MCI Alpine Meet

Evil Phil

Anybody going to the Alpine meet this year? I'll be there for the first week but not the second. I'm travelling via Geneva on the 2nd by Aerlingus (€302).

Mostly I'm going for the Alpinist course but it will be nice to meet a few new climbers.

Skorzeny

Thats a good course, did it last year in Austria and had a ball. Unfortunatly won't make it out this year but one of the guys from uccmc will be there on his own, and I'm sure he would appreciate a climbing partner for a few days.
Rory be his name, he may even be on the course with you.

Evil Phil

Cool, I look out for him. Anybody else going, I'm starting my course on July 4th.

^whitey^

Hows it goin Phil,

I'm heading to La Berarde in August, I would be gratefull if I could fire a few questions at ya.

Evil Phil

Go for your life. Here's some advice:

Bring your MCI membership card. It will get you 1/2 price in the huts which are expensive.

Lyon is a lot easier to get to from Grenoble than Geneva, especially on Sundays.

Swiss chocolate, however, is fantastic.

Get an English guide book, Great Outdoors should have some dunno about Cork though. (You're in Cork aren't you?)

Rock routes have bolts/pitons but bring a set of nuts (1-10) and cams just in case.

The municipal camp site in La Berard is really cheap has showers and hot water but you might have to book ahead.

Learn some French.

Watch the choss, there's loads of it.

^whitey^

Cool thanks guide book is on the way from the uk (didn't think of giving TGO in dublin a ring).

Can the French IGN maps be bought in Grenoble or the village of La berarde itself.

I'll be getting the train from Paris down to Grenoble, but where can I find times/info on buses from Grenoble to La berarde.

Do you have a contact number for the municipal camp site in La Berard oh and do they speak english in the reception :dunno:

Oh and did you travel with the SNCF at all.

Thanks a million Phil.

Evil Phil

You can buy the maps in Grenoble, La Berard or Bourg D'oissan (spl?). Bourg is the local town, you get a bus there from Grenoble and change for La Berard. There's some gear shops in Bourg too. La Berard has only one shop that stocks the minimum at high prices so buy food in Bourg, if you need screw top gas get that there too.

Buses to La Berard, I've thrown out my timetable, soz. The Grenoble bus station however is beside the train station and as I've said you get a bus to Bourg and then one to Berard. I know of two buses to LB one a 3pm and one at 7:30pm. Dunno what time they run in the morning.

I don't have a contact number for the camp site but try the MCI, they'll be able to help you. There's one lady who speaks English at the reception which is open from 9-12 in the morning and then 3-8 in the evening.

I didn't travel SCNF I travelled with a swiss crowd. Be careful of weekend train times back to paris as there could be only one train.

Here's the MCI's/IAA's fact sheet for La Berard

Evil Phil

If you get a phone number can you pm it to me?

^whitey^

thanks phil

will pm the number as soon as i get it

cheers

sliabh

For those that were there, I have some photos up of the meet:

http://www.sliabh.net/images/alps2004/images.php

I was there for the second week just pottering rather than climbing. But you will find some good shots of the night life as well.

Enjoy!