On Friday, April 10th, the IFRoS cohort swapped the robotics labs for hiking boots, embarking on our annual spring excursion to the historic Castell de Sant Miquel.
Meeting at Plaça de la Independència at 10:00 AM, the students were joined by the IFRoS Academic Coordinator, Narcís Palomeras Rovira, and the Master's Program Manager, Imma Güell Costa. From the city center, the group traced a classic route starting near the iconic Cul de la Lleona, winding through the lush forested trails of the Gavarres massif up to the castle ruins.
Covering an impressive 11 kilometers over the four-hour trek, the route offered a great physical workout and stunning panoramic views of the region. But the true highlight of the day was the chance to connect outside the university walls. With the IFRoS program bringing together brilliant minds from vastly different countries and cultures, the trail became a moving hub of cultural exchange.
Walking side-by-side with the program leaders in a completely relaxed setting, conversations flowed naturally. The group chatted about everything from sports and upcoming summer internships to the excitement of next year's mobility, when the cohort will branch out to our partner institutions in Zagreb (UNIZG) and Budapest (ELTE).
Of course, you can take the engineers out of the lab, but you can’t take the engineering out of the students! At every fork in the forest trail, the group couldn't help but crack jokes about "path planning algorithms," pausing to debate which trail branch represented the truly "optimal path" to the summit.
Upon reaching the top, the group settled under the shade of the trees for a well-earned picnic. With everyone bringing their own sandwiches and trail snacks to share, the rest stop turned into a communal break. It was a simple but perfect moment to rest the legs, swap stories, and enjoy the sweeping views of the city before beginning the descent.
Returning to the city center just after 2:00 PM, the group was tired but energized. The hike was a perfect reminder that the IFRoS experience is about more than just mastering field robotics – it is about building a tight-knit, global network of friends and future colleagues.
The day did not end there, however. Back in Girona, many participants continued the gathering in a more informal setting, enjoying a well-deserved drink together and extending the conversations started on the trail. It was a great way to further strengthen the bonds within the group.
The excursion also brought together members beyond the IFRoS cohort, with the participation of PhD students and students from the Master in Intelligent Robotic Systems (MIRS) programme, enriching the experience through even more diverse perspectives and connections.
A special thank you to Narcís and Imma for joining us on the trails and making it such a memorable day. We are already looking forward to our next off-grid adventure!