It’s a crisp morning at our lodge in Lauterbrunnen, but I’m going up to the mountain today! Sipped on a hot coffee and had some gf toast for brekky, keeping in mind I had booked the canyon swing today so did NOT want a full belly, just in case. I headed to Kleine Scheidegg and got on the train to mountain base at Eigergletscher, and finally up to Jungfraujoch peak. The train journey was so scenic, I had my camera out the window the whole time, watching it transform from green hills to white mountains.

Arrived to the Jungfraujoch complex, they’ve got a 4-story lookout with restaurants, their very own Lindt store, ice palace, toboggans and sculptures, all built into the mountain itself, my first thought was ‘what a crock-o-shite’.

I went up to the observation deck and looked out over the mountain range, it was my first-time seeing snow, so I was pretty impressed with the mountains (if only it was actively falling). Then headed out onto the snow itself, taking a firm hold of the guide ropes as my shoes had zero traction, it wasn’t as cold as I had imagined. It was super busy, and near impossible to get a photo without somebody in the background, but it was just great to be outside in the sun!

Back indoors I went up to the cafe to grab an iced coffee with baileys, cost me 10SFC which was literally $17 Aussie dollars, but hey when in Rome (plus it kept me extra warm). I treated myself to some Lindt balls and then walked through the ice tunnels and caves, looking at the sculptures and trying to stay on my feet while walking on the icy floors.

It was quickly time to get the train to Gindelwald for our Swiss canyon swing, and to be honest I was terrified. We headed down from the train to a gondola and were treated to the Swiss Airforce training demonstration, we had a perfect view of their stunts as we came down in the car!

Upon arrival at the canyon swing and we got weighed, harnessed up, decided which order we would jump in, little did we know that it was not up to us.

A van took us up to the ledge and we all stood and waited, hearing the screams of our friends and seeing them disappear from view. Unfortunately, the weather began to turn, and it rained, considerably. It was nearly too wet to continue, but we persevered, and I went last, thinking there’s only one way down, just my own thoughts, it was not fun taking that leap.

I jumped, the blood rushed to my head, and I felt my legs peddling in a panic, my heart stopped, and I made a noise, that has never left my body before, a scream from the GUT. I made it though, and it was instantly relieving to feel the tension of the rope catch me and begin to swing, that free fall was just awful, but the back and forth was super fun. Flying right between the walls of the canyon with the river flowing below me, some crisp Swiss air filled my lungs and I simply enjoyed.

Soaking wet and high on adrenaline, I pulled myself across the ravine and went back to collect my gear, I paid the man for my free-fall video and promised myself I wouldn’t do that again. 

It was a late return after all of us had jumped and got transport home, but a hearty plate of stroganoff for dinner, and drinks in the bar was the perfect end to my day.

Until tomorrow, Hilary