Glacier Rivers are Cold

So I made it back alive from white water rafting. I actually think I did okay. I only fell out of the boat once, and it was when we were past the white water part, and into the coasting/doing stupid shit part. Unfortunately I also knocked someone else out of the boat. With my butt. In her face. And she was a guide (Not our guide, but for the same company I think, just in Austria). Kind of embarassing, but pretty funny as well. Other than that, no major catastrophes were caused by me. Always a relief. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures. I wasn't about to risk my camera (obviously) and I also wasn't about to pay 30 sfr for a cd, great though I'm sure the pictures were. No, my memories will have to suffice at those written on this blog.

The river we rafted in actually runs down from Grindelwald. It is called the Black Lütschine. The reason for this is that sediments settle in the glacier and give the water a dirty, greyish colour. The white Lütschine flows from Lauterbrunnen and is quite clear and lovely. Where they meet they become the Lütschine river. Anyway, the rafting trip begins with some class 3 rapids. You then have to get out of the river and take a bus to the next section lower down on the river. This is because a nature conserve begins, and only fishing is allowed there. Just below the nature conserve is a class five rapid, and it is illegal for anyone to raft, or even kayak there. Anyway, the next section is a 3.5 or a 4. That section is followed by some easy crusing, with a bit of fast water through to the lake. It's actually really cool because where the river meets the lake the water gets really clear. That's because the water stops moving and the sediment settles to the bottom where it is collected with a machine and then processed for roads and other things. Also, the water gets instantly warmer in the lake because it is still and the sun heats it. It's gorgeous.

I actually don't have much more to say about today. It was really fun, but there's not much to tell. That has been the case for the majority of my time here. I have just been relaxing and having a nice time. Tomorrow I am off to Salzburg, so I'm sure I'll be less lazy and have more adventures to relate to you all. I'm going to go attempt to be social now, even though I'm pretty tuckered. Maybe I can convince someone to play asshole.