Two words can describe the KCLMC trip to the Alps last summer:
It rocked.
However, Martin has been badgering me for this trip report for about 4 months so really I don’t think that would quite cut it with him, and I think I’d risk finding many a used Birkett in my bed…. Ask Martin to explain...
For me, the Alps started on the evening of the 11th June 2009, when I found myself looking at one hell of a lot of kit, and one seemingly very small Ford Focus. However, KCLMC are not just awesome climbers, they were clearly also incredible Tetris players in their youth. Sure it may have taken climbing into the boot and sure we may have found a few karibiners in places you should never find karibiners when we finally arrived in France, but hey, at least those karibiners made it there.
4am the next morning saw us fit ourselves expertly into the puzzle and head towards Dover. Having made it on to the dual carriage way I uttered the immortal line “I’m so glad we let Helena drive early in the morning when there aren’t many cars on the roads”. Trust me guys, when I can’t sleep at 4am, it’s for a good reason. Joining me and Hels in the car by the way were Feneley (Andy) and the man, the legend, Mr Emlyn Clay.
Apart from stalling on the ramp up to the ferry, the crossing went without a hitch, i.e. no sickness and no sinking, and so when we docked in France, the journey really began. 12 hours of straight driving. To anyone who drives next year, if you’re sharing the trip with other people, try and take the last leg of the journey, driving through the mountains in the late afternoon is beautiful, and was actually one of my favourite bits of the trip. Everyone else was asleep and it’s such a shame to miss it, the first sight of the mountains gives me chills every time. By the way, another note if you drive on the next trip, make sure you don’t take the route that goes through the Mont Blanc tunnel; it’s boring and it hurts your eyes and it’s damn expensive.
We arrived at camp to find the traditional KCLMC pitch was a tad boggy, and so we pitched up in what actually turned out to be a much better spot. The first time I went to the Alps we sta yed in a pitch that’s surrounded by trees, pretty cool because no one else camps there and so you can get up to all the mischief you like. However, if you camp in the main field you get all the sunshine and the most AMAZING view. I highl y recommend. Apart from mischief making has to be done on the sly… It might be worth knowing that it’s best to set up camp under some trees, otherwise you wake up in the morning sweaty and unable to breathe, not pleasant. This is, of course, exactly what happened to us on our first morning and so after doing some shopping we moved camp, and then we waited in the sun for the rest of the group to arrive. We had been joined the night before by our resident (half) Frenchy, Marianne, and then along came Ollie and Tom, with Brendan and Pete turning up later that night, and they were followed the next day by Rob, Martin and Pete Brook. And so the Alps 2009 could really begin.
The first few days in the Alps is usually about getting to know the area, so going climbing, figuring out the best way to cross the torrent of glacial water that separates some of the crags from the campsite, and exploring the local facilities (i.e. the pub). We also had to get ready for one of the best bits about the Alps, Murray Week. Murray Hamilton is our guide who we have used for many years now, he is a legend (even more so than Emlyn), and he is adored by men and women alike. Murray is Scottish in every conceivable way and there is still an outstanding prize to the first person to make him smile. Each year the group gets divided up into smaller groups and everyone gets to spend a couple of days with Murray, as well as having one day all together. As Murray lives in the Alps he knows the area like the back of his hand (which incidentally are of a similar size to a bear’s) and that means we get to go to all the best spots, and this year was no exception. After driving up some pretty bumpy tracks, our first day was spent all together climbing at a gorgeous crag with views out over the valley. Apart from the minor mishap of leaving one of Murray’s ropes behind, as well as Marianne’s camera (both were recovered successfully the next morning!), an awesome day was had by all, and we returned to the camp to relax… but not for long. The next day involved more rock climbing for one small group, and a trip off to the mountains for another. Part of the reason for going to the Alps is the mountains, we can climb rock here in the UK, but for proper big mountains close to home, the Alps is the place to be. Because we go to a lesser-known area as well there are less people there to clog up the mountains, it’s much better than any of this Chamonix nonsense.
Now, I must confess to not being a mountain-climber, I don’t actually like walking much, I prefer to be clinging to a rock face; but watching the guys come back down from their explorations made me just that little bit jealous that I’d opted out of it this year. Being up in the mountains is a fantastic experience, and you get the BEST views. If you go on the trip this year, honestly, you have to give it a try, even if you are like me and don’t like walking uphill, just open your mind and do it because trust me, you won’t regret it. I mainly missed the experience of staying in the huts, which is always fun, even when you get stuck in a room with the noisiest snorer in the world (ear plugs are a must for the Alps). The mountain days this year were a complete success, with everyone making a peak. I would like to point out however, that there is no shame in not reaching a peak, and having to wait in the snow for everyone else to go up and come down. Not that this has ever happened to me you understand, I’m just offering helpful advice…
The final day of Murray Week this year was a special day for everyone on the campsite, for never do you forget the sight of four young men dressed in the tightest Lycra they could find marching off behind a gruff, rugged Scotsman to go and climb. Never has Murray looked so relieved to return a group to camp at the end of the day… Rumour has it that the soundtrack to that day was Frankie Goes to Hollywood, The Village People, and George Michael.
Having just about recovered from Murray Week, the next week was spent in glorious sunshine going climbing and swimming in the lake down in the valley (if you ever get the chance, ask Helena and Marianne about their first trip to the lake… just ask them what they saw…). It was also spent doing the following: standing out in thunderstorms, making zip wires from old ropes, laughing at Martin as he went down said zip wire and into a tree, lazing around reading and juggling, drinking a lot of booze, making fires, eating, sleeping, discovering what a “Birkett” was, and… packing up to go home. The saddest part of the trip. Because sadly, all good things do come to an end, and the Alps trip is no exception, nor is this trip report.
This report hopefully, gives you some idea of what goes on on the Alps trip, but let me just say this, no words will ever really do the trip justice. Despite my outstanding writing talent, I could never quite convey to you just how amazing the trip really is, I could never explain the ridiculous jokes that come from it, and I could never remember all the silly little details (especially not now it’s 6 months later) that really make the trip what it is. For me - teary emotional moment alert – the Alps is the trip that I will always remember the club for, it makes friendships, it gives you the chance to see a beautiful place, and it’s just damn fun. If you make it on one trip for the whole year, make it on this one.
By Becky Hardacre
