The beginning of this January was really wintry. Some days were sunny and cool yet you could observe a bit of snow.The nights were bright with little frost so you could see the stars clearly.The country people and lumberers could enjoy such weather. Moreover it was good for wild animals. The people from Vilnius rejoysed at the first ‘’Snaigės” (Snowflakes”) hike which is organized by the traveller Algimantas Jucevičius every year.
   Traditionally, Dzūkija national park organizes the night hike to the partisans’ bunker.
   Henrikas Gudavičius was the first to arrange such hikes and it was him who 16 years ago discovered most bunkers reportedly. There were partisans’ command posts there in 1945-1946.In those years a short Kazimieraitis partisan road was recreated .It was the road which united all the partisans..The Lithuanian Army Colonel lieutenant worked at Kabeliai forestry at the end of the war.It was just the place where he started to unite people who spontaneously resisted against the envasion. At first Kazimieraitis who hid himself in the swamps of Astrava was taken in charge by Kabeliai people, later the command post was transfered not far from Rudnelė village,by the Madždžeris and Skroblus rivers.Further- beyond the Merkys near Lankininkai village and in Kasčiūnai.Then it was in Žaliamiškis not far from Vilkautinis village.On the second of June 1946 Kazimieraitis was killed there. The family of the partisans’ leader withstood a lot of hardships.His five sons, a daughter and his wife Genovaitė Grybauskaitė- Vitkauskienė survived. And their life is described in the book “Colonel Kazimieraitis” by one of his sons Vytautas Vitkus.
   A lot of people went on a hike this year. Most students were from Varėna “Ąžuolas “ secondary school.Our route usually starts near the visitors centre of Dzūkija national park in Marcinkonys village and runs up to Rudnelė village.till the bunker which still exists by the Skroblus and Madždžeris springs.This year we again visited the cottage of Gražina Didelytė (who passed away a year ago) in the village of Rudnelė.There we met Merkinė people who had already been waiting for us.
   When we approached the partisans’ command post we noticed that nothing had changed since our last visit.The same tall pine trees and fir trees.Then on the 12th of January 1946 the partisans were attacked and there the partisan from Rudnelė village Ėglis-Jonas Kraunekis was killed. Mindaugas Lapelė reminded 62 year old events.Mindaugas Černiauskas started the hymn.The candles were burning.We were so friendly to each other.It was just what the partisans were dreaming about hiding in the bunkers.

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