Switzerland: Life on the Edge in the Alps by Taylor Stephens, Brittany Buroker, and Jonathan Lewis

History

Much history has occurred on the soil of what we know today as Switzerland. According to Annie Kishman, “Switzerland has changed hands many times. Originally, the Celts settled it. Then came the Romans in around 107 BC followed by the Germanic tribes and the Franks in the 5th century.” However, Switzerland only started to develop into what we know today in the year 1291. On August 1st, 1291, the Swiss Confederation was founded. This was developed by three cantons as a defense alliance. Cantons are individual nation states. During the years to follow, many other cantons joined along with the original three to increase the size of the Swiss Confederation. The Confederation in 1499 secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire. Roughly 350 years later, in 1848 the Confederation formed a constitution which replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. WWI and WWII came around and Switzerland stayed neutral and avoided getting involved in either war. The neutrality that Switzerland is known for has been a model of theirs for many years. Switzerland became a member of the United Nations in 2002. They are active in many UN and international organizations but retain their model that they have stood on for many years, neutrality.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sz.html

Geography

The Swiss Alps are what most people think about thinking about geography. The Alps literally surround the whole country and provide for a beautiful scene and pictures. According to Annie Kishman’s blog the mountains cover 70% of the country. As a result, its mountainous terrain is what makes all the extreme sports possible. Jenna Stern’s blog notes that the mountains also harbor glaciers, which provide many waterfalls pouring from the cliffs. She also mentions that there are several roaring rivers that empty in the eastern and western lakes.

As Annie Kishman wrote, Switzerland is not a participant of the European Union. Due to its independence this means that the currency is different than the Euro. Even though the Swiss Frank is less than the Euro, Switzerland is still a very expensive country.

Weather/Climate and Packing Tips

The climate in Switzerland is moderate with temperatures not getting too hot or cold anytime of the year. This is a great aspect to Switzerland because it makes it an ideal place to visit all year round. Many of the people that travelled to Switzerland this summer experienced the not so great weather of Switzerland, rain. http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Switzerland/Climate

The temperature in Interlaken is normally on the cooler side with the high temperatures averaging 16.4 degrees Celsius as a high for July. (http://www.about.ch/geography/climate/interlaken.html) This is only 61.5 degrees Fahrenheit, which compared to Ohio weather is freezing for the summer months.

While travelling to a cooler climate destination can be refreshing, it also can be a challenge when deciding what to pack in your backpack for the weekend. I would recommend wearing layers and packing lightly. While staying in Interlaken the dress of the local people is relaxed and more geared for outdoor activities. These are the types of clothes you should bring with you. You might get warm and need to take off a jacket or sweater, so wearing a comfortable t-shirt under is a good idea. While in most countries I worried about being too hot, this is the one place I visited that this was never an issue. If you dress in warm, comfortable clothes and have rain gear packed, you will have a great action filled weekend in Interlaken.

Language

I find Switzerland fascinating in many ways however; I find the fact that they have four official languages to be the most fascinating. Those four languages include German, French, Italian, and Romansch. Not to be surprised after hearing that, the ethnic breakdown in Switzerland is Germans make up 65% of Switzerland’s population, the French 18%, Italians 10%, and the Romansch 1%; others make up 6%. This can be linked back to the history of Switzerland and how Switzerland has been developing and adapting over many years. You probably wouldn’t be surprised at this point to hear that 63.7% of the language spoken in Switzerland is German. As said before German is one of the four “official” languages and the Germans make up 65% of the population. French is spoken 20.4% of the time, Italian 6.5%, and Romansch .5%. Some of the many other languages that are spoken include: Serbo-Croatian (1.5%), Albanian (1.3%), Portuguese (1.2%), Spanish (1.1%), and English (1%).

With this information, we can draw out some key ideas for planning ahead. We know that if we want to communicate well with the people of Switzerland, we should know a few key sayings in German and French for sure. It is always nice and helpful to know the following sayings in whatever language you are going to be traveling in: “Hello”, “Goodbye”, “Please”, “Thank You” along with many others. Below is a table with all of the following words written in these languages. Practice up before you go and you will for sure not only impress the people of Switzerland, but you will make your travel and stay much more fun and exciting.

English

German/French

Pronunciation

German

Hello	Guten Tag	goo·ten tahk
Goodbye	Auf Wiedersehen	owf vee·der·zay·en
Please	Bitte	bi·te
Thank You	Danke	dang·ke
You’re welcome	Bitte (sehr)	bi·te (zair)
Yes	Ja	Yah
No	Nein	Nain
Excuse me	Entschuldigung	ent·shul·di·gung
Sorry!	Entschuldigung	ent·shul·di·gung
I Don’t Understand	Ich verstehe nicht	ikh fer·shtay·e nikht
One moment, Please.	Eine Moment, bitte	ai·ne maw·ment bi·te
Help!	Hilfe!	hil·fe

French

Hello	Bonjour/ Salut	bon·zhoor/ sa·lew
Goodbye	Au revoir	o·rer·vwar
Please	S’il vous plait	seel voo play
Thank You	Merci	mair·see
You’re welcome	Je vous en prie	zher voo zom pree
Yes	Oui	Wee
No	Non	Non
Excuse me	Excusez-moi	ek·skew·zay·mwa
Sorry!	Pardon	par·don
I Don’t Understand	Je ne comprends pas	zher ner kom·pron pa
One moment, Please.	Un moment, s’il vous plait	um mo·mon seel voo play
Help!	Au secours	o·skoor

Although these sayings are nice to have (I would recommend printing them off), from my personal experience of traveling in Switzerland most people speak English. We did run into a few people that did not, but it was surprising to see how many people actually spoke English and good English for that matter.

All this information from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sz.html

Food

The food in Switzerland is very diverse and can differ depending on where you are located within the country. They have had influences from Germany, France, and Italy since these are the countries that are surrounding Switzerland. Due to the location of Switzerland these cuisines have been incorporated into their everyday eating habits.

When one thinks of what Switzerland produces they immediately think of cheese. Fondue is one of the more traditional foods that are associated with Swiss cuisine. “Traditionally from the Swiss Alp region, this is a mixture of two to three cheeses, melted together in a pot with white wine, kirsch or cider (depending on the region). Small pieces of bread are dipped into the melted cheese.” (http://geneva.angloinfo.com/countries/switzerland/food.asp) While I was in Switzerland we ate at a fondue restaurant, which I felt was a very unique dining experience and was much different than any other during my trip in Europe. However, we found the restaurant off of Frommer’s website and they had said that it was only a two star restaurant according to price, but this ended up being the most expensive meal of my trip in Europe. While guide books give good suggestions, there opinion of what is inexpensive is not always the same as a college student’s.

Another typical Swiss dish is called raclette and is another melted cheese dish. This dish is made up of a block of raclette cheese being held over an open fire. The melted layers are then peeled off and the cheese is then eaten with potatoes or bread. Swiss chocolate is a whole food industry in itself and is seen by many as the best chocolate in the world. Jenna Stern explains how trying Swiss chocolate was at the top of her list of to-dos in her blog when she says, “Eating Swiss chocolate was accomplished within the first five minutes of stepping off the train…” Not only is Switzerland one of the most beautiful countries to see, the food is also delicious!

While chocolate and cheese is what Switzerland is known for when talking cuisine, the influence of other cultures is very visible throughout Interlaken. There were many different type of restaurants within Interlaken and many of them do not specialize in Swiss cuisine. While I was there we ate at a low-key Thai restaurant that was really good; as well as an Italian place. The best advice I can give is to look at the menu to see if it is in English and to check the prices before sitting down anywhere. The quality of food is good throughout the country and most of the people I encountered were very friendly, but the prices in Switzerland were high and my budget had to be thought of before sitting down for a nice meal.

Places to Stay

There are many ways of finding great places to stay not only in Interlaken, but in every city that you travel to. During my stay in Europe I used www.hostelworld.com very frequently. Some other sites that you can use include: www.hostels.com or www.TFThostels.com. Hostel World is extremely easy to use and will lead you to meaningful information in just a few clicks.

I personally stayed in a hostel named Funny Farm while I was in Interlaken. I was very pleased with my stay and the workers were very friendly. According to Hostel World on June 28th, 2010 Funny Farm had an 85% rating. This hostel has many amenities included within the price and many others that cost an additional fee. A few of the free amenities include: WiFi access in lobby, outdoor swimming pool, pool table, fuss ball table, linens, and 24 hour security. Along with this you can pay an additional fee for a breakfast buffet, dinner in their restaurant, towels, and drinks at their bar. For further information you can go to http://www.hostelworld.com/availability.php/Funny-Farm/Interlaken/2155. This hostel has many styles of room including: twin privates, double bed privates, 4 bed mixed dorms, 6 bed mixed dorms, 6 bed female dorms, 8 bed mixed dorms, and 10 bed mixed dorms. The only downfall to this Hostel is its location. This hostel is located in the East part of Interlaken and most of the nightlife and restaurants are located in the West part of Interlaken. Overall I believe that this hostel is a great choice.

Another great option for lodging is the Happy Inn Lodge which is just a five minute walk to Interlaken West-Station. One of our members, Taylor, stayed here and in his words, “All the people that worked there were really nice, it was clean, however breakfast was expensive and not worth the money.” Some of the amenities included are sheets and free WiFi. This hostel is centrally located with just a 5 minute walk to about everything you can imagine. For more information on this hostel you can visit http://www.hostelworld.com/availability.php/Happy-Inn-Lodge/Interlaken/3463.

The third and final recommendation for lodging in Interlaken is Schutzenbach Retreat which is located in the small town of Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland which is right outside of Interlaken. For more information about this choice for lodging, you can visit http://www.schutzenbach-retreat.ch/sites/index.htm. As Katie Hicks said in her blog, “Staying in Lauterbrunnen gives more of a rustic feel and is a better location to take in the landscape of the Swiss Alps.”

Activities

Interlaken is considered the Mecca of Europe for extreme sports and activities. As Katie Hick’s noted in her blog, it isn’t hard to find a place to sign up because there were posters all over promoting the various activities. Any extreme sport that you can imagine is offered in Interlaken. Annie Kishman recommends the Alpin Raft especially if you have a large group with you. Alpin Raft hosts skydiving, bungee jumping, canyon jumping, paragliding, and canyoning. Additionally they speak very good English and are great at helping those decide which activities to do.

Some of the more popular extreme sports are white water rafting, canyoning, bungee jumping and canyon jumping. White water rafting takes about one hour and a half to complete and costs about 85 US dollars. If you do not like to be cold than this is not for you because the water is about 4 degrees Celsius and even though Alpin Raft provides wetsuits it is still rather chilly. Additionally canyoning is another cold extreme sport and is not for the faint of heart because it includes climbing up and down rocks that are wet and really slippery.

If you are an adrenaline junkie than bungee jumping and canyon jumping are for you. Alpin Raft hosts two types of bungee jumps, one off a gondola and another off a glacial gorge. The gondola jump is 500 feet of free fall while the glacial gorge is 300. The gondola jump is more expensive than the glacial gorge but well worth the money because it is very scenic and world-renowned. The canyon jump is about 400 feet of free fall and instead of being vertical the whole time it is more like a swing that allows you to free fall until it catches you at the bottom and takes you through out the gorge. All of these adventures have optional picture packages with them and are recommended because these are priceless photos that you can show of to friends and family.

Night life

Interlaken isn’t the most famous place to party in Europe, but that does not mean there is a lack of activities at night. The town’s tourism is made up of mostly short-term sightseers that the clientele of any bar or disco can change from week to week. You don’t have to look terribly hard in order to find a bar because Interlaken has one of the highest bars per-capita rates of any towns in Switzerland. As a result it is easy to find a drinking buddy in one of the clubs. Buddy’s Pub, in the Hotel Splendid, Höheweg 33 (tel. 033/822-76-12), reminds me of an upscale version of an Irish pub. If you want to combine dancing and drinking then go to Johnny Carlton’s Club, inside the Hotel Carlton, Höheweg 94 (tel. 033/826-01-60). The High-Life club, Rugenparkstrasse 2 (tel. 079/415-09-07), has been a popular stop for many of the locals; in fact it brings a significant crowd from the surrounding valleys. Normally the clubs in Interlaken cost about 7F or $5.75.

If dancing isn’t your favorite past time there is a casino that you can risk your money and gamble for a night or two. The Casino Kursaal, Höheweg at Strandbadstrasse (tel. 033/827-61-00; www.casino-kursaal.ch) is a good place to spend your night after a day of hiking trails or floating down a river. It is also place for dinner and entertainment, hosting a Swiss Folklore show. The dinner and show is a little pricy, but well worth one’s time.

Other Places to Visit in Switzerland

Interlaken was the most popular city to visit during our stay in Europe; however, there are other cities within Switzerland that are worth visiting. Two other cities that were visited and were given high reviews were Zurich and Lucerne.

Zurich is the highest populated city in Switzerland with around 370,000 inhabitants (http://www.world66.com/europe/switzerland/zurich). The city is located on Lake Zurich, and this lake separates the city into two sections. The Old City, located on the left bank of the lake, is full of cute shops, cafes and antique shops. While on the right side of the lake is where the ‘Bahnhofstrasse' - one of the most beautiful shopping streets in Europe and where the high fashion stores are located; like Gucci, Prada, and Burberry (http://www.world66.com/europe/switzerland/zurich). The city itself is relaxed compared to other large European cities. The people seem to enjoy just walking along the lake, enjoying a dinner in an outdoor café, or strolling through the shops in the Old City or on Bahnhofstrasse. Another unique aspect to Zurich is their public transportation system. There are practically no cars on the street due to the tram system throughout the city. It is definitely a walker’s paradise, being able to cross the street whenever you want; only worrying about a tram passing through. The Landesmuseum, also known as The Swiss National Museum, is also located here and is a place where you can learn a lot about Swiss culture and history. For more information about this museum you can check out this website: http://www.musee-suisse.ch/e/zuerich/index.php.

Lucerne is another beautiful city within Switzerland located approximately, two hours from Interlaken by eurail. It is a small city with only 57,533 people living there (http://www.swissworld.org/en/geography/towns/lucerne/). It is different from Zurich and Interlaken in that it captures both the mountains and a city all in one. In Zurich you get a beautiful city on a lake and in Interlaken there is a town, but the Swiss Alps is what really captures the tourist’s eye. In Lucerne the typical Swiss style architecture along with the Swiss Alps in the distance, truly make it a picturesque city to visit. There are two bridges that connect the two sides of Lucerne together, which are built over the Reuss River that comes out of Lake Lucerne. The main one is a covered wooden bridge and fits perfectly into the architecture of this city in the Swiss Alps. There are again many shops to visit, cafes to dine at, and have excursions which are available nearby that can take you into the Alps. While it does not hold the same adventure that Interlaken offers, Lucerne is still a beautiful Swiss city that is definitely worth visiting.

Pictures

Between Lakes

Between Lakes

Interlaken gets its name from its position between two lakes, Lake Brienz to the east ad Lake Thun to the west. Interlaken is located in a valley of Switzerland surrounded by the Swiss Alps, some of the most breathtaking mountains I have ever seen. In the past Interlaken made money through printing, textiles and watch making. Today this city revolves around tourism and for very good reasons. Thrill seeking tourists travel from all over the world to experience some of the most rare and extreme sports and activities. These activities include skiing, white water rafting, canyoning, skydiving, paragliding, bungy jumping and canyon swinging. The geography of Interlaken is what makes it possible for people to try these things. The mountains harbor many glaciers, which create the hundreds of waterfalls pouring off the cliffs and the roaring rivers that empty in the eastern and western lakes. So while I was there I figured I would definitely try to experience some of this for myself. My friends and I decided on rafting and canyon jumping, two VERY different activities.

When we arrived in Interlaken it wasn’t hard to find a place to sign up for activities. We found a really great place called Alpin Raft where we could get good package discounts. They were extremely nice people and very helpful. They provided us transportation pretty much wherever we wanted and were able to accommodate large groups of people. When we arrived we suited up and learned how to raft, 20 minutes later it was time to get in the water with our instructor Sven. We quickly found out w

hat it feels like to jump into 40 degree Fahrenheit water coming strait from melting glaciers! We went on down the Black Luchita (meaning darker dirty ground water) crashing in to huge class 4 rapids and rocks with Sven screaming at us form behind.Eventually we merged with the White Luchita (clear water from the mountains) where the water became a little smoother. Sven took this opportunity to give a little history lesson of Interlaken. He told us about a huge flood that took place in 2005 affecting Germany, Switzerland, Romania, Austria and a few countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Large areas of these countires were wiped out and in most cases still being rebuilt. In the village of Lauterbrunnen, Swtizerland, which is actually where I stayed, was hit particularly hard. The only exit from the town is a narrow gorge just wide enough for the river, road and railway; during the flood the river expanded to fill the entire gorge. The damages the flood b

rought are still visible, the bridges we rafted under were rebuilt with more durable materials and for a while, on one side of the river there are no trees from where the water washed them away. Over all, this rafting trip was not only an adventure, but one of the many ways the experience the Switzerland culture.

Like rafting, the canyon swing is another extreme adventure. We had originally planed on going canyoning, which involves jumping into pools, repealing down rocks and sliding down natural waterfalls. However, since it rained the entire weekend the water was to high and it was 45 degrees Fahrenheit outside, not exactly suitable weather for playing in water. Our group had about 30 seconds to decide if we wanted to canyon swing. This is similar to bungy jumping, but you are in more of a full body harness and you jump of a cliff into a narrow canyon above a rushing river and free falling 50 ft at 80 mph. This was a very intense situation, which may be why it took me almost 20 minutes to finally be pushed by the instructor! My justification in deciding to partake in such a potentially life threatening experience was the fact that Switzerland is one of three places on earth you can go canyon swinging. If I had backed out I knew I would never have a chance to do something like it again. The deep narrow canyons are what allow for such an activity. Without the Swiss Alps Interlaken would not be able to live off any tourism, the mountains are what make their way of life possible.

On a side note, for the next person going to Interlaken, don’t stay in Interlaken. Just outside, about a 25-minute train ride, the village Lauterbrunnen is a perfect place to stay. It is located higher above the Interlaken valley and is a very quiet little neighborhood area. I stayed at theSchutzenbach Campsite where Miami University students have been going to for almost 30 years. There are always lots of other students there and everyone goes to hang out at the campsite bar to play a round of the ‘Stump game.’ It is also possible to sign up for all the activities without going to Interlaken and there are plenty of delicious restaurants serving the best fondue I have ever had! Staying the Lauterbrunnen gives more of a rustic feel and is a better location to take in the landscape of the Swiss Alps.

Extreme Sports and Extreme Landscapes

Extreme Sports and Extreme Landscapes

My journey to Switzerland was definitely an unforgettable 72 hours. Our destination was Lauterbrunnen, a scenic town outside of the back-packer nation of Interlaken. Lauterbrunnen is located in the valley of the Alps’ highest peak, Jungfrau, which is one of the most popular destinations of Interlaken. We chose to stay outside of Interlaken because it was a picturesque and quaint town and because the recommended campsite was full of rowdy, adventure-seeking young adults like us.

Before embarking on my journey, I did a little research and learned that Switzerland changed hands many times. Originally, the Celts settled it. Then came the Romans in around 107 BC followed by the Germanic tribes and the Franks in the 5^th century. In 1023 AD, the Holy Roman Empire was in charge of the land and lots of neighboring nobles fought over the land. The German Habsburg dynasty also had control of the land. Finally at the end of the 13^th century, the Swiss Confederation was founded.

I knew that the Alps are a major part of Switzerland’s terrain. There are literally mountains everywhere I turned. The mountains make up about 70% of Switzerland. The mountainous region most likely led to the rulers having a difficult time controlling the land. Also, Switzerland has a history of taking a neutral stance in most political issues, including not being a member of the European Union. Its neutrality is probably due to the confusing history and changes in power.

We decided that we wanted to do something adventurous and what better option that white water rafting between the Alps? Rafting is one of the many adventure sports that is offered in Interlaken. Others include: skydiving, bungee jumping, canyon jumping, paragliding, and canyoning. Alpin Raft was very accommodating to our 19-person group and we all managed to be together. I expected to struggle with a language barrier because Switzerland has three official languages: German, French, and Italian. Luckily our guide was from New Zealand and spoke good English.

We went down the Lütschine River, which is fed by the glacial melt and glaciers account for an area of 2000 square km in Switzerland. The glacial melt kept the water consistently cold and during our rafting, the water was about six degrees Celsius. In plain English, COLD! Even though the water was cold, the sights and landscapes surrounding us were mystifying. Dougie, our guide, pointed the mountainside, explaining that its formation dates back to the ice ages. Talk about a long time ago! Apparently everything that was in sight was covered by ice and that the ice would rub against the mountain side and create the distinct formations visible today.

After a few hours of thrilling rapids and getting thrown out of the raft, we ended up at Lake Brienz. It was a beautiful blue color and a great contrast to the lush greenery, grazing cows, brown mountainsides, and the quaint homes of Interlaken. The town of Interlaken is located between Lakes Thun and Brienz – probably the reason for its growth and popularity. It was founded in the 12^th century as an Augustinian monastery and gradually developed the area between the two lakes.

We finished the rafting experience by abandoning the ship for a swim in Lake Brienz. Dougie had assured us that the lake is always warmer than the river but it was still pretty darn cold. I had so much fun on my trip to Interlaken and I hope to return for more adventures.

---Annie Kishman

A View From the Top

A View From the Top

Swiss Cheese, Swiss Army Knives, Swiss Chocolate, and Swiss Watches. When I think of Switzerland these national symbols and many more come to mind. Another thing that comes to mind are the extreme sports that are common to everyday life in Switzerland such as white water rafting, canyoning, and skydiving.

While in the city of Lauterbrunnen (a city located just outside of Interlaken) this past weekend we came with the intentions of eating Swiss chocolate, buying a Swiss army knife and participating in as many extreme sports as possible. Eating Swiss chocolate was accomplished within the first five minutes of stepping off the train, buying a Swiss army knife was a last minute decision, and going white water rafting was completed, but the almost freezing, rainy weather prevented us from going canyoning or skydiving.

On Saturday morning we woke up a little sore from white water rafting the day before, but extremely excited to go canyoning for the day. We had purchased a group package deal that allowed us to do both rafting and canyoning for under two hundred francs, so we showed up to the place and waited anxiously for the van driver to pick us up and transport us to the canyon. However, when the van pulled up and we all began to pile outside we were stopped short in our tracks by the news that we would not be able to go canyoning because of the rising waters and terrible weather. We hung our heads low, but knew that safety was more important than this once in a lifetime opportunity.
After arriving back at the backpacker’s lodge after an unsuccessful morning we looked out our window and spotted a waterfall. Immediately we looked at each other and knew what we could do instead of canyoning. It wouldn’t be as extreme jumping down waterfalls and climbing through the Swiss Alps, but we knew it would be just as beautiful and a nice alternative to climb up behind the waterfall and see Switzerland from a higher altitude. So we laced up our gym shoes, layered ourselves in warm clothes and began our hike to the waterfall. After about a half hour walk we had made it to a tunnel about two hundred feet up that lay directly behind the waterfall.

From our view we were able to see the beautiful Swiss Alps, which are just one of Switzerland’s three main geographical regions. The other two are Jura and Plateau. (http://www.swissworld.org/en/geography/). These Alps are also most of the reason that we were not able to go canyoning. The reason is because the geography of Switzerland means that the climate changes a lot from one region to another and can cause heavy rainfall that leads to rivers flooding and rising waters. Among the Alps, our spot in the opposing side of the Alps gave us a great view of the living areas that lay scattered among the sides and base of the mountains. Switzerland’s topography means that the central plateau is densely populated and that industry, farming, transport and leisure activities must compete for space with residential areas. This was apparent from where we stood because within the small town of Lauterbrunnen we were able to see a number of train tracks, a wide variety of farming and industry, and plenty of space for leisure activities as well as residential living.

From our view from the top it was clear to me why we had chosen Switzerland as our weekend hot spot. We weren’t here because of the touristy aspects that consisted of swiss cheese and white water rafting (although they were a plus) but because of the amazing mountain environment that supports the economy, as well as its people. (http://www.myswissalps.com/switzerland/switzerland-nature.asp?lang=EN) . All in all, even though we weren’t able to go canyoning, hiking up to the waterfall to see the amazing view made me forget that there had been any disappointments earlier that morning.

--- Jenna Stern

Going Exteme in Switzerland

Going Exteme in Switzerland

Prior to planning my trip to Interlaken, Switzerland I called my friend who lives in Zurich and he was puzzled to why I was going to Interlaken of all places. His told me that it was “boring”. I immediately told him that I wanted to experience some extreme sports while I was in Europe. Though, I was not only keen on activities with large amounts of adrenaline, but also looking at the scenery of the Swiss Alps.

Deciding on what types of activities to do was really tough. There were many options advertised around the town of Interlaken in which I could choose from. There were two different types of bungee typing. One bungee was free fall of 150 meters. The other was over a canyon with an 80-meter free fall. Other than bungee jumping there was canyoning, skydiving, canyon jumping, and white water rafting. Unfortunately during my stay in Interlaken it rained the majority of the time and as a result my choices were severely limited.

Arriving to the extreme sports center I was disappointed to find out that canyoning was cancelled. Luckily, the center was flexible enough to fit me into white water rafting down the Lutschine. It was a surprise when they told me that a wetsuit was required in order to go in the raft because I had gone twice before and was never required to wear a wetsuit. Luckily, they were provided for us and it was a good thing because the water was about 50 degrees fareign height. Going down the river was really scenic because the river cut in-between the Swiss Alps. While I was going down the river I realized why many civilizations are formed upon bodies of water because I experienced first hand how easy it was to travel down the river.

After returning from white water rafting, I immediately prepared myself to go canyon jumping. Canyon jumping is a lot like bungee jumping but instead of going vertical the whole time, one jumps out and swings across the canyon like Spiderman or Tarzan. There is about a 100 meter free-fall, which is at first scary but after completing the jump it feels amazing. The amount of adrenaline flowing through the body after a free-fall like that is nirvana.

Once completing the jump from the canyon, the guides allow you to wander around the surrounding area for a while before jumping on the bus and heading back to the base. It is truly a special moment because the scenery is so beautiful. Looking at the snow tipped mountains truly makes for a great picture. Also the canyon from afar was a good shot too.

Once we got done with the canyon jump we took a 20-minute drive back to the extreme sports base. Once we got back we were allowed to purchase pictures of white water rafting and canyon jumping. Even though the pictures are expensive, they are worth it because they are funny to look at and in 15 years I will look back at some of the crazy things I did in Europe and remember Interlaken.

My time spent in Interlaken was well worth it because of the places I got to see. Never in my life have I seen a more beautiful place. The air was as clean as possible and everywhere I turned my head the Swiss Alps were present.

--Taylor Stephens

Alpine Athletes

Alpine Athletes

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“3…2…1…CANYONING!” I shouted before I jumped off the edge of a waterfall and let gravity pull me fifteen feet into one of the many rivers running through the Swiss Alps. Interlaken, Switzerland is one of the only places in the world where you can participate in adventure sports like canyoning, among many others. Interlaken’s identity lies with its athletic nature, but also as part of a larger country of Switzerland depicted through its support of national sports as well.

Sports and outdoor activities are heavily dependent on Interlaken’s geography. Interlaken lies in a prime location in the nestled between the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains at an elevation of 568 meters (1,864 feet) above sea level. It was deemed Interlaken for its position between the two lakes, Thunersee and Brienzersee. Many of the rivers and streams that originate in the Swiss Alps flow down through Interlaken and its forests, specifically the Aare River, making it a nature lover’s paradise. Of this beautiful geography, over a quarter of it is used for parks, recreation, and sports, a representation of the importance placed on active lifestyles.

Besides the breathtaking view of the Alps, the wide variety of activities available in Interlaken draws thousands of people to visit this town in the mountains every year in both the summer and winter seasons. Interlaken’s economy used to depend on the printing, textile, and watch-making industry of the old religious convents that used to saturate the area. Present day Interlaken depends on tourism or its main source of income.

The climate of this region is a result of influence from the Atlantic Ocean as well as the mighty Swiss Alps. The wind brings moisture and rainfall north of the Alps, while south of the Alps experiences a warmer more Mediterranean climate with less precipitation. The elevation also has some effect on the climate, producing lots of snow in areas much higher than sea level. Therefore, Interlaken experiences all kinds of weather including snow in the winter and rain in the spring, which floods the rivers. This variety of conditions makes the area good for all types of sports. In the winter, sports like skiing and snow boarding are popular. In the summer, when the weather is warmer and snow caps are melting, there are more sports to try. These include canyoning, canyon jumping, paragliding, bungee jumping, sky diving, hiking and biking,

You can sign up for activities like this almost anywhere. Many hotels and hostels offer discounted prices and even better deals when you travel in large groups. You can also book trips through travel agencies or at one of the many stands along the main streets in the city. Some of the companies to look for are Alpin Raft, Outdoor Interlaken, and Balmer’s Herberge.

Not only is Interlaken, Switzerland heavily interested in adventure sports, but has strong pride in its national sports teams. Its biggest sport is “football” (a.k.a. soccer). For the World Cup they even have public viewings set up to play the game on a movie-theater sized screen. Switzerland also has world-class sailing and hockey teams. The 2003 America’s Cup Champions, Team Alinghi, was lead by a Swiss sailor. The Zurich hockey team, the ZSC Lions have also won multiple international hockey championships, beating the Chicago Blackhawks in 2009. So whether you’re into trilling adventure excursions, or simply want to sit at a bar and cheer on a good sports team, Interlaken, Switzerland is the perfect place to be.

----Marilyn Wickenheiser