stream valleys, e.g. in the Lehmergrund, at the Schwefelbach and at the Steinbach. Along the way, in the birthplace of the Erzgebirge candle arch, we repeatedly encounter evidence of mining. A diversion to the Pferdegöpel mining museum is always worthwhile. Due to its altitude of 700 - 1000 metres above sea level, Johanngeorgenstadt is one of the most snow-sure winter sports resorts in the German low mountain range. The town also offers numerous sporting and cultural facilities for active holidaymakers all year round. Those looking to cool off on hot summer days will find it in the natural swimming pool at the Schwefelbach. Via the Ziegelhüttenweg and the paved Eisenstraße, we finally reach the entrance to the idyllic Steinbachtal forest nature trail.Even before the car park and the Sauschwemme inn, the ridge trail branches off via the Eibenstocker Straße. Passing individual farmsteads, we meet the ascent to the Auersberg. During the demanding ascent on the roadside path, benches invite you to rest and gather your strength. Finally, the lookout tower is in sight. The detour to the summit is worth it! At the hikers' car park, we follow the path through the educational mountain forest garden up to 1018 m without much effort. Here we are awaited with a fantastic view from the lookout tower over the Westerzgebirge, places to rest and a stop at Haus Auersberg.Back at the hikers' car park, the ridge trail turns onto the snake trail and gradually winds its way down again on serpentines in the beech forest. As soon as we catch sight of the first houses, we have reached the hammer mill village of Wildenthal. Now a dreamlike section of trail lies ahead of us on the village ring road. The many opportunities to take a break and the views of the mountain landscape will delight us. Coming from the Bärenzechenweg, we cross the road. Before the hikers' car park, a short climb along the ski slope leads to the Amselweg. For one kilometre, the markings guide us along the edge of the forest. On the Flößholzzechenweg uphill we work up quite a sweat. The path continues straight ahead at the refuge until it reaches the road. We cross the Glashüttenbach stream and reach the Zigeunergrund. Through dense forest we pass the old mining site "Alter Fritz" and reach Weitersglashütte.At the stage destination, an inn invites you to stop for a break.