The Character of our Alpine Meets

Dennis Armstrong

It was in the September of 1984 that a motion was passed in committee to hold an Alpine Meet in the Summer of 1985. It was not possible to organise one for that summer and consequently the first one was held at Arolla in 1986. Since then there have been eight^[1] Alpine Meets and it has established itself in the club’s calendar. It is a regular as much as the Spring Bank Holiday Meet in Scotland, the Long Walk or Glen Etive. Regular meets take on their own character, partly formed by the location, the season and the members who seem to be regulars. So it is proving with the Alps Meets. It is the purpose of this article to try and describe what that is.

First, by definition the meet is out of the UK, and to make the expense worthwhile it is usually for two weeks, twice as long as the Spring Bank Meet Holiday in Scotland. Because of the distance and the expense; many of those attending take the meet seriously: most have done some homework on the region, bought maps beforehand and come prepared. Also the meet is longer, so there is time to get to know one another, no matter whether that person spends the meet front pointing up ice or photographing flowers in the valleys. Not that those activities are mutually exclusive: some do both.

Second, again by definition, the mountains are big. They often entail a heavy carry up to a hut, early starts and long days. The sense of achievement after reaching a 4000m summit is something special. There are a number of older members who, led and encouraged by younger members, have climbed to heights they never thought possible and have experienced days they will never forget. Fathers and sons have climbed together and found the normal order of things reversed and both are the wiser for it.

Third, the meet has a wide appeal, catering for all kinds of activity. Its appeal is not just to the ‘4000m’ men, the Alpine equivalent of Munroists. There are lesser peaks, still entailing huts and the like, but not requiring ice climbing. These are referred to as ‘snow trudges’ and are quite exciting enough for some. There are walks over the passes, climbing to 3000m and seeing the big peaks from the foothills, And there are usually interesting low level valley walks, of differing lengths and character, for the ‘off days’.

Fourth, usually the weather can be relied on to be good. Though not always, the 1987 meet at Saas Grund was unfortunate. The probability of good weather has its effect upon the meet. Plans can usually be put into action without fear of hitting storms. People are out doing things, and the atmosphere in the evenings is warm, relaxed and pleasant. This year, the camp site was lower down than usual, and at 800m in the Lauterbrunnen valley at midday it was often too hot to be comfortable. You had to get out of the valley, up to 1500m to reach the refreshing air.

Fifth, there are women and children there: wives and partners of older members mostly, because they realise that to go away alone, for two weeks, such a distance, is not really ‘on’. It is not a normal meet. One president brought his active daughter, but she unfortunately has not been again. One member regularly brings his two small children and they all fit in without difficulty. For the most part the younger members do not bring their girl friends. I am tempted to say that they do not want to be encumbered. It is also true that without wives some members would do more. They have to consider what is realistic and accept that it is better to come and do something rather than not come at all.

Usually there are twenty to thirty people on the meet – about average attendance. The camp sites are inevitably crowded as it is the peak holiday season at the end of July and early August. The snow is supposed to be at its best and everyone is trying to take advantage of it. It would be nice to report that the camp sites are isolated, away from the maddening throng, but alas it would be untrue. Those planning the meet have worked hard to make sure that the YRC party is together. The more popular the spot the more difficult this is. Argentiere in 1989 was probably the most chaotic. This year, at Lauterbrunnen, the coach parties of young students drastically overcrowded the facilities, and there were queues for the showers up to midnight and beyond. The site manager apologised but said that if he accepts block booking from the YRC then why not from others too. The young students wanted to enjoy the Alps as much as the YRC and he had to earn his money during the peak season. ‘Why not come at another time,’ he asked ‘and have the site to yourself?’ The problem for the YRC is that as more members want to come the harder it is to find good sites at peak season. We may have to consider the Pyrenees, or the Dolomites, which may be less crowded. Alternatively change to another period, say the last two weeks in August.

The true success of the Alps Meet is that it has attracted younger members, possibly more than any other single move. Archaic overtones in our club’s name become irrelevant once the guests arrive. There are perhaps ten younger members who have joined the club as a result of the challenge and the opportunities of the Alps Meet. It would be wrong to end this article without referring to David Smith. Not only for all the sterling work he has put in to establish this meet by organising most of them, but also for his involvement with the guests and younger members on the site and, above all, in the highest places.

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