Alps Trip 2012

The Dollar Academy Geography trip to the French and Swiss Alps ran this year between the 30th May and 3rd June. 

A total of 37 pupils from Form I and II, accompanied by 4 members of staff, spent 4 nights in a hotel located by the alpine village of Les Contamines, with beautiful views up into the glaciers and snow covered peaks.

This base was ideally located for a Cable Car journey from Chamonix up to the pyramidal peak of the Aiguille de Midi at 3842m.  The group travelled through some cloud, which cleared as they summited to give an amazing aspect of Mont Blanc and the glaciers.

The geographic studies continued with a mountain railway trip on the rack and pinion train up to the Mer de Glace.  After enjoying a traditional baked camembert lunch at the Montenvers Grand hotel (built in 1880), the pupils observed the active nature of ice and the impact of warming temperatures, which prevented access into ice caves under the glacier.    There was also opportunities for the pupils to visit the stunning limestone Gorge de Fier with its suspended walkways, and to observe the peculiar shapes which have been eroded through the limestone.

This trip to the alps included a cultural aspect, with strolls through the beautiful town of Annecy allowing some retail therapy, and a day letting off some steam on the rides, chutes and slides at the nearby aqua park.     But for many of the pupils, the highlight was a visit to the Cailler chocolate factory, where everyone enjoyed learning about the unusual location for such a big company, and of course, tasting the different types of chocolate. 

Mrs Shiona Scott, Geography Teacher at Dollar Academy commented: “The Alps trip went very well.  This was a great opportunity for our younger pupils to experience some of what they have been learning in class and we were very pleased with how enthusiastically they approached the opportunities.  The pupils who attended were immaculately behaved and provided great company throughout.   We are already looking forward to the next trip planned for May-June 2014.”

A photography competition was run for the pupils with themes for each day: ice, water and chocolate.  The winning photos in each of the categories are shown below.

Emma Thompson FII

Finlay Balfour FI

Hannah Parker FII