Kandersteg, 2002

Following months of organisation and fund raising a party of 34 Scouts, Leaders and family members left for Kandersteg on the 9th. August, 2002. A coach from Rufford dropped them at Liverpool Airport where they were delayed for an hour before catching the Easyjet flight to Geneva (flights booked on the first day of availability kept the price per head at a reasonably low rate). Arriving at Geneva in the early evening they were met by a local coach company and transported to Kandersteg. The weather in Geneva was glorious but on contacting the advance party of 1 parent and 1 Explorer Scout who had travelled ahead in order to set up the site we found that it had been raining solidly for 2 days and the camp site was awash!
The coach arrived at the International Centre and a short, steep walk found us at our camp site - there was not much we could do as it was pitch black so we had a quick brew and settled down for the night.
Saturday morning and the rain was still coming down in buckets the scouts were despatched around the camp site to 'source' duckboards and pioneering poles and by the end of the morning we had put Alan Titchmarch to shame by having a fully decked camp site with its own water feature and a decked out Gazebo (using all our tarpaulins and a number of pioneering poles) with a central fire and seating. Once this was completed we went into Kandersteg Village (a 20 minute walk) and as they were all wet anyway we took the Scouts swimming to the heated open-air baths for the afternoon!
The weather improved over the next couple of days and by the time the 1st. Ormskirk arrived and set up their site next to ours the sun had begun to break through and Ken Cunliffe took us on a hike up to a guest house following the impressive Kander River which tumbles down the gorge at a terrific force.
The Tuesday saw us spend a full day in Bern, a beautiful pedestrian friendly city with lots to see and do.
Wednesday was when the bulk of the Scouts went off on their overnight hikes - the older ones (over 14's) going on the Glacier Workshop on the Frunden Glacier and the younger ones going on a mountain climbing course both of which were enjoyed to the full. (Many thanks to Claire and Tom from the 1st. for stepping in and helping the mountain climbers undergo their trip) By now the weather was in the 70's and 80's and sunburn was a real threat especially when hiking at altitude a real change from earlier in the week.
All scouts also went abseiling, swam almost every day, and had a full day out at the Oshcinensee Lake which was reached by cable car and a 30 minute hike and was well worth the effort.
On the last night we had booked a cheese fondue meal for all in the International Centre - I think they would have preferred chips but you have to try and give them some of the culture from the country your visiting!
Some last minute shopping on the morning of our departure and then waved off by a Canadian Scouter who had adopted us we left for the airport, a further 1 hour delay on our return was all we had to contend with and we arrived back in Rufford to a rapturous reception from the parents.

Jeff Gordon
Scout Leader - 14th. Ormskirk
Tel 01704 823165
Email Scouts@RuffordVillage.com