group outings

Four years after the last big trip of the Hess Group to Kleinwalsertal, we were again able to use the Darmstädter Haus in Hirschegg, Austria, for a seminar trip from Aug 31 until Sept 02, 2022. This time, compared to the last time, the team was made up of the new doctoral students from the last three years, as well as long-time colleagues and Prof. Christian Hess. Over the course of four days, current research results were presented and placed in the context of the corresponding research areas regarding the major open questions in these areas. In retrospect of cooperations and developments of former as well as current scientific collaborators, we started to explore possible cooperation possibilities of the current research projects within our group to achieve synergies between individual projects in the future.

In addition to these lectures and discussions in the morning and evening hours, we took advantage of the almost exclusively sunny weather for hikes. On Thursdays we crossed the Breitachklamm followed by a hike along the Schwarzwasserbach. We climbed the Hahneköpfle of the Ifen as a group on Friday, enjoyed the view and took a long overdue, though unfortunately not complete, group picture of our current group members at the summit cross. The most motivated of our summiters did not miss the opportunity to climb the Hoher Ifen for an even better view all the way to the Bodensee. Afterwards, a stop at the Ifenhütte with cultural exchange in the form of Obstler, pretzels and beer was not to be missed.

After the scientific and sporting program, we spent the evenings together in convivial company in the beautiful indoor and outdoor areas of the Darmstädter Haus. We also enjoyed dinner together, where we could regularly taste regional and vegan cuisine, depending on our personal preferences.

After four days we could look back on a great time together, with many new scientific ideas and suggestions as well as somewhat tired legs from our great hikes. We hope to have the opportunity again in the next few years to spend time together with new doctoral students and staff in the Darmstädter Haus in Hirschegg (Maximilian Pfeiffer).

This year, most of the group members voted for a bike tour again: on the tracks of an old trade route which in the Middle Ages led from Frankfurt via Erfurt to Leipzig. The starting and meeting point was Frankfurt/ Enkheim. From there, a few steep inclines had to be conquered right away. They were a real effort, especially for inexperienced cyclists.

So we reached our first intermediate destination, the “Regionalpark-Route Hohe Straße”. This 38 km cycling and hiking route offers wonderful views of the Frankfurt skyline, wide landscapes and forests. Art installations invite you to contemplate and linger. The route is well-maintained and is wonderful to cycle along. Actually, the Hohe Straße leads to Büdingen. However, we decided to visit the Celtic World in Glauburg/ Glauberg. A picnic in front of the church in the picturesque village of Eichen and cool drinks on the museum terrace in Glauburg were the reward for an exhausting ride in great sunshine. The visit to the museum, the architecture of which has been awarded several times, was a MUST in order to dive into the Celtic world of 2400 years ago.

The return journey by Deutsche Bahn turned out to be somewhat more difficult than planned due to the GDL strike. After a few detours and punctures, everyone arrived home safe and sound.

Because of the special danger by the Sars-CoV2 virus we decided to go on a group excursion by bike. Thus, physical distancing was no problem. The destination of our journey was the “Kühkopf Nature Reserve” on the Old Rhine. We all met at Darmstadt main train station. We rode to the August-Euler-Airfield, where the TU operates a wind tunnel and a direct current testrun insolated by gas. Then, we continued on cycling paths and the fields to Stockstadt.

Around 12 o'clock we had a nice picknick at the “Hofgut Guntershausen”. There were again all kinds of treats we had brought with us. Under the big tree in the middle of the estate we took rest in the pleasant shade. After the inspection of the oil pump (out of order since 1994), we continued our tour alongside the apple tree avenue to the Rhine river. Some wooded stretches provided cooling for a short time, which we all longed for. At midday, the temperatures had risen to over 30 °C. On the way back, we stopped at the viewpoint of the “Swedensäule”, an obelisk at the spot where King Karl Gustav of Sweden and his troops had crossed the Rhine in 1631 to defeat the Spanish.

Shortly before the return trip, surprisingly, we had an encounter with AK Rose at the Erfelder Brücke. They probably had made the same trip and were also on their way back to Darmstadt.

Via the villages Goddelau, Wolfskehlen, Griesheim we also started the return journey. The well-deserved refreshments in the castle beer garden stood at the end of a nice excursion.

In August our group trip took us to the Frankfurt Palmengarten. Due to the fine weather we could marvel at the lush flora in the greenhouses, admire the botanical variety outside, walk around, try out deck chairs in the sunbathing areas and fortify ourselves with a picnic we brought along.

With approximately 22 hectares of park and 7,000 m² of greenhouses, the “Palmengarten” in Frankfurt is one of the largest gardens in Germany. Visitors can experience the flora of various climate zones in the respective glass pavilions for tropical and subtropical plants up to a sub-arctic landscape and two desert landscapes. The spacious park is thematically planted into rose garden, rock garden and rododendron garden, It invites visitors to stroll around.

At the end of the day we walked to the banks of the Main river where we sipped a drink or two. It was a beautiful day with many impressions, instructive meetings and enough exercise in the fresh air! All requirements for a successful excursion fulfilled!

The 10th anniversary of the Hess working group at the TU Darmstadt was the opportunity to summarize the previous research results and to develop a strategy for the future during a 3-day workshop. For this purpose the whole group headed to the Darmstadt House in Hirschegg, Austria, a retreat.

In the morning and partly also in the afternoon, the scientific staff gave lectures on the state of research with the prospect of cross connections. Whenever the weather, which unfortunately was not good for us, allowed it, short hikes were undertaken: climbing the Ifen / Hahnenköpfle, walking through the Breitachklamm. For the evenings we soon found a ritual: dinner, followed by joint discussions with digestive liquor. Those who still had energy could let off steam while playing table tennis and table soccer.