Normally, however, he travels by off-road vehicle for his work. Since 2000, he has installed 1800 signs with 36,000 destinations in the Schmallenberg Sauerland and the vacation region Eslohe region alone. A complex job: researching the local trail markers and old hiking maps, walking the terrain, recording the routes in the digital map program, designing the graphic implementation of the signs, setting them up and maintaining them - he does it all himself. "I think it's an honorable task to be able to show others the way. I leave a small landmark with every sign," says Andre Mergheim.

His father adjusts his felt hat and walks straight uphill again. "The trail work keeps him fit," says his son and laughs as he looks at our reddened faces. "The Hardtkopfsteig is a climb, which means it's steep," Meinolf smiles mischievously and reveals a trick to us: breathe in audibly for three to four steps, then breathe out for three. "The breathing technique makes it easier to get up. "He started trail work when he retired - on a voluntary basis. His projects start long before he can even set off with an axe, saw and a large portion of stamina. "If I have an idea of where the path should go, I first have to ask the forest owners. As a local, I usually have a good chance, unlike if I were to ask an official body." A trail like this is always an annual or even multi-year project. Meinolf builds one section of the trail after another until he is able to connect them all.

As we make the final ascent to the summit, Meinolf Mergheim lifts a large stone out of the way and cuts down a young birch tree to make room for the mowing crew. However, the aim is always to keep the path as natural as possible. Here, at the highest point of the Hardtkopf, there is a summit cross. "My father not only carpentered it himself, Sondern he also hauled the beams up there himself, built it and fixed it with the stones," says Andre. Even though the view around the cross is now overgrown, it is a highlight on the trail, which now bears the name of the trailblazer. The local restaurateur Karl Anton Schütte named it after him without further ado and, as a surprise, had signs erected with the inscription "Meinolf-Mergheim-Hardtkopfsteig".

The view is almost three kilometers further on: from the sun terrace of the Knollenhütte, we look out over the Schmallenberg countryside. Highlights such as a refreshment stop are important to the Oberkirchener when planning his route - and he is happy to take a detour for a piece of delicious cake. He looks at the hikers who come to the terrace via his path with satisfaction. The paths - they are his life's work. The evening sun shines on the friendly man's face and we enjoy the quiet moment together. "You have to leave many paths open in life and not just drive in one lane," sums up Meinolf, whose name says it all: it stands for strength and the wise forest walker, the wolf.

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