Camping in the Alps

So, every year for Memorial Day weekend, several of the Cadence Hospitality Houses come together for a camping trip in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. This was my first chance to go, and it was pretty incredible. There were upwards of 100 people from four different houses and a couple other bases. Our group was Brad and Debbie and I, Gordon - one of the returned soldiers! - and the Short family, who are Malachi workers. (Malachi is Cadence's youth ministry.)

Friday
Friday we drove down to Lauterbrunnen, and my first reaction was to take out my camera and want to run around like crazy. Our campsite was deep in a valley, with several waterfalls pouring down from the heights, a constant rushing in the background. At the end of the valley, majestic, snow-covered alps soared into the sky. More on that later. We set up camp, and I have to say, I had the most interesting tent. German made, you set up the rain fly with poles and stake it into the ground, then you hang the tent from the inside, and it creates a room (the tent) and a kind of covered area, with another door leading outside. Quite handy, all told. And yes, this campground (Camping Jungfrau, if you want to look it up) is defintiely cheater camping. By that I mean, while I slept in a tent, there were showers, toilets, sinks, dishwashers, dishwashing sinks, laundry, laundry-sinks, anything sinks (there were lots of sinks...which begins to be a strange word after that many mentions!), microwaves and toasters and various other kitcheny things in the reception area, electricity...name an amenity, they probably had it. Half the campground is permanent campers/bungalow/cabin-y things. It was quite nice. After set up and dinner, we headed over to a little church, where Brad was the nightly speaker. After a time of worshipping through music, Brad started off each night with a highly-andticipated skit for the kids, and then spoke from the book of Jonah.

Saturday
Before the sun rose on Saturday, Brad and Gordon set off with a couple of the Stuttgart folks to hike up to Schilthorn, a 9000+ foot peak. I was up before them, but that was due to jet lag and freezing on the ground in my mummy bag. After a shower (gasp!), I was up and headed off to Grindelwald, a town high in the alps, to catch a gondola up to First, a 7100 ft peak. I went with a bunch of the K-town folk, and had a great time. Grindelwald was beautiful enough, with it's chalets and gorgeous mountain views and touristy shops. We did notice that the American flag was upside down on a hotel front, and a couple of the soldiers quickly righted this wrong.

After walking around the city, we headed up the mountain. Wow. I have been to the top of Zugspitze, which is the highest mountain in Germany and on a clear day affords a view of about 200 km in each direction, but this was something else. Mountains are my favorite landscape, and being this high and still being towered over by greater peaks was an incredible feeling. I stared up at Eiger, Monch, and Junfrau in awe. The sky was full of parasailers, and I cannot imagine what the view from there must have been - where I was was already breathtaking. I took more than 150 pictures from First, and it almost pains me to know that none of them can come close to adequately capturing what I saw.

Sunday
Sunday morning, Brad and Gordon set off with Sam (the dog) and hiked to Wengen, where Debbie and I met them after having taken the train with a bunch of the Rammstein group. We explored the tiny town and settled down to a most delicous lunch. I had Swiss Rösti, which are a kind of potatoes, similar to hashbrowns, ish. Anyways, they were covered over with ham and a lot of swiss cheese (not the holey type), and it was deeeeelicous. Lunch was followed by a game of Nertz (I won!) and then a run down the mountain. Yes, I ran down about halfway, chasing and being chased by Sam. We had fun playing, but I am now sore! The hike down gave great views of the Lauterbrunnen valley, which I had been hoping for all weekend. When we got back to camp, sweaty and exhausted, it began to rain, so Gordon and I set up the card table in the 'big room' of my tent and played many more games of Nertz...which I continued to win. :) After our evening session, a couple girls from Heidelberg joined our not-fire (we were fireless, but had good discussions around our lantern) while Gordon and I played yet again - same result. That sounds like bragging, and I guess it is, but I do so love that game - and winning it. :) I'll be done now.

Monday
Monday morning we broke camp, loaded up the van, and set off back for The Festaburg. It's been surprisingly warm, for Germany, and with no ac the trip back seemed long, (especially for Sam, on whom the sleeping bags kept fallling!) but it made coming 'home' that much more wonderful. We unloaded quite quickly and settled down to unpack and unwind. I have spent the last several hours trying to nurse my computer back to a semblance of help, prayers are always appreciated on that score. :) We had a quiet dinner, and I am excited because tomorrow I will hopefully get my base pass and - I'll tell you the other good news after it happens. :) :) :)