Paragliding Paradise
We didn't know that the Bernese Oberland region in Switzerland is the Mecca of paragliding but it only makes sense now: those awesome birds-eye views with the beautiful snow-capped peaks, forested slopes & waterfalls dropping more than 2,000 feet from glacier-chiseled rock faces to the lush valley floor! Most of the Swiss Alps aren't any higher than the Tetons in Wyoming, so about the same as the Rockies, but the difference is prominence; the 10,000-foot elevation gain from valley floor to mountain peaks is impressive.
No, we didn't run of the cliff at 10,000 feet. We took off just above Murren which sits at about 5,500 feet & landed at about 2,500 feet in the valley, roughly 3,000 feet of gliding over 20 minutes. It's not such an adrenaline rush as bungee jumping or sky diving might be, it's a somewhat peaceful & relaxing floating through the air in a seated position. Quite comfortable, except if you get motion sick as Stacia did. I felt great until we landed & then the sickness came. Repeated snacks at the nearby food trailer helped!
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| at Lauterbrunnen train station to meet our guide |
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| the guides get to carry the equipment up to the launching site! |
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| at the launching site above Murren |
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| having second thoughts Sydney? |
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| Avery & Carley are pumped! |
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| Carley with her pilot |
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| Avery's pilot about to put on her harness |
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| Sydney's a "go" & all geared up |
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| one paraglider 3,000 feet up |
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| Avery coming in for a landing |
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| Avery on the right & Sydney on the left |
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| voted best shot of the day! |
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| close-up of Avery in her harnessed seat |
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| Sydney actually landing 2nd after a bounce back in the air |
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| Carley just after landing |
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| Paul coming in last place |
Waterfall Caves
There is a tortuous crevice carved into the side of the mountain by the water draining the big three: Jungfrau, Monch & Eiger. It's called Trummelback Fall. Our paragliding guide dropped us off here & said we could walk the 20-minute path back to Lauterbrunnen afterwards. I thought we were just going to walk behind a waterfall on the mountainside, but as a nearby tourist said, "that was exhilarating!"
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| kids singing / screaming "The sun will come out tomorrow" |
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| just outside the cave system |
A Gorge-ous Stroll
The "20-minute" stroll from Trummelbach Fall back to Lauterbrunnen turned out to be over an hour which was OK because it's a beautiful gorge & the 70-degree sunshine was perfect! ...
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| 1st-Aid kit, this time to alleviate Kyra's itchy bumps |
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| we visited with these tourists from Israel |
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| back in Lauterbrunnen |
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