Swiss Italian Alps - Amazing.

So it's been a little while since the blog was updated with a full article, however our latest trip report is sure to make up for it.


It all started with an epic drive to Switzerland...

(Above: Chilling in a lay-by... put it away Scopes)
We left Oxford and set out on a ridiculously long Journey across Europe. We boarded the ferry at Dover, ate a school dinner-like meal on the way across, and landed in Calais at around 10pm. The real drive had begun. The night was long and hard (well for Boothy at least... props for driving!)each hour seemed never ending... the arduous drive only broken up by pit stops and the occasional text from O2 roaming...'Welcome to Belgium...Luxembourg...Germany'...and finally... "Welcome to Switzerland. Calls to the UK & EU cost 35ppm & 18ppm to receive". We'd Made it!

Border crossed. Road Tax paid. Amazing service station visited. Ready to paddle.

Upon arriving in the town of Illanz, we hooked up with some of Rob's buddies from the Nookie crew, Tim, Hazel and Alex and also the two Euro-trippin' love birds - Hugh and Scopes. So after introductions by the side of the road and a bit of a chit chat we set off for our first river of the week, the Glenner: an awesome little run from start to finish. Unfortunately Hazel managed give a rock a piece of her mind (face...) half way down the river, resulting in stitches. She got her paddles ripped out of her hands in a stopper, but to our amazement picked them up again, rolled up, eddied out... styled it. Luckily nothing too serious, however she was desegnated photographer for the next days river...

The Cristallina: Awesome water, amazing location... slippery rocks. Rob NOO!
(Below Paul Scopes on one of the entry sections Photo: Mickey)

The second day in Switzerland saw us paddle the beautiful Cristallina river. Seriously picturesque with amazing whitewater to match, we were all in for a great days paddle... or so we thought.
Unfortunately just before the drop pictured below, Rob managed to break his foot! Ironically whilst setting up safety for wee man Hector.
(Below: Hector styling the first drop on the Cristallina. Photo: Scopes)

(Pictured Below Rob before the accident... Photo:Mickey )

With that minor set back sorted in good time... we paddled down the river, which was pretty consistent throughout, providing awesome fun for the duration.

(Above: Boothy on the next drop of the Cristallina)
(Below: Finn Burrows flying off another drop involving a Kicker and a wall Photos: Mickey)

The rest of us jumped off at the get out to watch Alex, Tim and Hector run these three sweet drops at the entry to the gorge section:



(From top to bottom: Hector approaching the lip of the first drop with Tim below. Hector Boofing the second. Alex Driving down the third. Photo's: Mickey)
Cheers to Alex Keller for letting us stay in his house for the night and showing us some awesome water!

Our next Swiss drive led us to James Weir's house - another of Rob's buddies who we were going to have the pleasure of paddling with the next day.

(AboveThe Pathway to James's House. Photo: Finn Burrows)

(AboveTim checking out the SLR. Photo: Finn Burrows)

Next morning led us to a River with no name (well it did have a name I just can't remember it). An awesome, fairly high volume run with lots of bouncy wave trains to kickflip off!
Here's the Pictures:





(Above High five to Finish the day - sorted Photo's: Rob Yates)
Big thanks to James for putting us up for a night and showing us this beautiful river!

Get in the bus! Let's go to Italy!
Now for the Italian side of the Alps. After a fair few hours driving we rocked up in the lovely town of Campertogno in Piedmont Italy.

The campsite in Campertogno is possibly one of the best I've been to, lovely people, paddlers everywhere, great atmosphere and the best pizza for miles.

Our first run in Italy was the Sermenza, seriously good whitewater.
( Above Finn running the opening drop on the Sermenza )
The section we ran, led from the drop pictured above, through about 2km of class 3/4 and into a beautiful gorge section to close. Check it out. These Pictures are from our second run of the Sermenza, as the first time we paddled in a thunderstorm with the river being about two foot higher.

(Below The lead in to the gorge.)



(Above Boothy Running the lead in. Scopes Dropping into the Gorge)
(Below Hugh waiting for others in the Gorge)


Unfortunately due to the 'gorgeyness' of the gorge we couldn't really get any photos of the quality whitewater that lay within! Well Maybe one picture...sorry Hugh:

(Above Hugh Swam! And put a hole in his boat!)


But wait! There's More!
So we stayed in Campertogno for the rest of the week, paddling the Rivers in the surrounding area and generally having a great time. We managed to paddle (and take photographs, video etc.) of the Gronda and Slides of the River Sorba. The River Gronda is a fairly tight, boulder strewn, slide and drop filled beauty of a whitewater river, that flows into the Slides of Sorba. The Sorba slides are short and extremely sweet. I'll let the photos do the talking.


(AboveFirst Drop of the Gronda - Scopes Runs it, Finn Watches)
(Below Hector Runs the second 'mentionable' drop)

The larger drops and rapids were broken up by tight and technical boulder gardens.

(Below Sweet drop into little slide)

(Below Hugh runs the race line on the penultimate drop)

(Below Hector Hucking the last drops of The Gronda)

The Gronda then flows into the Slides and drops of The Sorba:

(Above Finn Running the first drop of the Sorba)
(Below Hugh styles the second 'connecting' drop of the Sorba)

The three drops we ran were all interconnected, so once you ran the first, you were running them all.

(Above Hector Dropping on to the last slide)
(Below Hugh's boat and fingers after running the last slide)


Only a few flesh wounds, luckily nothing serious.
Apart from Hugh's little escapade on the third slide, everything ran smoothly and what a great way to say goodbye to Italy, we'd run out of time!

Back on the Road again!



So we packed up at Campertogno, jumped in 'ye old faithful' Riverside van and set of across the lush mountains, heading back through picturesque Switzerland and all the way through mainland Europe to the not so picturesque port of Calais.

Back home, all I can say is... I'll miss you Swiss/Italian alps... you were good to us.

Well that's all for now, what an amazing trip it was! Definitely go if you get the chance, it's well worth the drive. I'd love to go back.

Just a quick thanks to Rob for staying strong in the face of adversity, Boothy for bearing up and driving such long distances and all the folks we met along the way for being so kind.

The video should be up within the next day or so, keep your eyes peeled, it's a goodun.

Take it easy

Finn