Eupen circuit (22km)

The sun is setting earlier but there's still enough daylight for some decent hiking, so let's do a circuit from Eupen (~22km, 300m elevation), capital of Belgium's German-speaking region in the far east of the country. We will mostly be hiking in forest, past the Wesertalsperre reservoir (the largest in Belgium), and finally through Eupen itself. If we're thirsty at the end, which we probably will be, we will surely find somewhere there for an (optional) drink before we head back to Brussels on the direct train.

The weather forecast is for a few showers and a little sun, so bring a rain coat. The path may be muddy in places.

We will walk at an average speed of 5km/h. This is quite fast. We will walk both on paved and unpaved roads. I’ve never walked this route before, so it’s possible there are some mistakes in the planning.

You can find the GPX track here: https://mapy.com/s/husaguvune

Meeting point and train
We meet at 08h45 in front of the Starbucks in Brussels Central.
The train IC 507 (Eupen) leaves from platform 3 at 09:01 (you can also join this train at Brussel Zuid 8:56, Brussel Noord 9:07).
It arrives at 10:42 in Eupen.

Train tickets
- Single Brussels to Eupen, € 14.60 or € 8.80 with Train+
- Single Eupen to Brussels, same prices
You probably want to buy the Train+ card for the introductory price of € 3 (1 month) or € 24 (12 months). You will save € 11.60 just today. It can be bought in the SNCB/NMBS app or at ticket machines.

Train back to Brussels
There are direct trains from Eupen to Brussels every hour at xx:17, taking 1h38.

Specifics
Distance: ~ 22 km
Elevation gain: ~ 300 m
Net walking time: ~ 5h
Level: Fairly easy

In the unlikely case of too bad weather, we may cancel a hike, even a few hours before the event. If this happens, we will of course update the Meetup website and send out a message to those registered. So, it is important to have access to either the Meetup.com website and/or your email.

What to bring
- lunch - we will not stop at a cafe/restaurant for lunch
- comfortable hiking clothes – waterproof hiking shoes
- extra socks to change + compeed for blisters
- water (min 2l) and enough food for the breaks
- sun protection oil, a head and sunglasses OR a raincoat
(please consult the weather forecast on www.meteo.be)
- mosquito/tick repellent
- some money for drinks/snacks/etc

Basic rules
The number of participants is limited, so make sure that you RSVP only if you really intend to come. If your plans change, update your RSVP asap. This is basic courtesy towards others. Last day cancellations, no-shows and Internet warriors are not appreciated.
Only people whose name appears on the main list may come to the hike.

Acknowledgement of member responsibility and release of liability
You are responsible for yourself and should be fit enough if you choose to take part. As participation in this event is strictly voluntary and you freely choose to join, it is the responsibility of individuals participating to ensure that they are fit enough and have adequate coverage to protect themselves. By signing up for this event, you agree to release the organisers from any responsibility and liability.