The group left the school by coach on Boxing Day, and after a relatively good crossing from Dover to Calais, took the night train to Sargans, the station for Mels our destination.
An old - but nevertheless comfortable coach took us up the winding road to the Hotel Waldheim. We arrived in the morning and were scheduled to start ski-ing that afternoon, but before this happened, however, one boy had knocked himself out, and another had cut his leg open. Before the end of the holiday there were two more cripples, though our Sleeping Beauty soon recovered. This all testifies to the need to act sensibly in such conditions.
Ski-ing itself, no matter how humble the start, is exhilarating. There is nothing like going down a slope for the first time without falling over. It was all great fun.
On returning from ski-ing we were always greeted by our friends, the hotel staff, with meals which were very good and tasty. There was always enough for us - ignoring a few gluttons. There was also a party of German boys in the hotel, with whom we struck up a friendship, despite the language barrier.
As well as ski-ing on the nursery slopes, there were regular trips to the village of Weistannen in the Dormobile which we had rented. Here there was a large slope with a drag lift to the top - which certainly had a mind of its own. This year we had a day trip to Davos, a ski-ing resort where we were free to go shopping and sight-seeing.
On the day before our return, we went up the Pizsol in cable cars. Unfortunately the weather was bad, but we had a hilarious time trying to turn around on a slope with a huge snow drift at the bottom. Needless to say this drift was soon cluttered with floundering failures. Unfortunately this time were was no Bronze Medal Test since we were not with the local ski school, but by the time of our return, we could all ski in a straight line without falling over - thanks to the efforts of our friendly instructors, Danny, Karl and Joe, friends of Mr. Martin. They never gave up despite our early discouraging efforts.
In closing, I must say a word of thanks to those responsible for organizing the trip. Mr. Martin and Father Louis worked extremely hard to make this trip a success and their efforts were much appreciated. We were all sorry when at the end of ten days we had to leave the friendly mountains - but there is always next year.
David Bradley. Lower Sixth.