Hi
I am writing this form Chamonix, France where I am currently holidaying with my son. Apologies if a similar thread exists but I cannot see how to search the forums so I am hoping you can help.
2 days ago - after an enthusiastic pitch upon our arrival - my sone (18) and I (42) signed up for a Glacier walk across the Vallee Blanch near Mt Blanc. The group consisted of ourselves, another couple, the hotel manager, his girlfriend and a guide. We were told that the walk would be 'life changing' and was suitable for anyone from 12 up who was 'strong'. It was also marketed as a beginners introduction to this activity. No mention was made as to how physical the experience would be or any gauge given as to an appropriate expected level of fitness. Whilst I would regard myself as fairly fit my son is a typical couch potato whose physical activity is limited although he cycles regularly. When I booked no questions were asked of our fitness or of the rest of the party. The activity was to cost 99 Euro for a 'full day' and we were expected to pay for kit hire (a further 40 Euro) and the cable car to the start point (50 Euro).
Needless to say, the experience was a nightmare. In my opinion, the trip was way to dangerous for our level of experience. The following are examples of what transpired on the day.
- The initial decent to the glacier was made via a narrow snow ridge approx 2 foot wide that descended some 400 ft at approx 45 degrees (I have photos of the ridge). the sides of the ridge were 45 degrees with a drop of 5000ft on one side and 500 ft on the other. At the sales pitch the ridge was described as 'exciting'.
- Call us naive but no one was warned as to the need to apply extensive sunblock whilst on the glacier. The guide say put on sun lotion and applied some to him self but made no check of anyone on the trip. As a result three members of the trip suffered extensive burns with one having to see a Dr the next day and receive prescription gel for serious burns.
- The majority of the initial 2 hrs was downhill and fairly straightforward
- The guide spoke very little and finally asked if we wished to turn around or continue further - given that we had only travelled downhill all agreed to continue
- Finally the guide advised that we would now have to turn around and head back - nearly all steeply uphill
- As soon as the uphill return commenced the physical demands of the trip took their toil on three members of the group including my son
- For the next 3 hours we slogged back with minimal breaks as the guide said this was not 'good technique'
- My son's condition got progressively worse and he became hysterical. I was forced to both cajole and then yell at him as the guide was becoming more annoyed at our lack of progress. My son then began to collapse with exhaustion. I also expressed my worry about our ascending the ridge again given his state and the state of other group members.
- After the longest, scariest 4 hours of my life we arrived back at the base of the ridge where my son collapsed completely and refused to ascend as he was too tired and scared. One of the group was also crying at this point and another had also fallen regulalry through exhaustion.
- Having no option other than to ascend the ridge I suggested to the guide that we put my son behind him and myself next - he agreed
- We began to ascend the ridge, my son was screaming in pain, the guide shouting at him and the hotel manager's girlfriend becoming increasingly hysterical with fear of falling as we were all roped together.
- Eventually we made the ridge to the applause of a large number who has assembled on hearing my son's screams
- He collapsed and would not move for some 20 minutes as I sorted him out. The guide just left at this point having taken his harness of my son.
On our eventual return my son went to bed badly exhausted and sun burnt. I immediately told the representative that I felt that the physical demands of the trip required a more than basic level of fitness and felt that we had all been placed at risk by the way the trip had been sold to us. I also refused to pay for the trip and advised the other couple who had joined us (the man of which had collapsed repeatedly as well) not to pay either. We both filed formal written complaints.
The trip was provided by a 3rd party but Alpine Elements are saying that we must pay them as they will be invoiced by the company as they are refusing to accept our complaints. These is making us feel very awkward as we still have 5 days to go on the holiday and have other less strenuous activities planned - cycling, canoeing.
I would like to understand if:
- We are entitled to a basic duty of care on the part of Alpine Elements and the company who organised the trip
- I am right to refuse to pay and leave this to be sorted in writing after the holiday
- The guide should have checked to ensure we had applied sun cream or provided some if we had not
- I have also demanded to know for what 99 Euros was being charged
- We received no contract or T&C's before embarking on the trip therefore we have agreed no contract as these activities fall outside the T&C's of the main holiday - what legal status does that give us?
A long post but in summary, we had a horrendous and dangerous experience and my son has been badly shaken. It may prove 'life altering' but had I been given a genuine indication as to the nature of the trip I would never have booked it.
Help anyone?
Cheers
Perry
You are obviously on an activity holiday. It is your responsibility to ensure that you do have a level of fitness to take part in activities.
The title "Glacier Walk" should in itself have told you that it was hazardous. You would have been briefed before you set off on what to expect and do. It is possible that your travel/holiday insurance did not cover you for this activity - The type of thing you describe would normally require an extension to the policy.
The charge is, in my opinion fairly average and hire of the equipment was essential for your own safety.
How much do you need the guide to do? He told you to apply sun protection and applied it to himself. A very visual clue as to the desirability. It is not his job to supply it and I would not have expected him to do so.
As someone who has taught, is qualified, and takes part in adventurous activities, cases such as yours are not unknown to me. People often think these things look easy and are fun. They are fun but the level of skill required is high.
In my opinion you obviously signed up for something for which, by your own admission, your son was not fit. Your comment re cycling and canoeing being less strenuous indicates a lack of understanding of the fitness levels required.
As for payment, if your son had completed it without any complaint you would not have been making this post. Pay up and put it down to experience.
fwh
The title "Glacier Walk" should in itself have told you that it was hazardous. You would have been briefed before you set off on what to expect and do. It is possible that your travel/holiday insurance did not cover you for this activity - The type of thing you describe would normally require an extension to the policy.
The charge is, in my opinion fairly average and hire of the equipment was essential for your own safety.
How much do you need the guide to do? He told you to apply sun protection and applied it to himself. A very visual clue as to the desirability. It is not his job to supply it and I would not have expected him to do so.
As someone who has taught, is qualified, and takes part in adventurous activities, cases such as yours are not unknown to me. People often think these things look easy and are fun. They are fun but the level of skill required is high.
In my opinion you obviously signed up for something for which, by your own admission, your son was not fit. Your comment re cycling and canoeing being less strenuous indicates a lack of understanding of the fitness levels required.
As for payment, if your son had completed it without any complaint you would not have been making this post. Pay up and put it down to experience.
fwh
I think you have to put it down to experience. Did you take out specific insurance for this activity? I would wonder if normal insurance would have covered any accident so things might have been worse. I have to say that there is no way I would have considered Glacier walking- the very nature of it points to being too adventurous and dangerous to me. I am really not sure that you have anyway out of paying but others will be able to give more advice than I can give. If you are making any complaint, best not to include the sunblock part. You were told to put it on. You have also said your son is a couch potato but were told you needed to be strong to take part.
You really had a frightening experience and I do sympathise but can't see what you can realistically expect from any complaint. Many people do spur of the moment things on holiday which involve potentially dangerous activities and for some it really is lifechanging, but not in the way they wanted it to be.
I hope you can enjoy what you have of the rest of your holiday.
( I also hope that someone can see a way forward for you )
You really had a frightening experience and I do sympathise but can't see what you can realistically expect from any complaint. Many people do spur of the moment things on holiday which involve potentially dangerous activities and for some it really is lifechanging, but not in the way they wanted it to be.
I hope you can enjoy what you have of the rest of your holiday.
( I also hope that someone can see a way forward for you )
I do sympathise with you, in that it must have been a very scary experience for you, especially as your son was so obviously unable to cope with it all. However, having read about the descent, and the angles of that descent etc, I do wonder why you didn't say to turn around when the guide first suggested it? Surely you would have realised that the ascent was to be exactly the same as the descent, with the same angles, ridge etc etc, except uphill?
As someone who has taught, is qualified, and takes part in adventurous activities, cases such as yours are not unknown to me. People often think these things look easy and are fun. They are fun but the level of skill required is high.
This is basically my key point and an important one. Yes, I accept that we are on an activity holiday, I came on this expecting to cycle and undertake a free half day white water raft. We are then told about an activity with company representatives present. The activity is undersold i.e. we are not told how extreme it may become, we are not told that it may be life threatening. It is sold as a 'life experience'. Call us naive but as someone who has never even skied (hence I am here in summer) how am I meant to judge this. I (like the others in the group) went purely on what we were briefed.
The company's own T's & C's state that the guide is responsible for the safety of the group and is able to stop or forbid anyone to go on the trip if they do not feel they are capable. Had this have happened, I would have been annoyed but ultimately he would have been correct. Our guide would have none that if nothing else we were going to burn badly and as such should have refused to continue. Had I refused to wear crampons he would have done I'm sure. It is all too easy to claim that we know what we're letting ourselves in for - we don't.
I used to work for 2 of the major package holiday companies in the UK and I know that the real profits are the excursions. Reps are told to hard sell these at all times. I now believe that in this case this has been taken too far. Falling of a mountain bike is one thing - falling 4000ft because you are exhausted and too embarrassed to refuse is another all together. Whilst I accept this is only a forum and all advise is given on a goodwill basis, being told to put it down to experience is missing the point. I am no fan of 'cotton wool' Britain but these excursions being undertaken by innocent 'victims' in the presence of qualified experienced guides are going to come unstuck soon!
I will fight this and maybe the company's pushing these days will have to accept that they may just have to turn people away. Maybe they should put it down to experience.
We had a similar trip in June to the Italian Dolomites with Colletts. We did the Via Feratta and the Marmolada glacier so I know the sort of activities you are talking about.
I honestly think you are wasting your time trying to get out of paying for the activity.
You were warned you needed to be strong.
You were advised to wear sunblock.
You were asked if you wanted to turn back. You declined.
Of course it's a dangerous activity. You were on a glacier on the the Alps.
I'm sorry you have had a bad experience but I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip. You have 5 days left and I'm sure there are low level walks you could do or maybe you could hire bikes?
I honestly think you are wasting your time trying to get out of paying for the activity.
You were warned you needed to be strong.
You were advised to wear sunblock.
You were asked if you wanted to turn back. You declined.
Of course it's a dangerous activity. You were on a glacier on the the Alps.
I'm sorry you have had a bad experience but I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip. You have 5 days left and I'm sure there are low level walks you could do or maybe you could hire bikes?
You are an adult and should take full responsibility for the safety of yourself and your family. It should not be necessary in this day and age to be told to put on sun block. It is also fairly obvious to me that if you head downhill for a distance at some point you have got to go uphill...........
As previously said I do wonder if your insurance would have covered you should anything have gone badly wrong.
To take this any further will just be adding to the drama you have experienced. You are unlikely to get anywhere - why not just let it go and learn from this experience and be more careful in future what you sign up for.
Pippa
As previously said I do wonder if your insurance would have covered you should anything have gone badly wrong.
To take this any further will just be adding to the drama you have experienced. You are unlikely to get anywhere - why not just let it go and learn from this experience and be more careful in future what you sign up for.
Pippa
I have to agree with the others. The whole trip and info you were given screams out to me that it was going to be a tough one. You needed to be 'strong' (which would indicate a high level of fitness required but perhaps they could, on that point have been more specific) and it would be 'life changing'. Using those exact words surely would tell most people that this was going to be something out of the ordinary?
I really can't believe that you are complaining about the sunblock issue. This was not a school trip.
I really can't believe that you are complaining about the sunblock issue. This was not a school trip.
I stand by what I have said previously. In my opinion you failed to fully understand what was involved in the activity. As I said before these activities look and are fun but there is skill involved and a level of fitness.
From what you have said your son did not have a problem with the decent, it was only when you came to the return journey the problems arose. Your concern should be that an 18 year old has a low fitness level. That was not the fault of the guide. Your complaint re short breaks shows a lack of understanding on your part of what was involved. I also fail to see what you expected anyone to do.
** Edit to remove copyright material. luci HT Mod **
You did have a choice when you booked this activity. It is up to you to check the details and ask the questions BEFORE you take part. A simple rule that we always taught was. If not sure Ask. If not confident then Don't do it!
Please take note - Failure by you to make payment could result in legal action being taken against you "in resort" which could cause you further problems.
fwh
From what you have said your son did not have a problem with the decent, it was only when you came to the return journey the problems arose. Your concern should be that an 18 year old has a low fitness level. That was not the fault of the guide. Your complaint re short breaks shows a lack of understanding on your part of what was involved. I also fail to see what you expected anyone to do.
** Edit to remove copyright material. luci HT Mod **
You did have a choice when you booked this activity. It is up to you to check the details and ask the questions BEFORE you take part. A simple rule that we always taught was. If not sure Ask. If not confident then Don't do it!
Please take note - Failure by you to make payment could result in legal action being taken against you "in resort" which could cause you further problems.
fwh
-
Edited by
David
2008-12-10 21:57:45
I very much doubt that you have any grounds for a successful complaint - this guide acted as I would expect any qualified guide to do so in the circumstances.
You were being charged for the services of a qualified, experienced guide who sounds as if he did a good job of getting an unfit, inexperienced party of people who greatly overestimated their physical condition and underestimated what is involved in high altitude Alpine walking, safely back to their starting point. 99 euros per head for a party of 6 is a reasonable price for the services of a qualified guide for a day and those based in Chamonix have to undertake a rigorous programme of training before receiving their guiding permit.
It is untrue to say
By your own admission you knew that this was to be a high level glacier walk near Mt Blanc and you were advised that it was only suitable for those who were physically strong. You describe your son as a couch potato - why sign him for something that was described as only suitable for those who were 'strong'
This sort of ridge walk is fairly standard for that region and as you yourself say, it actually is fairly straightforward if you have the right gear. It is hence the stuff of what makes for a good beginners' introduction, straightforward but exciting because of the 'exposure'. I gather that at this point nobody was expressing any fear or discomfort or why else would you describe it as straightforward? Or decide to continue? Given that the guide had indicated that the return journey would be based on retracing your steps back uphill why did none of you consider the implications of this before deciding to carry on? Surely it was obvious that if the downhill had been steep then the uphill trek back was going to be equally steep? The guide was perfectly right - it is not good technique to be making frequent stop/starts in these sort of conditions. What is needed is a steady, continuous pace and this is why you were advised that you need to be strong to undertake this sort of activity.
As for your comments about sunblock I'm surprised that anybody contemplating an activity holiday in a high level Alpine resort at any time of year needed to be told about taking care they didn't burn but you were told to do so by the guide anyway. Did you alert him to the fact that you didn't have any with you? And if you did, did he refuse to let you have any of his? If that is the case, then you might have a justifiable grievance but if you said nothing then I think that there's nothing you can do. You were warned and took no action so the responsibility was yours. If you went on a beach holiday in the Med in summer would you regard it as the reps or TOs fault if you got burned? We have to accept that we too have a duty of care for our own wellbeing.
This is the crux of the issue - by your own admission it was made clear that participants needed to be physically strong which I would have interpreted as being much more than just having a basic level of fitness. And what placed you all at risk is that you ignored this advice and still booked yourself onto the trip and what is more, when offered the chance to retreat by the guide, you all turned this down and decided to continue. I find it hard to identify how this trip was mis-sold.
I don't know you and your son so don't know if this applies here, so this is a general point but one of the reasons why I stopped doing outdoor activities with young men (and concentrated on work with young women and girls instead) is because firstly they consistently over estimated their fitness levels and secondly, they were extremely reluctant to admit when they had bitten off more than they could chew. I got fed-up with the stand-offs that resulted when I would advise them we should retreat while we still could and they would insist that they wanted to carry on - I suspected mainly because they didn't want to admit that they weren't up to it and especially to having to admit that they weren't as fit as me. I decided that I didn't want to have to take responsibility anymore for people I couldn't rely on taking some basic responsibility for themselves and who I knew would be the first to point the finger at me if we did have an accident or serious incident.
Like others, I think that you do have to put this down to experience and accept that you signed up for something you should have realised was beyond your and your son's capabilities and also thank the fates that you had a good guide who despite that got you all back safely. Sunburn and physical tiredness is the least that could have befallen you in the circumstances. And I would ask you to seriously reconsider whther you are fit enough for the other planned activities on this holiday. Cycling and canoeing in alpine conditions are going to be physically demanding too.
SM
I have also demanded to know for what 99 Euros was being charged
You were being charged for the services of a qualified, experienced guide who sounds as if he did a good job of getting an unfit, inexperienced party of people who greatly overestimated their physical condition and underestimated what is involved in high altitude Alpine walking, safely back to their starting point. 99 euros per head for a party of 6 is a reasonable price for the services of a qualified guide for a day and those based in Chamonix have to undertake a rigorous programme of training before receiving their guiding permit.
It is untrue to say
No mention was made as to how physical the experience would be or any gauge given as to an appropriate expected level of fitness.
By your own admission you knew that this was to be a high level glacier walk near Mt Blanc and you were advised that it was only suitable for those who were physically strong. You describe your son as a couch potato - why sign him for something that was described as only suitable for those who were 'strong'
The initial decent to the glacier was made via a narrow snow ridge approx 2 foot wide that descended some 400 ft at approx 45 degrees (I have photos of the ridge). the sides of the ridge were 45 degrees with a drop of 5000ft on one side and 500 ft on the other. At the sales pitch the ridge was described as 'exciting'
This sort of ridge walk is fairly standard for that region and as you yourself say, it actually is fairly straightforward if you have the right gear. It is hence the stuff of what makes for a good beginners' introduction, straightforward but exciting because of the 'exposure'. I gather that at this point nobody was expressing any fear or discomfort or why else would you describe it as straightforward? Or decide to continue? Given that the guide had indicated that the return journey would be based on retracing your steps back uphill why did none of you consider the implications of this before deciding to carry on? Surely it was obvious that if the downhill had been steep then the uphill trek back was going to be equally steep? The guide was perfectly right - it is not good technique to be making frequent stop/starts in these sort of conditions. What is needed is a steady, continuous pace and this is why you were advised that you need to be strong to undertake this sort of activity.
As for your comments about sunblock I'm surprised that anybody contemplating an activity holiday in a high level Alpine resort at any time of year needed to be told about taking care they didn't burn but you were told to do so by the guide anyway. Did you alert him to the fact that you didn't have any with you? And if you did, did he refuse to let you have any of his? If that is the case, then you might have a justifiable grievance but if you said nothing then I think that there's nothing you can do. You were warned and took no action so the responsibility was yours. If you went on a beach holiday in the Med in summer would you regard it as the reps or TOs fault if you got burned? We have to accept that we too have a duty of care for our own wellbeing.
I immediately told the representative that I felt that the physical demands of the trip required a more than basic level of fitness and felt that we had all been placed at risk by the way the trip had been sold to us.
This is the crux of the issue - by your own admission it was made clear that participants needed to be physically strong which I would have interpreted as being much more than just having a basic level of fitness. And what placed you all at risk is that you ignored this advice and still booked yourself onto the trip and what is more, when offered the chance to retreat by the guide, you all turned this down and decided to continue. I find it hard to identify how this trip was mis-sold.
I don't know you and your son so don't know if this applies here, so this is a general point but one of the reasons why I stopped doing outdoor activities with young men (and concentrated on work with young women and girls instead) is because firstly they consistently over estimated their fitness levels and secondly, they were extremely reluctant to admit when they had bitten off more than they could chew. I got fed-up with the stand-offs that resulted when I would advise them we should retreat while we still could and they would insist that they wanted to carry on - I suspected mainly because they didn't want to admit that they weren't up to it and especially to having to admit that they weren't as fit as me. I decided that I didn't want to have to take responsibility anymore for people I couldn't rely on taking some basic responsibility for themselves and who I knew would be the first to point the finger at me if we did have an accident or serious incident.
Like others, I think that you do have to put this down to experience and accept that you signed up for something you should have realised was beyond your and your son's capabilities and also thank the fates that you had a good guide who despite that got you all back safely. Sunburn and physical tiredness is the least that could have befallen you in the circumstances. And I would ask you to seriously reconsider whther you are fit enough for the other planned activities on this holiday. Cycling and canoeing in alpine conditions are going to be physically demanding too.
SM
This last reply by SMa sums it up in a nutshell,and i would be guided by what he says.
I also don't think you have a cause for complaint.
You have to take the responsibility for the decisions you made.
I also don't think you have a cause for complaint.
You have to take the responsibility for the decisions you made.
Whilst I agree with what many of the posters have said I think in the OP defence the trip was advertised as suitable from 12 years upwards that would make me think it wouldnt be too strenous for an 18 year old.
Also the guide must of had some inkling about the type of group he had by looking at them and how they started. I also think this treip perhaps should be explained in a little more detail rather than the requirement you must be strong. Is that strong for a 12 year old it is a bit ambigous.
I think there is little chance of compensation as others have said but it does sound to me having never done this type of thing that a glacier walk for 6 plus hours does sound a bit much for a beginners introduction to the activity.
Kind Regards
Stewart
Also the guide must of had some inkling about the type of group he had by looking at them and how they started. I also think this treip perhaps should be explained in a little more detail rather than the requirement you must be strong. Is that strong for a 12 year old it is a bit ambigous.
I think there is little chance of compensation as others have said but it does sound to me having never done this type of thing that a glacier walk for 6 plus hours does sound a bit much for a beginners introduction to the activity.
Kind Regards
Stewart
Hi all
Thanks for the honest feedback.
I did meet with the MD of the company who ran the trip (Evolution 2) and to his credit he admitted that the statement about suitable for 12 year olds was a typo and applied to their alternative trip across the Glacier del Mer which is basically a bimble on the ice. He also stated that he would never envisage taking people back up the ridge when tired and that the guide's decision to allow us to continue was clearly wrong. I also accepted that I should have been more aware of my son's fitness level. I also made it clear that another member of the party was so badly affected that they were actually returning home today (due to his extensive sun burn despite his wearing sun block).
I agree that according to the T's & C's, I stood no chance. Fortunately, however the MD was a reasonable man who had clearly heard how the trip had progressed. In the end, we agreed on a 50% refund so I believe I was valid in my complaint that the physical nature of the excursion had been mis-sold. He agreed to amend the booking sheet to make clear the physical nature of the exped to any future parties..
I accept that some may see me as a winge for kicking up a fuss about this and I am genuinely surprised at the level of kick back to my post. Unfortunately not all of us are skilled, aware alpine types and having grown up in S.Africa my exposure to snow remains limited to this experience.
So - issue closed and a good solution.
Thanks for the honest feedback.
I did meet with the MD of the company who ran the trip (Evolution 2) and to his credit he admitted that the statement about suitable for 12 year olds was a typo and applied to their alternative trip across the Glacier del Mer which is basically a bimble on the ice. He also stated that he would never envisage taking people back up the ridge when tired and that the guide's decision to allow us to continue was clearly wrong. I also accepted that I should have been more aware of my son's fitness level. I also made it clear that another member of the party was so badly affected that they were actually returning home today (due to his extensive sun burn despite his wearing sun block).
I agree that according to the T's & C's, I stood no chance. Fortunately, however the MD was a reasonable man who had clearly heard how the trip had progressed. In the end, we agreed on a 50% refund so I believe I was valid in my complaint that the physical nature of the excursion had been mis-sold. He agreed to amend the booking sheet to make clear the physical nature of the exped to any future parties..
I accept that some may see me as a winge for kicking up a fuss about this and I am genuinely surprised at the level of kick back to my post. Unfortunately not all of us are skilled, aware alpine types and having grown up in S.Africa my exposure to snow remains limited to this experience.
So - issue closed and a good solution.
Really glad that you have a result that is satisfactory. Also hope that the MD will now make sure the trip is properly explained in the future too. Glad also he had heard about the experience, presumably the guide had filled in a full report on his return?
This last reply by SMa sums it up in a nutshell,and i would be guided by what he says.
Just a point of clarification - I'm a she!
SM
Glad you got a result.
I was also a little surprised at the tone of the replies to your post ( yes I could see the points they were making but for a new member a little empathy wouldnt have gone a miss). They are normally a very friendly and helpful bunch on here particulalry the people that posted always offering good advice so for your next holiday do come back and ask for advice.
Kind Regards
Stewart
I was also a little surprised at the tone of the replies to your post ( yes I could see the points they were making but for a new member a little empathy wouldnt have gone a miss). They are normally a very friendly and helpful bunch on here particulalry the people that posted always offering good advice so for your next holiday do come back and ask for advice.
Kind Regards
Stewart
Sorry to assume you were a he.
That makes it even better you are female.
That makes it even better you are female.
Thank your lucky stars that you went down and then up.
I once took the family for a stroll to the top of a mountain in the Penines. I assumed that the car park was near the top and the peak we could see about 1/2 mile away was the top. A couple of hours later we reached the top, but coming down was a nightmare as the legs are shot from climbing upwards so end up like stilts. Not too good on decent terrain but on ice or snow ....
Hopefully they will now sort out their publicity and maybe the activity company will also take note so they can advise more accurately next time.
I once took the family for a stroll to the top of a mountain in the Penines. I assumed that the car park was near the top and the peak we could see about 1/2 mile away was the top. A couple of hours later we reached the top, but coming down was a nightmare as the legs are shot from climbing upwards so end up like stilts. Not too good on decent terrain but on ice or snow ....
Hopefully they will now sort out their publicity and maybe the activity company will also take note so they can advise more accurately next time.
Just completed white water rafting today and both thoroughly enjoyed it. Two man rafts and an 8km stretch of the Chamonix river with some great water. OK so it was only a Grade 2/3 but rain yesterday bumped up the level and this time 'it did what it said on the tin'. Weather has cooled considerably as well which helps. Tomorrow I am off on my own to undertake some more challenging biking - hard as it is to leave my son behind on the grounds of fitness - I need to do something a bit more exciting. Have teamed up with a couple of others and it should be a laugh in the rain forecast for tomorrow.
My son's sunburn is now peeling a treat!
Thanks to those who offered messages of support. I did feel some of the points made were a little harsh but maybe that is the way of the active who may have little empathy for those who don't keep themselves in shape.
pesman
Have you checked your travel insurance to ensure that you are covered for these activities? Most policies do not cover hazardous activities although so do for an additional premium. Perhaps you have upgraded your policy with the type of holiday booked.
luci
Have you checked your travel insurance to ensure that you are covered for these activities? Most policies do not cover hazardous activities although so do for an additional premium. Perhaps you have upgraded your policy with the type of holiday booked.
luci
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