D · Early feeling of spring in February [23 February 2021]

Short, dark winter days, together with restrictions to stem Corona infections, were already stressful enough for people.

View from Philippshöhe to the city centre of Hagen | 1

The onset of winter in February with unusually extensive snowfall and persistent frost causing road and rail traffic to collapse in many places in North Rhine-Westphalia, restricted life even further.

A short walk from central main station Hagen, you reach Philippshöhe.

From there, you have views towards the city center, to suburbs of Hagen, Ruhrtal Valley, and hills north of that.

A week before, there was still 40 cm of snow here – now, you can feel, that spring is near. Long time ago, a forest plantation area was located here: Simply signs were used until the 1950s, after which fences were built. Now, chopped remains of trees pile up.

Suddenly and just as unexpectedly, the air temperature rose by more than 30°C: Early spring arrived with 20°C warmth and 10 hours of sunshine – almost no one could stay indoors. Get out and enjoy nature, was their personal order of the day for many: The first birds were chirping their mating calls, and next to a few remnants of snow, colourful spring blossoms rose up between brown leaves and thin greenery.

So, some naturists took advantage of that and went on their first nude hike of this year in a city forest on Philippshöhe of their home town Hagen in Westfalia. The hike was delightful for more than two hours.

In between, we took a break on a bench in the sunshine with coffee and cake, which Thomas had carried. We exchanged spring greetings and good wishes with many other people along the way.