Bens first 48 hours as an adventure guide

Ben found his way to the collection point by bus and there he was met with Julian who Ben described was extremely friendly and personable. They then drove out to the base where he met the other members of the team and was given some tasks to do immediately. There was no interview process, no resume required, no 50 questions, no forms just straight into instructions on how to get ready for rafting. I guess you wouldn’t apply for a position if you didn’t have the skills needed so it was a handshake and off they went.

The first instructions were to get the rafting boats off the trailers and ready them to go rafting, then put together all the gear including wetsuits and shoes etc. They were taking out a school group to go rafting and it was what Ben described as ‘beginner level’.

There was of course a safety briefing and then they geared up, which was full wetsuits and westsuit shoes and helmets and then into the raft they went and onto the river, navigating a course for 40 minutes and all got soaked. Ben said he loved it and it was easy, that the most difficult thing was when the kids were all calling out their shoe sizes in German and he was given the task to provide them with their shoes ( ie sechsunddreisig is size 36 ) and he said they were yelling them out so quickly. Lucky he was familiar with German numbers and he said although it was really challenging he started to get the hang of it.

When Ben got home he was enthralled with the beauty of the location describing the huge majestic mountains and how he could see an ice cave while going down the river and there was also another castle which he was admiring. He said the rafting was fun and the team was a great group of guys. Day 1 completed.

Day 2 was much of the same, however they did more advanced rapids and to Bens surprise they explained a lot of what was happening in German so he was completely in the dark and then they gave him the task to take the lead and steer the raft through the rapids by instructing the group to paddle left…. paddle right which he completely didn’t expect but he said it was exhilarating and no problems at all.

They were big days from 7am - 7pm but not hard days and very enjoyable days by Bens account too.

Day 3 - Friday 1st August - he was meant to go out canyoning and he was looking forward to it but on the evening of Day 2 he came home and felt like he had been hit by a Mack truck. From his description he had a throbbing headache, had been punched in the eye, wanted to vomit and felt really unwell. We were trying to work out perhaps he had been bitten by a tick or had a tick on him and we inspected his body but nothing was found. My thoughts went to perhaps he shouldn’t be drinking the water out there at base camp but surely the water would be the same as in town (or maybe not if it is tank water), we are not sure but he didn’t make it to Day 3 as it was a day in bed for him trying to feel better.

While he was having fun rafting and instructing he did discuss the potential of a job with the company and they explained the work is seasonal. They conduct tours only in the Summer months and that will be wrapping up at the end of September. The pay is not super either but we can work around that as I would just like him to find something he enjoys and likes to spend his time doing.

We have decided if they have a full time position for him (Monday to Friday only) that he will finish out the end of Summer with them. Now Ben just needs to follow up with the owner if there is that option and he is waiting to hear back.