A new adventure starts here!

Saturday 4 – Saturday 18 July 2009

Web Page Updated: 29 July 2009

(NEW) Meet photo DVD now available <CLICK HERE>

(NEW) Meet feedback form WORD <CLICK HERE>

(NEW) Meet feedback form PDF <CLICK HERE>

More news in from Innertkirchen <CLICK HERE> 

Alp meet full steam ahead <CLICK HERE> 

News in from Innertkirchen <CLICK HERE>

Some more useful information <CLICK HERE>

Getting ready for the Alps - Maps <CLICK HERE> 

The Bernese Oberland has been described as the "playground of Europe" and is the birthplace of alpine tourism, especially in its eastern part with the famous tourist resorts of Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald and Meiringen.  The region at the foot of the trio of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau is amongst the most popular walking and mountain areas in the Alps today.

The 2009 Mountaineering Ireland Summer Alpine Meet is aimed at walkers, rock climbers, and alpinists of all ages. The purpose is to get people together in an alpine area where they can walk, rock climb, boulder and climb snow covered and rocky alpine peaks. They can meet old friends and make new ones. It is a grand gathering of active independent mountain people.

The Meet is an occasion to share information, learn new skills, find climbing partners, join walking groups and generally share in the exploration of an alpine area. Many people return to the Meet from year to year using it as a base to take on new challenges in a new area.  Others may be visiting the Alps for the first time joining more experienced friends or taking part in one of the Mountaineering Ireland courses that supplement the meet.  The Meet has a social aspect with some organised events but mostly informal get togethers.  Musicians are encouraged to bring their musical instruments.

What the Meet is not is a way to have your holiday organised foryou. The courses Mountaineering Ireland organise are to introduce people to the skills need for walking and climbing with the long term aim of making participants capable of independent activity in alpine areas.  There are also courses for people who want to refresh or upgrade the skills learnt on previous meets. A natural progression is for people to participate in a course in the first few years and then return to the Meet as an independent walker/climber.

The professional mountain guides are at the Meet not only to run training courses but also to share information with meet participants on mountain conditions and recommended routes in the area.

This year we will also be encouraging experienced climbers and walkers to share some of their expertise and knowledge with other participants through the medium of conversation and informal trips to local walking and climbing areas.  Anyone interested in participating in the Meet should contact us by email: summermeet@mountaineering.ie

The Meet will be based in the village of Innertkirchen in the Bernese Oberland.  It is a quiet alpine village but also the access point for some of the most spectacular walking and rock climbing In Switzerland. The campsite is a short drive from Grimsel pass, Furka pass and Susten pass. Nearby is the start of the renowned 'Via Alpina', a multi day walking trip from Meiringen to Kandersteg.

There are numerous spectacular walks within easy access of the campsite. The excellent Swiss train service allows for easy access to nearby walking areas as well as train services to and from Zurich Airport.

Alpine Peaks around the Innertkirchen area are numerous. The Sustenhorn 3,504m, Gwachtenhorn 3,420m and Tierberg 3,091m are all easily accessible from the very friendly Tierbergli hutte and make excellent introductory or acclimatisation peaks prior to aspirations of some of the bigger Oberland 4,000m peaks which are just round the corner over the Oberaar joch. There are several other snowy peaks within easy striking distance above the Susten and Grimsel passes.

The area is also world famous for its rock climbing including the extraordinary granite walls of Grimsel and Eldorado. Other well known climbing areas are Handegg, Englehorner, Mittagsflu and Wendenstock and the Furka pass. There is a local single pitch crag at Meiringen. Rock climbing grades in the area span from grade 3 to 9a (a Fred Nicole route in the Grimsel area). As far as bouldering is concerned we are in the process of establishing contacts with local climbers and will have an update soon.

For 2009 we are adopting a new approach to the Summer Alpine Meet. We will be keeping all the main features but we have developed and incorporated a wider range of disciplines in order to make the Meet a more inclusive and organic event.

There will be a wider range of courses trip and workshops and informal outings specifically designed for the walking, sport climbing, trad climbing and bouldering communities.

Summer Alpine Meet 2009 Courses

Walking courses

Please note that as the booking date has passed please contact Kate or Tim on (+353 1) 625 1118 before making your booking to confirm availability for a particular course.

Adventures off the trail (1 day with International Mountain Leader) 8:1 ratio - €45

Alpine Flora and Fauna (1 day with IML) 8:1 ratio - €45

Alpine walking Navigation and the use of maps and GPS (1 day with IML) 8:1 ratio - €45

Alpine walking trip with overnight in Hut (2 days with IML) 6:1 ratio - €125

Alpine Trek from Meiringen to Kandersteg (5 days with IML) 6:1 ratio - €315

Climbing courses

One day introduction to rock climbing (with UIAGM guide) 6:1 ratio - €100

One day improvers rock climbing (with UIAGM guide) 6:1 ratio - €100

One day multi pitch rock climbing (with UIAGM guide) 2:1 ratio - €200

One day bouldering workshops (with UIAGM guide and Climbing coach) ratio 10:2 or 5:1 - €50

Alpine courses

Introduction to Alpine mountaineering 5 days (with UIAGM guide) 4:1 ratio - €670 *

Intermediate Alpine mountaineering 5 days (with UIAGM guide) 2:1 ratio - €995 *

Advanced Alpine mountaineering 5 days (with UIAGM guide) 2:1 ratio - €995 *

Please see the downloads below for details of the courses above with health and fitness level information before booking.

* All these courses will be five days courses, commencing at 18:00hrs on Saturday 4 or Saturday 11 July run over a six-day period with one rest day.  The rest day to be agreed at the time on the basis of weather conditions.

Further Information

Please note that the closing date for applications was Tuesday 31 March 2009. 

We will still accept booking for any of the courses, but please contact Kate or Tim on (+353 1) 625 1117 or email summermeet@mountaineering.ie before making any course booking or booking your flights.

If you are just booking a place on the campsite only and you are not doing a course please complete the form and send the booking deposit of €20 per person.  This covers the discounted camp fees at the camp site.

Ryanair Flights to Basel Airport end in July 2008.

Map of the Location of the Summer Alpine Meet 2009 


View Larger Map

Downloads
All Summer Alpine Meet 2009 Downloads can be found in the downloads section of our web site.

Links
Information on BMC Travel & Activity Insurance
Innertkirchen Webcam
Haslital Tourism
SBB Swiss Rail
Swiss Transfer Tickets (chepaest way to get from the Airport to Innertkirchen)
Mountain Transport (Transport in the Haslital area)
Summer Activities (Ideas for things to do when you aren't Mountaineering)
Family Activities (Ideas for families)

Maps
Innertkirchen
Meiringen
Hasliberg

Purchase Maps of Innertkirchen Area online