I’ve been to Bavarian Forest National Park a few times now, during every season of the year – except of winter. This was something I was thinking of for quite a while, waiting for a good opportunity to realize it. About two weeks ago, weather started to get really interesting. High pressure spread out across southern Germany and caused quiet conditions and cold nights. In the following days, an almost perfect atmospheric inversion developed, covering the lowlands and valleys under thick and persistent layers of fog. However, higher altitudes were rewarded with lots of sunshine and temperatures sometimes almost 10°C higher than below the inversion layer. As the best idea therefore is to climb a mountain to enjoy this natural phenomenon, I did so. At midnight I arrived at the National Park and after a short and cold sleep in the car I headed towards the top of Lusen. First I was a little disappointed as there was less fog in the valleys directely surrounding the mountain as I hoped for. But when I realized that the air was so clear that you could even see the Alps at the horizon, I knew this would be a gorgeous morning up there.
Almost an hour before sunrise, the eastern sky already turns deep orange and sends a beautiful indirect light across the landscape.
Down there everyone complains about the bad, foggy weather – up here you can even see the Alps.
When the sun creeps above the horizon, nothing hinders her light – the air is crystal clear.
The low sunrays emphasize the structures of the snow covering the top of Lusen.
Down in the valleys, fog and mist reveal the shift of light and shadow caused by the hills.
Due to the snow, the famous dead forest around Lusen looks even more graphically than usually.
Geometrical patterns, drawn by light and shadow.