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We have done lots of hiking including some ridge walking but some of the younger Scouts hadn't got to the top of an Alp yet. Time to change that.
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| THE START |
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We took the car up the switch back road into the Uschene valley. The car dropped us at 1595m altitude. For the first 2.5k we would climb just 200m on this nice wide track. As can be seen, one Scout, the tallest, found this gentle warm up section a bit of a challenge. He was too tired to walk and this wide path was too boring. Along this section was spotted marmots and eagles. |
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Gradient Profile for Hike.
TOTAL LENGTH: 13.7Km
TOTAL ASCENT: 1102m
TOTAL DESCENT: 1512m (170m more than Ben Nevis to sea level)
HIGHEST POINT: 2547m
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| ONCE WE STARTED CLIMBING PROPERLY ALL THE SCOUTS WOKE UP |
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| A MOUNTAIN STREAM |
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| THE ROUTE GETS STEEPER AS WE GO. THE LAST BIT IS A ZIG-ZAG SLOG TO THE RIDGE |
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| NEARLY THERE THE RIDGE HAS BEEN REACHED |
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| AT THE SUMMIT OF AN ACTUAL ALP! FIRST (2548m) |
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Having done the hard part, largely in fog, the sun came out for the more exciting part of the walk. This route is one where the walk down can be a little more interesting than the walk up. The leaders first check the safety of the route down before supervising the Scouts and Explorers in the use of the hand rail.
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| DON'T LOOK DOWN |
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While the Scouts edged allong the exposed path the Explorers finished lunch on the summit.
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THE SCOUTS ARE SUPERVISED ALLONG AN EXPOSED PATH |
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| THEN IT GETS REALLY STEEP |
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| BASE OF THE REALLY EXPOSED BIT |
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RESTING ON THE RIDGE
WATCHING THE EXPLORERS DECEND THE STEEP BIT |
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| VIEW BACK ACROSS THE VALLEY |
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| WHERE IS THE NEXT TOILET? |
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As we were traversing this rather exposed section, one of the Scouts decided that they desperately needed a number two. Fortunately the leaders carry an emergency toilet roll and sandwich bags to put the used paper and anything else in, to carry off the mountain. (Leave nothing but footprints etc)
We radioed the Explorers behind asking them to pause a discrete distance away. The Explorers quickly guessed what was going on and started shouting down the mountain in an attempt to find out who had been caught short. The youngest Scout cracked under pressure and blabbed, much to the displeasure of his patrol leader. The Scout leaders, chastised the youngest Scout for this indiscretion and pointed out that one day it could be him and when that happens he may just regret blabbing. Little did we know, we wouldn’t have to wait that long! |
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| WE SWAM IN THERE LAST WEEK |
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| STAND (2320m) OUR SECOND SUMMIT IF THE DAY |
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| THE EXPLORERS AND OLDER SCOUTS JOIN US |
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| THE GROUP ON STAND |
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| VIEW TO LAKE THUN |
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| WE HAVE GOT TO WALK BACK DOWN THERE |
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| DOWN WE GO |
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| DOWN AND DOWN WE GO |
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| ALPINE MEDOW |
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As we descend, the flora and fauna changes with the altitude. Soon we are walking through alpine wild flower meadows. One of the last things the Scouts had to do to complete the High Adventure Award was spot some of the famous Swiss Edelweiss. It was at this point that our youngest scout quietly enquired as to the availability of the emergency toilet roll.
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| EDELWEISS SPOTTED AT LAST! |
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| JUST A REST |
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| THE FOOT INSPECTOR |
| At the end of such a long hike, our camp medic offered to inspect any aching feet. This was a surprisingly popular process. |
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It's not clear if all the scouts genuinely needed the attention or if it was just a ruse to get out of cooking dinner. One Scout ended up needing a good foot wash and soak.
As it was Sunday, after dinner, the visiting English Vicar joined us for a short Scouts Own in the beautiful surroundings of a nature reserve on the edge of a UNESCO world heritage site. |
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| WE NEED SOME NEW COOKING POTS |
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| DINNER IS ON |
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| SCOUTS OWN |
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