The adventure has officially begun, all is in place and ready for the 2009 Alpine Summer Meet. The last week here in Innertkirchen, saw the weather pattern becoming somewhat more stable. Typical for the location and time of year; clear bright cool mornings, turning hot and humid by lunchtime leading to some showery thunder by late afternoon, clearing into glorious warm and dry evenings.

The campsite received an influx of Germans over the last few days and is showing signs of more life (German style). This time tomorrow we should be happily starting to overthrow their towel laying antics and bring a little more “personality” to the setting. Just a word of warning on camp site facilities; you will have to pay for just about anything extra required including hot water in your shower. Although the toilets may be free they are not plentiful, I can well envisage early morning queues with crossed legs.

On the second day here I decided that the limestone wall towering above the campsite called for some investigation. Casually departing the campsite late one afternoon, shorts, t-shirt and rucksack with a few essentials, I bullied onwards following what appeared (in my mind) to be the most logical and straightforward path through the lower forest. After two hours of clambering through young packed tress that appeared to grow on an unacceptable steepness of terrain, I arrived at an overgrown, loose and intimidating vertical piece of limestone. My plan was to then traverse the rock base, looking for any possible signs of climbing. I soon realised that although there was zero evidence of climbing, what the rock base did offer was a haven for some sort of stinging foliage. After half an hour of introducing my white Irish legs to this new exotic plant life I emerged breathless, drenched in sweat, on to the “sensible” walkers trail.  What a sight as I sat there on the side of the path almost in tears, with legs that could have made it on to the 'Ripley Believe-It-Or-Not' show. I tried hard to look cool and collected in front of the passing German hikers with their sensible and knowing attitude.

Although my adventures found no confirmation of active climbing I did come across an armchair in a cave (see picture) which I presumed to be the HQ of the Swiss sport of extreme relaxing.

Not to be beaten by the mountain I returned the next day via the German walkers trail and had a fantastic hike to the top and over towards the next awe-inspiring valley. Beautiful scenery well marked paths and the friendliest goats you will ever meet, well worth doing as a stroll (took me 7hrs). I will leave the future exploration of the limestone cliffs for others more daring than myself, and of course with full length pants.

The best day so far had to be an early morning stroll that turned into a full day Alpine scramble through the inevitable afternoon thunderstorm. I thought that I would drive to the top of one of the local passes and get some nice early morning photos of the glaciated peaks. As I aimlessly drifted about, I found myself drawn further and deeper into the beckoning glaciated valleys and their surrounding snowy peaks. One particular classic rocky peak (pictured) kept waving to me out of the corner of my eye. With a legendary lack of planning I found myself scrambling up the side of the glacial moraine like a demon possessed with a need to conquer. Nothing was going to stop me this time, not even the fact that I had no suitable equipment, little food and only a few mouthfuls of water left. At least I was not getting attacked by the infamous local vicious flora….what could possibly go wrong?

A couple of hours later, as I attempted to back climb a particularly airy piece of rain drenched rock, thunder cracking all around, I could only dream of the pleasure to be sitting butt naked in a forest of stingy plants. However it’s at times like this that I can rely on the many years of training and experience under my belt, and let my natural animal instinct take over. So I let go….! Undertaking a ten metre almost Olympic standard graceful slide, utilising just about every part of my body as friction (including chin), I sophistically managed to direct my ever increasing downward motion towards an inviting looking snowfield. As I sat there enveloped in a mush of sopping snow checking for movement in all my limbs, I half expected to see a couple of German power walkers striding by with that “told you so” look on their faces.

The next couple of days I dedicated my time to moving into full-on tourist mode. A visit to the cheese factory, a stroll to the Sherlock Holmes museum, plenty of strong coffee…..pure hard Alpinism!

It is important not to forget about these other adventures that are available around the Alpine meet. Time should be taken to allow for a bit of a cultural experience…..and believe it or not there is a lot more to Switzerland than Toblerone and cuckoo clocks.

The tourist information in Meiringen are exceptionally helpful, whether looking for a family fun day out, a helicopter tour of the area, or maybe just to arrange to take in a little Eiger North Face skydiving lesson…..and all before lunch time!

Hope to see you here soon.

Tim

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