AAVE Trip BLOG » Ultimate Alps
July 19, 2010
The Ultimate Alps Adventure Continues!
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Ultimate Alps Adventure continues!
With eyes wide and our noses closed, we were overwhelmed by the
beautiful farmland and the smell of cows. The barn where we were going
to sleep in was cozy and came with a fully stocked kitchen! For the
first time all trip we had an oven. Hallelujah. While Jarrad, Max and
Chloe prepared a variety of fresh/frozen pizzas, Julian was the first
to run into the cow pen despite its horrid smell. After an amazing
dinner and tasty desert, we all hit the hay early in preparation for
the service project the next day. After a simple breakfast, we hit the
fields with our two host farmers, a tractor, two scythes, and some
heavy duty gloves. The day was hot and the sun was shining, but there
was work to be done. Our task was rather simple. We split up into
groups and picked the weeds off of the ground that the two host
farmers cut with their scythes. However, Tai, Nico, and Till had a
different approach in mind. Instead of picking up weeds that had
already been cut, they decided to pull the weeds up themselves; a
slightly more difficult yet personal method of doing the job. After
three hours of hard work, we all went back to the farm to find plates
full of fresh bread, cheese, sausage, and Elderberry syrup waiting for
us on a picnic table. Although our work was done and our bellies were
full, there was still plenty of adventure ahead.
We zigzagged down the mountain road to the gorgeous lake, where the
water was bluer than the sky. Although only a few had done it before,
everyone was excited to wake board and water ski! Doug was the first
the go and also one of the best. He glided through the waves with ease
while the rest of us were listening to Jon and our crazy driver Freddy
for instructions. Elise and Brennen were the next to hit the water.
Regardless of their lack of experience with the sport, they were both
quick to get up and could be seen racing behind the boat with smiles
on their faces. After everyone got their dose of adrenaline, we
decided to go banana boating; a little less difficult than wake
boarding but just as enjoyable. Our action-packed day came to an end
with a delicious dinner consisting of a fresh salad and pasta
bolognaise.
The next morning we packed up and left the farm with some syrup and
cheese that was destined for the States but ended up in our stomachs.
We arrived at our next campsite two hours later and set up camp
quickly in anticipation for the zip-lines and ladders awaiting us in
the canyon. While Jill was fearless and raced through the course, Ines
had to summon up the courage to overcome her fear of heights. And to
our great delight we cheered as we saw her rappelling down the
waterfall at the end of the course. The next morning we woke up early
and raced to the mountain for some snow boarding and skiing to find
that it was closed due to poor conditions. But instead of complaining
and panicking, Ashley and Corina decided that we should visit Zermatt
for the day. And what a fantastic idea that was! While we were
chatting frantically about the souvenirs that we were going to buy in
town, we fell silent once we were in the presence of the infamous
Matterhorn. The tip of the mountain pierced through the clouds as the
smell of freshly baked goods entered our noses. We spent hours in the
town marveling over the variety of Swiss Army Knives and other Swiss
goods. While some of the campers spent the rest of the afternoon in an
internet cafe, others went for a round of mini-golfing. A day that
started in misfortune ended in high spirits and plenty of Ramen noodles.
Today we awoke early to leave for Saas Fee and our first day of snow
boarding and skiing in Switzerland. We tore up the slopes for a while
and when we were all done we enjoyed the once in a lifetime views in a
rotating restaurant in the clouds. Relaxing was the first thing to be
done on the gondola ride down from the mountains. The drive to the
campsite was brief where changed into our swim wear to hit the local
water park. The water felt awesome and the waterslide was a blast and
the highlight of the day. We are now at camp, relaxing and about to
enjoy a homemade dinner by some of our campers. After another day of
snow boarding tomorrow, we return to France for a day, and then we
depart for home!
Ultimate Alps - Bold Earth