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