Our last destination together before parting ways was Interlaken, Switzerland.
Known as a haven for adrenaline junkies (like myself!), Interlaken offers everything from dog sledding to OGO Ballslopes. And skydiving!
When I was a kid, my dad went skydiving in Tucson, Arizona and after that the idea was firmly planted in my head – I wanted to skydive.
I however, wanted to do it in a location that would have something more interesting to look at than the barren Sonoran Dessert.
After canyoningin Solvenia and being throughly impressed by the Julian Alps, I was sure that the Swiss Alps would be an ideal location to jump out of a plane.
While getting suited up for the jump, I was nervous, but so so excited. Sure, I had basically signed my life away filling out the liability waiver, but it was a tandem jump, so really, the pressure was on my partner, not me.
Jules decided that making the jump was a bit too pricey (she still had two more months of traveling ahead of her, while I had about two weeks). But she was able to go up in the helicopter with me and take in the view.
One thing I hadn’t considered was how cold it would be. It had snowed earlier in the day and while no snow was falling when I jumped, it was far from warm.
The minute or two before the jump felt like a half an hour – literally hanging outside the helicopter, just waiting for the thumbs up to go.
My tandem partner shouted a few last minute words of advice/encouragement and then gave the green light.
We stood up and, to my surprise, did not “jump” but rather, just leaned forward and fell through the clouds. The force of the air pressing against my body gave more a sensation of floating or hovering rather than falling.
It was as if I were suspended and the earth was moving closer to me. And the scenery was incredible. Interlaken (meaning inter-lake) is named as such for being located in between two lakes. One lake is bright blue and the other a teal green.
Those lakes, in combination with the green valley floor, juxtaposed with the jagged, snow-capped and cloud-shrouded mountains of the Alps, was stunning.
The free-fall was abruptly stopped when the shoot was pulled and then I had over 10 minutes to ogle at the Alps.
I spent nearly nine months living and traveling in Europe and that jump was easily one of the most fun and memorable experiences of the entire trip!
*For more glorious Photo Friday, head to Delicious Baby!
What can I say, besides you are very brave. I’d much rather see the Alps from a gondola or a mountaintop restaurant. I’m headed to the Bernese Alps in December, so your dogsled idea was welcome – that’s about as high adventure as I get!