Glow in the dark marquee!

All good things must come to an end!

The Allalinhorn

On the Dri Horlini

BBQ time!

Snow - in August! On way to the Jegihorn via ferrata

Chef extraordinaire!

Jegihorn via ferrata in August!!

The last day of the meet went well with the courses and some meet members descending upon the Jegihorn for some bolted climbing, whilst others went for walks and climbs nearby. Rumblings were heard be those climbing as seracs on the Fletchorn glacier caused the footpath below to be covered - photos of which were sobering for some meet members that had walked along there 2 days before!

The BBQ that evening went well with plenty of food and drink and the guides showing off there firelighting skills for the bonfire.

As the meet had come to an end the campervan was packed with sore heads as we hit the road and headed home, via Bassenthwaite to return the van. Other meet members went off to Chamonix, or stayed for a bit longer in the Saas valley.

Thanks again to the meet sponsors - Room with a View campervan hire and Seafrance. Also a big thanks to everybody who came to the meet to make it such a fun 2 weeks - where to next year??

John and Ed

Big hills, long days and sunny at last (but not for long)

The weather has been kind to us for a few days although tomorrow's forecast is ugly reading.

The good weather has allowed ascents of the Brighthorn, the Lagginhorn (by some people that did the intro course last week - good one!) and some climbing on the Dri Horlini. New skills have been learnt by all, not entirely voluntarily in some cases, like multi pitch abseils.

The 7 on courses this week have gone around to the Moiry hut with thier guides, heading back around to Saas Grund today.

Off to gaze at the Golden Madonna and have a coffee in Italy.

Hope its raining back home, it will be here tomorrow for sure.

John and Ed

Finallz dried out!!

If the BCU had come to join us thez would have been disappointed. The BMC lake has dried up, with the help of franticallz dug drainage ditches as it rose towards more tents!!

The rain down here was snow up higher, with 60cm of powder on the tops which made the course members ascent of the Allalinhorn tricker yesterdaz, although we suspect the guides were happz to start a bit later to allow some local guides to break trail.

Some meet members ran awaz to sunnier places on Thursday, with some going to clip bolts in Spain and others to the Mello valley. Fortunatelz for those who stazed the weather has cleared up and groups have been up the slippy, snowy Jegihorn va ferrata, onto the Lagginhorn glacier and up Allalinhorn. Some meet members and those who did the course last week have gone up to the Mishabel hut todaz, hoping to do the Nadelhorn tomorrow.

The end of the courses was marked last night with a BBQ (supplied bz the BMC) and some drinks (supplied bz and largelz drunk bz the guides!).

New course members descending upon us tomorrow.

Ed and John

The rain in Spain falls mainly in Switzerland!!

The Swiss Alps have made the BMC meet bz recreating Welsh weather verz well - BMC activities soon to be extended to sailing and canoeing. The free pool (diving, bombing, petting all allowed) in the middle of Camp BMC is growing quicklz and tents have been moved out of its way as its grown to avoid spoiling our enjoyment in it. How about a joint BMC BCU meet next year?

What are the rules with BMC insurance and snorkelling?

The course members will probably be returning from Zinal tonight and it will be good to find out what thez've been up to. Meet members have been trzing their best to enjoz themselves in spite of the wet weather. Some bolt clipping and local walks have squeezed in between the rain and the local Anker beer meant little was likelz to be done this morning.

Will post again soon if we haven't been washed away.

John and Ed

We are here!!

Firstly - we're not illiterate, we're just struggling with these foreign kezboards - onest!!

The 2007 Alpine meet is well underwaz. 20 course members with 5 guides have headed off around to Zinal for their intro to Alpine Mountaineering course, leaving 12 of us here in Saas Grund to enjoz what the mountains have to offer.

The meet started last thurs when two men, 1 camper van (Thank yu Room with a view campers!!), 2 pairs of Birkenstocks, 1 very big and red marquee and a mass of kit including BBQ's, chairs left Manchester for Dover. The Seafrance crossing (zet another thank zou) was quick ad a few hours kip were grabbed in a layby before pushing through to get here.

2 meet members had beaten us here and had staked the BMC claim to the pitch which the campsite have kindlz allocated us. Much swearing was followed by much embarrassmnent as the http://www.thebmc.co.uk/ red marquee was errected (there's no denying who we are!)and the brew stuff set up for the quick removal of meet goers eyebrows (stove needs some attention!).

Groups have since been up the Mittaghorn via the via ferrata (1 near miss to a flying boulder compliments of one of our continental cousins!!), the Allalinhorn, the Lagginhorn, some scenic balcony footpaths around the valley and to the valleyhead to the Golden Madonna (with the bg boobies) and a look down into Italy.

Course members back around this side on Wednesday night, weather due to break a bt so we'll see what happens.

Regards.

Jhn and Ed