Germany meeting 2023 – Freiburg/Schwarzwald
Caption: Hinterzarten in the Black Forest
The meeting took place between Thursday and Sunday – the 8th and 11th of June, in Schwarzwald (the Black Forest) near Freiburg, as LC Freiburg organized it. We stayed in a hut owned by the Faculty of Forestry, Hydrology, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Freiburg and is within the faculty’s research forest. It’s located about 40 minutes from the closest train station, so we got a proper walk every time we needed to get somewhere by train.
Thursday was mostly just for us to get to Freiburg and the hut. The atmosphere of the place immediately captured everyone, especially after a nice dinner. The evening was filled with games and getting to know each other.
The physically most challenging day was certainly Friday, as a long hike up the summit of the mountain Feldberg was planned. It’s the highest mountain in Baden-Würtenberg, with a height of 1493 meters. At the beginning of the hike, we crossed the research forest, where participants were shown the practices used to convert the existing even-aged spruce monoculture into a more climate-resilient forest of mixed species and ages, lowering the risk of large-scale mortality due to increased temperatures and storms.
Caption: taking a break after arriving at Feldsee, below the summit of Feldberg
The next stop was Lake Feldsee. The Feldsee is a kettle formed during the ice age. It is also one of the only two locations in central Europe of Isoёtes echinospora, an underwater fern species.
Caption: View overlooking the summit of the Feldberg
Afterward, the hardest part of the hike began – it rewarded us with breathtaking views once we got above the artificial tree line. We enjoyed the landscape maintained through the light grazing of cows, goats, and sheep herds.
The hike didn’t end at the top. We climbed down the other side of the mountain to get some cake and drinks at a hut and discovered that one of the roads was closed, and our bus was canceled. We opted for taking a different bus and walking the rest of the distance – about 2 hours more than the original plan. Meaning we went from about the 16 km planned to over 23 km. However, everyone persevered, and it didn’t bring down the overall mood. Instead, at the end of the journey, we rewarded ourselves with a swim in a lake near the hut, which definitely brought much-needed refreshment to anyone who got in the water. The day was finished with dinner and a murder game.
Caption: the gondola heading up Schauinsland, going over habitat for Chamois
On Saturday, people from the IFSS OC split from the other participants to work as they had their in-person OC meeting. But the rest of us went on another hike – this time going mostly only down. After a tram and bus ride, we went back to Freiburg by train to visit the Hausberg of Freiburg, Schauinsland. We took a gondola up to the Schauinsland summit. The landscape at the summit is maintained as part of the Biosphere reserve; grazing with goats is supported to modify the form of the beech trees, creating unique habitats for uncommon species of lichen.
Caption: the group of hikers as they descend Schauinsland
As we descended, we observed the gradual change in tree species as we went down, from spruce and beech to a patchwork of stands of Douglas-fir, fir, and broadleaved species. We stopped many times to enjoy the views and cliffs of the mountainside. Close to the bottom, we crossed by a group of beehives where fir-honey is produced.
Caption: The group at the Mathisle Muehle on the final night
Once we returned to the cabin, a few of us went swimming – meeting people from the IFSS OC just returning from the lake as they had the same idea. Another fun evening could begin with everyone back – with a bonfire, tasting foods from different countries or regions, and more.
Written by Anna Stara and Ben Aldrich
