The first run was on Imster Schlucht. I was the only girl on the raft and so I felt it was my job to squeal at the appropriate moments. That’s tough work when the water smells like it just came out of a waste water treatment plant, which it had.

This tour has some lazy parts so we entertained ourselves by either jumping in the chilly 8 °C river or making attempts to traverse the edge of the boat without falling in the water. This is not so easy when the guys are bouncing up and down.

My favorite group on our boat were the ‘Langweilig!’ dudes from Regensburg who had no qualms about getting intimate after pulling up a buddy back on the raft. I also want to make a public apology to the innocent woman sunbathing herself on the water’s edge. Like I said the boat was teaming with testosterone and there was no stopping the soak-fest she had to endure.

Everything we learned in good fun on the Imster Schlucht we needed in all seriousness for Ötztaler Ache, which is wild and fast. We dropped the boat in an eddie and with a “und vorwarts!” we were in Category IV madness. I wasn’t the only girl this time but apparently she didn’t get the memo that mandatory female whoohoo’s were a must. She finally caught on after she popped me accidentally on the helmet with her paddle and I didn’t retaliate. We were best friends for the remainder of the journey and squealing in perfect unison.

The profi guides on both tours were der absolut Hammer in terms of good humor, reading the river and giving clear directions. They gave just the right amount of motivation so the group wouldn’t kack things ab and force us to perform a dangerous rescue mission.

There are plenty of river touring groups in that part near the Inn river. We used Natur Pur. To get an idea, here’s a fancy video of the group we toured with:

• Naturpur Rafting Imster Schlucht

So I wanted to go sledding so badly and try out the monster hill, I got on my ski suit and climbed the hill as Alex looked on. The snow was actually compact, slippery ice. I followed a trail of footprints up to the top and scooted my butt ’till I started to slide. Oh hell, was that fast and bumpy. But the worst was at the end was a small barren patch of earth which stopped my momentum cold. My tailbone hurt so bad but the ride was so exhilarating I couldn’t stop laughing. I had snow in my eyes and in my shoes. I was completely immobilized with laughter.

To get there: take the BOB (Bayerische Oberlandbahn)from Munich Hauptbahnhof to Holzkirchen. A ticket for 5 people cost 19 Euro and the train leaves every hour, 40 minutes passed the hour. It takes about 1 hour and half to Holzkirchen. From Holzkirchen take a 10 minute bus ride to Spitzingsee, it cost 2 Euro per person per ride. Hard to explain how to get to the trail from the bus stop, but it’s around the corner to the right, then look for two buildings, one that’s a ski school on the right and a road in the middle with a red/white pole gate. Follow this road and you see the trail blazer to Rotwand. Mind when the last bus leaves for the day or you’ll be stuck in Wooden Church town and there ain’t nutn’ to do heer.