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.

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.

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.

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.

Adventures in Interlaken

            On my way into Interlaken, Switzerland, I embraced the beauty of the nature and geography of the land. Switzerland is a very mountainous region in Europe known for their extreme recreational outdoor activities. The Alps are one of the greatest mountain ranges in the world. They stretch from Austria all the way through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany, to France in the west. This vast chain of mountains not only forms breathtaking views in the sky, but they also form the swift flow of water through the valleys in Interlaken. Because of the glaciers that are constantly melting at the top of the mountains, there are two massive flows of glacier rapids that channel down and through the valleys in Interlaken emptying into Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. Both the mountains and glacier waters are what make Interlaken a popular tourist attraction for young adventurous souls like myself.  The various activities such as skydiving, canyoning, rafting, skiing, and cliff jumping are few of the many outdoor activities that are pursued in Switzerland. During my quest in Interlaken, I ventured off onto the path of the melting glacier rapids and up to the canyon cliff jumping hot spots.

            The first full day we were in Switzerland a group of about twenty of Miami University students were in line to go white water rafting for our first daring adventure. Throughout the day, we paddled through a class four sections of the rapids that were formed from the glaciers that were melting quickly the top of the Alps. The white water rafting was also dangerous because of the countless rocks that were naturally dispersed throughout the path. This rafting experience was one of the most challenging, yet fun and exciting excursions I have ever been on.  My friends and I were able to make it to the end all in one piece!

            The second day that we were in Switzerland a smaller group of friends and I decided to do a more extreme type of activity such as canyon jumping. This jump consisted of jumping off of a 150 ft. tall cliff, down into a canyon freefalling at 80 miles per hour. Canyon jumping is similar to bungee jumping, but is unique to Interlaken because it is only done in two other locations around the world, including Africa. Canyon jumping was the scariest yet thrilling thing that I have ever done. 

After my adventures on the rapids and high up in the mountains, I decided to stay on the ground for the remainder of my trip. I hiked around Lauterbrunnen, the destination of our lodging cabin, where there was much to see. There were a couple beautiful waterfalls that surrounded the small village along with a cute little town full of Swiss flags that represented their strong sense of nationalism for their little tourist town.

            Overall my extreme recreational adventures in Interlaken were possible because of the geography of the land in Switzerland. The mountains and rapids are land features that are not commonly found across the world and therefore Switzerland takes pride in their beauty and natural ways of life. Tourists are attracted to this geographical place to catch a glimpse of the beauty and experience the recreational activities that Switzerland has to offer.  These outdoor activities make up the identity of Interlaken, Switzerland. 

Let the Adventures Begin

Switzerland: known for the Alps, Swiss cheese, and many extreme outdoor sporting activities. Switzerland has three topographical areas: Swiss Alps on the South, the central plateau, and the Jura Mountains on the North. There climate is generally temperate, but can vary from glacial conditions on the mountain tops to pleasant near Mediterranean climate. It is hard to image that in one spot on the mountain it can be cold and rainy, but in another spot it can be sunny and warm. Here is a website for more geographical information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland. For the three days that I was in Switzerland, I felt like I was in a postcard. The atmosphere and smell of the woods was so much different than living in Luxembourg City and I wanted to experience everything I could.

Switzerland is known for tourism through its outdoor activities. When I thought about going to Switzerland, I thought that the whole time I will be doing outdoor activities because that is something they are known for. These sporting activities identity and represent Switzerland as a nation with many different activities to get involved in. The first day we arrived to Interlaken, we picked out activities that we wanted to partake in. We found a company called Alpinraft and we got a package deal for white water rafting and canyoning. Here is their website for more outdoor activities www.alpinraft.com. White water rafting was the first day and it was so much fun going down the river and being able to look on both sides of the river and see the Alps. The next day we were supposed to do canyoning but because there had been too much rain the past few days, we were unable to do it but had another option to canyon swing. Because of geography, this is a sport that can only take place in two other areas in the whole entire world: South Africa and New Zealand. I had to do it to say that I did something that not many people will get the opportunity to do. My first reaction to canyon swinging was you are just jumping from a ledge that couldn’t be high from the water. I was way wrong and became sick to my stomach when I found out that it was a 300 feet fall, part of that was freefalling 150 feet at 80 miles per hour. I was terrified to say the least but was already in the car heading up the mountain to change my mind. We read the rules and signed our life away saying that if something goes wrong they are not responsible. No one was thinking that we could get seriously injured; we were trying to pump each other up.

The time came for the first jump out of fourteen people. Everyone was freaking out. We didn’t know what to expect or how it was really going to work. They showed us pictures before we signed up for us to get an idea, but still we didn’t know what it was going to feel like. When my turn came, freaking out was an understatement. I had tears in my eyes but I knew it was something that I would regret if I didn’t do. The instructor hooked me in and told me to not think about it and just jump. As I stood on the platform, I looked around and realized that I am diving into a canyon with water and big rocks below me. I didn’t have time to think about what if something went wrong, I just had to jump. I smiled for my picture and within 5 seconds I was screaming and running off the platform, taking the biggest jump I could. I do not remember much of it but as I was falling, I couldn’t scream anymore even if I tried. I kept my eyes opened the whole time and was waiting for the fall to end to start my swing. I was so excited when I saw my friends at the bottom of the canyon cheering for me. I did it!

If I had the opportunity to do it again, I would do it in a heartbeat. I had so much fun doing it. I never thought that I would be able to jump into a canyon with a few strings keeping me from dying. I can now say that going to Switzerland has allowed me to do a sport where there are only two other places in the world to do it.

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.