I just googled the images of Thuringian Forest - it does look beautiful and quite similar to the places I visited.

What's with the hypoxia...? You're too young for that, I think...

Ummm... I think it's the sedentary lifestyle. It's not just me, many lowlanders get hypoxia at higher altitudes - not severely, but shortness of breath is very common while going up on a slope. I also only feel breathlessness and rapid heart rate while climbing up which subsides quickly if I take a break for few minutes. I don't know if it should be taken seriously; I blame caesareans for my poor physical stamina.