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The Club's History
The Club came to life as a result of a "beery" mood in early summer 1968, when 7 friends decided at the "Deutschherren-Stube" to participate at one of the once popular "Volksmarches" in Ellwangen.This lead to an "improvised" event in Crailsheim the very same year. 
According to its statute the Club pursues two goals:
Enacting own events and participating in other hiking events in other cities.

In the meantime the enactment of own actictivities has led to to our winter hiking event, next to our event in August in Crailsheim,
various visits to events elsewhere (single or by bus), annually trips, lasting several days, holiday festivities, women circles, etc. Since 2002 there exists a cooperation between us and the "Team" and the "Young Walker's Tour".

The hiking movement is a common sportive cause, practiced throughout Europe. As a result of the 17th International Crailsheim Hiking Event, the former 2nd club vice president Simon Lutz wrote in 1984.

"An unaware person, hiking through the Schoenebuerg forest on August 16th/ 17th, might not have trusted his eyes and ears.
Besides several German dialects he could have heard French and Italian sounds, Swiss German and South Tyrolian, English and Belgian Dutch. On the jackets could be read names like Louveteaux, Marckolsheim, Amis de la Moder Schweighouse, Rohrbach les Bitsches, Randonneur du Hartmannswillerkopf Wuenheim (all France), Heemelsdeiercher Senningen and FC Tricolore Gasperisch (both Luxembourg), MC Eupen (Belgium), WFr. St. Margrethen and WF Harmonia Kreuzlingen (Switzerland), Tannheim, Krengelbach and Pfänder Bödele Bregenz (Austria), Monteforte d`Alpone (Italy) and the checkered shirts of the Southtyrolians from Bozen could be seen. The riddle's solution: The Wanderfreunde Crailsheim had their 17th international hiking event. Connected with it was the 6th Europe-Marathon. There already had been bookings in advance by 230 groups, including single bookers from Paris, Schleswig, St. Poelten near Vienna, Bern and Flanders, which means that the Wanderfreunde Crailsheim have a range of more than 800 km."

In 1979 the "Europe-Marathon" was created in Crailsheim. The Wanderfeunde Crailsheim was the first hiking club in northern Wuerttemberg, daring to offer such a distance. In the first place it was planned just as a try-out, without any serious sportive character, without any time limit and without any classification. There were little thoughts given to supply-problems. But nowadays these tasks are accomplished handsomely. The idea of turning this local event into an international one originated with the former club president Helmut Scheiterlein.

Since the founding days greater groups always have been honored by special trophies, including very special tournament trophies,
decorating many a club room. There is also a club banner. It was ordained in 1984. Its purpose is to be a flourishment, to stimulate the feeling of comradship and to be a sign of pride.

Many a hiking event has come into being since 1968. There always has been heard, and still is, from visitors from near and far:
"Once Crailsheim, forever Crailsheim !".May this motto always be a stimulation and an example for all the club's voluntary workers,so that we can make your stay in Crailsheima marvelous experience.

In 2010 Wanderfreunde Crailsheim officially celebrate their 40th anniversary. 
To comemorate the jubilee the Club's secretary Heinz G. Kaern has published a chronology of the Club's history. 

Club's History by Heinz G. Kaern