On Tuesday we went rock climbing for the day. Rather than climb in the high Alps we headed north to a lower and warmer altitude and climb in a quarry at Burgholz near Oey. As many adults as we could fit, travelled in the Land Rover with the climbing kit and lunch. This was so the children could catch the train (Cheaper fairs) from Kandersteg to Spiez before changing onto a local train up the Simme valley on what is now marketed as the "Golden Pass Route" to Burgholz.

The challenge here is that Burgholz isn't really a village, it's just a large agricultural factory of some description. There is a station but it's a request stop, and we couldn't remember what it was called or how many stops it was after Spiez. The only leaders we had on the train, had only been there once before, very briefly, three years previously. So there was lots of nervous peering out of windows hoping the large agricultural buildings were still there and relying on the stop requesting process really being just like that on a London Bus.

Fortunately, all turned out well and we disembarked at the correct location in the middle of nowhere. Next challenge, could we remember the route from the station to the quarry? All the leaders could remember from before, was head up the side road until you reach the creepy military style bunkers hidden in the forest, then find a narrow mountain path. Somehow, we got it right first time!

LOCATION MAP

The quarry has lots of relatively easy climbs very close together so it is easier for the leaders to manage several routes.  The more routes we have closer together the more goes the Scouts, Explorers and Networkers can have at Climbing.

The problem was the heat.  Being at a lower altitude than Kandersteg, it was hotter.  And the quarry is semi circular so no wind gets in, the rock is light and reflects the sun's heat.  Some people spent a lot of time resting in the shade.