RDA Fans

[Paya]

Thanks a lot for your comments. I am happy you like the new story. This was just a beginning, and I hope you will enjoy the next parts even more.

[Paya]

Skiing in the Swiss Alps - Part 2

The next day brought a nice surprise for us. Yesterday’s bad weather was gone, and it encouraged us to explore a bigger area of the neighbouring valleys.



Jack: Yes, this is much better.



Jack was testing the crisp snow on remote slopes.





After a while we came to an interesting place where Jack stopped and took off his skis.



He discovered this entrance into an ice cave. And you know he had led an exploring unit for all those years for a reason, right?

[Paya]

His curiosity took over and he walked in. No wonder. It was indeed a beautiful location.





It became quite hard to follow him everywhere though. Sometimes, I had to crawl through extremely narrow passages.



The enormous complex of halls and tunnels spreading deep into the mountain was amazing.



We were crisscrossing through the icy net for a long time, our excitement growing every minute.

[Paya]

Then we got out of the caves at a different place on the icy cliff.





Jack looked around and put on his skis resolutely. I didn’t see any reasonable way down, but I rather kept quiet and just waited what he had up his sleeve this time.



And then... He just jumped. Like that. With that annoying ease of his. You can see the end of his tracks in the upper left corner of the picture. He merely touched the little ledge bellow, made another jump, then slid over the rest of the steep side and was down in no time. Breathtaking maneuver of an extraordinary skier.

[Paya]

Back in the sunshine, admiring scenic views over the main valley and the opposite mountain range.



Behind-the-scene note:
It may be hard to believe that behind such innocently looking pictures like this one, there can be moments of worries and inner tension resulting from awareness of danger and possible bad consequences. It’s because, as I once mentioned, Jack’s skis really are able to ski!

If I put him on a hard, compacted snow, which doesn’t provide enough friction, and am not careful to arrange the figure properly and safely, it can start to slide down while I’m taking a photo. Considering how close the figure is to the edge, below which the surface gets a lot more elevated, the figure can easily go down to the valley before I even have a chance to catch it.

Yes, sometimes, taking pictures of Jack may be quite nerve wracking.

Jack [reading over my shoulder while I am typing]: What?
Paja: Nothing, Jack, nothing. I am just writing how exciting it is when I photograph your escapades.

Actually, I have included a fishing line to my regular action figure shoot equipment. Then I can secure Jack with the line when he is balancing above a waterfall or when he’s standing on his skis at the edge of a snow ledge admiring the mountain scenery. But I am usually too lazy to install it like that, so Jack is on his own most of the time.

(Just between you and me: the true reason I don’t use this sophisticated safety instrument more often is totally different. Come on, we all know the guy is former special ops. Can you even imagine the glares he sent my way when I looped a fishing line around his leg the first time he decided to get a closer look at wild rapids? Yes. That’s why.)

So... be careful, Jack. It gets quite steep before you.
Jack: But that’s the point in skiing, isn’t it?

[Paya]

Switzerland is well known for its railway, watches and banks. And of course, the mountain scenery. But it is also a land of dams. Here in Valais, you can find one in nearly every valley, high up, surrounded by magnificent mountains, creating reservoirs of beautiful turquoise colour. Though opinions on dams in general may vary, and rightly so, one thing is indisputable: many of them represent truly fascinating pieces of structural engineering. During my travels in the Alps, I became a fan of exploring the wonder aspect of these artificial lakes.

Here we’re passing by Lac de Cleuson dam, built at the altitude ca 2,180 m.



We took a little break at a kettle hole surrounded by “mogul fields”. A big cable car was just arriving to its bottom station, inviting to another adventure.



A was watching Jack’s line of sight, dreading the worst.



He was following the ropes up to a point with a poetic name: Col des Gentianes, about 900 m higher then the place where we were just standing. Of course, no flowers were to be admired there at that time of year, but an attractive steep bumpy route going - no, *falling* - down from there.



Jack: Are we going for it?
Paja: Ahem, well, you know...
Jack: All right. I know. Forget about it.

[Paya]

I was dumbfounded by his sudden display of understanding. He was perfectly okay with taking the other lift and other route. To my utter relief, needless to say. Now, he can be such a nice guy sometimes, can’t he?

Jack: I’m taking a nap. Wake me up when we’re... up.



Paja: Sure. I will.



The nap didn’t last long. Soon enough, Jack was back on his feet, looking out of the window of our cable car.



Jack: How about this? It looks quite good.
Paja: Nope. I’ve got weak legs... and am not in good shape... and this is too hard, frozen...
Jack: Yadda yadda yadda. Quit worrying. I was just teasing you.

Did he laughed or was I imagining things?

[Paya]

We reached the top of the mountain comfortably and leapt over to the next valley on our list. The other side of the ridge offered even more spectacular scenery.



You don’t have to fly to get a bird’s-eye view.


Just take another lift up...



...and reach another magnificent part.

[Paya]

Oh no. So we have come here after all. We made a full circle and now we are right above that slope which initially caught Jack’s interest. He knew it and that’s why he was so willing to accept my suggestions.

Paja: Jack, you devil!
Jack: *mischievous, satisfied grin*



Exactly something for Jack.



Yes, this is a ski route. Jack went there. I did not. Hence the photo taken through a window of a descending cable car. There was no other way down and I was in no way going to ski down this vertical thing.



Instead of it, I used the beneficial factor of the lift and then was patiently waiting for Jack at the bottom of the hill, watching the dramatic sky at another glorious sunset.



This day was a marvel. After the wet and foggy yesterday, we took the sunny weather as a gift and enjoyed it to the fullest.

-- To be continued --

[Astra]

Yay new pictures! Okay, the one from inside the ice cave? I just hurt my brain trying to figure out how you did THAT. Only way I can imagine, you did indeed shrink yourself (Honey, I shrunk Paya!) so you were the same size as Jack. It's the only logical explanation, right? Right?

Amazing pictures. And just when I wanted to ask: Hey, what about the fishing line?, you explained about it LOL

But that is a sneaky Jack, bringing you to the route he wanted. I didn't believe his act of innocence. Not at all.

I seriously wonder though if you ever manage to get to do some skiing on your own, when you have to follow him all the time.

[KateR]

[Pamk1950]

Paya,

Absolutely amazing work as always. My travel wish list is growing. I don't ski but I would love to go there just to take in the scenery.

(Of course Tiger is now asking for some skis. He wants to be just like Jack.)

I can't wait until the next set of pictures.

Pam
_________________


She dreams of Mermaids, Motorcycles and a man that can Dance.

LIFE isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about leaning to DANCE in the rain

[Astra]

I was in Scotland after Christmas, and in Glasgow I bought a bagpipe for Jack:



Although he does not look as if he knows how to play it. Maybe I should have bought a kilt as well?
_________________
Funny pictures with Stargate actionfigures at http://dieastra.livejournal.com

More Action Figure Theater at http://community.livejournal.com/action_tales/

[Caty]

[Astra]