News from Switzerland

Monday August 17th, 2009

Today we took a rest day and did some usual rest-day activities: breakfast and coffee, followed by studying anatomy/guide books, then a glacial-water bath down in the river, and now a picnic.

When we returned to Magic Wood, the first couple day we just climbed as much as possible, trying to get back into bouldering shape, it worked. The last couple days have been very productive. Krissy has sent a 6A, a 6B, flashed 6B+ and completed her project Super Bosna, 7A. Ben has sent three 7A+s, on-sighted a 7B+, red-pointed two 7C’s, one 7C+, two 8A’s and completed his project Body Count 8A+. Now we are each moving on to new projects.

In other news, Magic Wood climbers no longer have access to the showers at Andeer campground . Climbers were going down to Andeer to shower during closed hours to take free showers, instead of paying the 3chf. The owners of the campground and a town mayor came up to Magic Wood to cancel our privileges. The couple days after that things weren’t improving at Magic Wood. The camp hosts were fighting with two separate groups of people that were refusing to pay. The locals have also been complaining about wild camping and parking. What is up with all these ignorant people?! To camp/park at Magic Wood we pay 5 chf per person per night…all other campgrounds charge at least double that. So now there is a town meeting this week to discuss Magic Wood and its future. Fingers crossed.

We have had some problems too…a large group of idiots pitched their tents all around us and they have to be the loudest, most annoying bunch we’ve ever been around. The keep us up all night talking/yelling, and one guy even pee’d right next to our tent (10 feet is too far to walk to use the toilets I guess).

We have a couple of more days left in Magic Wood before we take off for somewhere new. We are not quite sure where we are going to go yet…Any suggestions? Maybe Italy?

More big new to come soon…