Switzerland – 23 through 24 August 2003
Ah, Switzerland. The highlight of the non-school activities. I rented a van along with Ken, Hideaki, Kuni, Yuki, and Avery and headed down to Switzerland on a Saturday morning. Came home the next day, but the trip was fantastic. I think the pictures may indicate that we had a good time. This trip probably was the peak of the summer for me. It was basically a perfect weekend.

It seems like there are really a LOT of pictures from this weekend. I hope you don't get bored. But it was really hard to edit because each picture brings back a lot of excellent memories.

Loading Up! 23 August 2003. Posted 25 September 2003, photo by Hideaki UCHIKAWA. Loading up the van in Strasbourg.

To the Glacier River – 23 August 2003
Yuki saw a glacier fed river as we were driving in and decided that's what we had to see. So, we did.

To the River! 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Ken getting ready to go on a hike.

Nice Hat Kuni. 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Kuni wearing a watermelon hat that Ken borught. Why did Ken bring this hat?

Yuki at the River. 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Yuki found the river. It is really cold water, and full of minerals from the glacial run off.

Rock Collection. 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Yuki and Avery examine rocks on the water's edge. Notice Yuki's weather watch in the water to measure the temperature. Yuki's watch could do just about anything.

Jon, Yuki, and Avery on the River. 23 August 2003. Posted 25 September 2003, photo by Kentaro TANAKA. A photo of me in between taking photos.

Jon by River. 23 August 2003. Posted 25 September 2003, photo by Kunihiro MATSUMOTO. Another photo of me in between taking photos.

Three-Shot on the River. 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Ken, Yuki, and Avery enjoy the river.

Four-Shot on the River. 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Hideaki, Avery, Kuni, and Yuki enjoy the spring fed stream and glacial river.

Mountain Outlook. 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Kuni check's out the Alps from a wood bridge.

Typical Scenery. 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Typical beautiful Grindlewald scenery.


Cow Time – 23 August 2003
This cow was a little stiff, but was more than willing to be available for poses.

A Cow's View. 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Looking with the cow to the local mountains.

Ken and Cow. 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Ken poses with the cow.

Yuki Milks a Cow! 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Yuki was brave enough to milk the cow!


Hanging Out in Grindelwald – 23 August 2003
Just some general pictures of us.

The Crew, Minus Me. 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. A good picture of Ken, Uchi (Hideaki), Yuki, Avery, and Kuni. The canyon in the background was created by the glacial river.

The Crew, Including Me. 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. OK, I hate this picture. I look way too tall and skinny and sort of like a hunchback. But it was a picture of all of us.

Ken and Guitar. 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. A great picture of Ken at our naturefreundehaus backyard up above Grindelwald.

Self Portrait, Grindelwald. 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. An interesting self portrait while laying on the grass.

Yuki In Perfect Light. 23 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Yuki, relaxed, in magic hour lighting.


To the Jungfrau – 24 August 2003
On our way to Jungfraujoch.

The Moon. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. A sliver of a moon above the mountains.

On the Train I. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. At the station, on the train, heading for 3454 m, or 11,383 feet.

On the Train II. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. At the station, on the train, heading for 3454 m, or 11,383 feet.


At the Jungfraujoch – 24 August 2003
We took the train to this station and then explored.

On the Observation Deck. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. We made it to 3454 m, or 11,383 feet. Feeling cold and a little goofy at elevation.

Looking at a Glacier. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. The glacier stretches on and on. Its not very white!

Towards the Jungfrau. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Looking towards the peak of the Jungfrau, in cloulds and sun.

The Crew, On the Glacier. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. I framed a picture and then asked a guy to take it. He re-framed it and shot a horrible picture. I barked at him to take another. Heh, heh.

Boy-Band Kool as Ice. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. OK, not really the name of a boy band, but these guys seem to be trying to form a new band. It must be the solid colors and the lack of oxygen.

Boy-Band Kool as Ice II. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. The reunion shot.

Boy-Band Kool as Ice III. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. This shot includes the member who got to old and they had to kick out (me).

Hiking on the Glacier. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. The trail is prepared, there's nothing dangerous. But this picture does make the crew look rather isolated.

Scenery Shot. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. More mountain scenery. Its really beautiful.

The Crew, Again. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. You can never have too many group shots.

Disarray. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. The crew collapses on the glacier in various forms of undress when the sun came out.

Disarray II. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Relaxing on the glacier.

Scenery Shot, Again. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. More mountain scenery. Its still beautiful.

Avery and Yuki. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Interesting poses with great scenery behind.

Me and Yuki. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Thanks Avery for a funky photo.

Preparing to Head Back. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Strange angles on the people here. Not sure what happened.

Kuni Sliding. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Making a sled out of a plastic bag. Ken had already gone down about 50 meters of the glacier sitting on this bag.

Preparing to Slide. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Getting ready to launch Ken on the next run.

Ken Sliding. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. The results of the launch.

Proper Sledding, Ken. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Ken sledding on a proper run.

Proper Sledding, Jon. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Thanks for the shot! I still remember how to handle a saucer.


In the Glacier – 24 August 2003
There is an ice cave that was built inside the glacier.

In the Ice I. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. A funky flash-free shot in an ice tunnel.

In the Ice II. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Another boy band shot. Sort of.


The Sleepy Way Home – 24 August 2003
The early morning, the sun, the altitude, and the exercise took its toll on the travellers.

Ken and Avery, Resting their Eyes. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. These guys were zonked. OK, Avery was a little sick too.

Ken Sleeping. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. A solo shot of Ken sleeping.

Avery Sleeping. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. A solo shot of Avery sleeping.

Kuni and Uchi, Resting their Eyes. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. The trip down the mountain was long and tiring.

Ken in Another Position. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Ken woke up and changed to the sunny side of the train. And then fell asleep.


Lunchtime – 24 August 2003
Not a bad place to enjoy lunch.

Ken and Yuki, Lunch. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. Check out the fantasic view for lunch.

Avery, Kuni, and Uchi, Lunch. 24 August 2003. Posted 17 September 2003. We got off the mountain, did a little shopping, and then it started raining a little. Perfect timing.


Yuki Checking the Weather on His Watch With Avery and Jon, 24 August 2003. Posted 25 September 2003, photo by Kentaro TANAKA. I told you Yuki's watch could do anything.