North Alps 2006
From ICCC
24th June-9th July 2006
People
- Claire
- Rory
- Rachel
- Alistair
- Paula
- Mark1
- Oliver Carson
- Rik
- Joe
- Sophie
- Harry
- Glyn
- Alexa
- Mark2 aka Wardle
- Chad
- Patrick Clissold - Arrived on the 26th.
- Oli Fairbairn - Left on 5th July
- Robert - Arrived on 26th June, left 7th July.
- Adam - Arrived on 26th June, left 7th July (with Rob M).
- Anne Corbett - Joined us either 24th/25th.
- James Anne's BF
- Luddy (sp?)
Trip Report
24th June Saturday
We arrived in the rain and set up camp!
25th June Sunday
We decided to run the Pinegg and Wies gorges on the Brandenburger. The river was fairly chilled with a few drops to inspect, and the sun was shining! At the start Alistair brought out a high-vis jacket and wore it for most of the river, much to the amusement of the sunbathing populace. The first drop was inspected and most people portaged despite lots of semi-naked drunked austrians braving the drop sans-kayak. Glyn and Mark Wardle both needed a roll, with Joe taking a rather "alternative" line down the right hand side of the drop and also rolling. James was the only one to brace out of the drop without a roll. Rick then swam at the bottom of the drop despite having portaged it!
The next rapid of note was inspected and portaged by some, at which point Glyn decided to let his boat traverse the river without him in it. Rik heroically chase-boats on his first alpine river! Paula made good use of Glyn's abandoned throwline to get Glyn to the right side of the river -- technically Glyn swam. The river narrows into a scenic gorge with a few tight corners and rapids.
Furby and Anne swam with Sophie dislocating her shoulder on the last rapid of the river.
Alistair given first “Drongo award” for engulfing his arm in a fire-ball.
Due to the lack of shops open on a Sunday, we headed over to the pub opposite the campsite. Many a delicious pizzas were consumed. When Mario ran out of "steins" Chad opted for the 6 pint glass instead!
Sophie and Claire returned from the hospital at midnight and Sophie immediately discarded the sling they have given her!
26th June Monday.
The Lower Brandenburger offered a scenic bimble. Anne walked out due to injuries sustained during the previous days swimming. One Grade IV merited inspection, with many people portaging. The left side offered a rocky path with less water, while the entry to the right hand route involved navigating a tree. Harry, Mark and Claire opted for the left route, with Claire swimming. Joe and Glyn opted for the "over the tree" route", while Chad, James and Paula went far right - with a roll for Paula.
Most of the girls (Alexa, Claire, Rachel and Sophie) headed to Salzburg to collect Patrick. The remaining layabouts went for ice-cream then back to the campsite for beers discovering RobM and Adam had arrived, to be met by an ex-hung-over Rory. A more energetic goup consisting of 2 Marks, James and Glyn spent the time inspecting the Kaiserklamm (grade V), but decide against it.
A truly British dinner of bangers and mash was consumed (or daal for veggies. With Patrick arriving late to get drinking games started with categories and "I have never" resulting in an all-nighter for Rory (make that "another all-nighter") and Ollie.
27th June. Tuesday.
Arrived at the Rissbach. Harry was too hot, and threw in his helmet to swim after.
The first notable rapid was an S-bend which most people paddled in style, though for RobM it took two attempts.
The second rapid of note was "Diagonal Flutings" which threw some rather interesting laterals at several unsuspecting participants. The rapid proved a surprise for most, with swims from Furbie and Rory, rolls from Paula and Alexa and a pirouette thrown in for good measure by James. The get out is a "must-make" before a "henous grade VI gorge", so half the group exited 100 metres upstream. Patrick and Joe, however, decided they'd rather run the first drop of the gorge. The weather was not playing ball and decided to hail!
A much appreciated stop for "kaisershmarren" was made - this is a sort of apple-pancake concoction with jam. One table opted for 2 massive mountainous pans to share between the table, while the other table opted for piddly tiny plates.
Arrived at the campsite, a bog by the river. Paula missioned off to find more toilet-friendly location, but returned 1h later and permitted the camp to be established.
RobM fetched branches for fire. Comedy first attempt involved a failed ferry glide, mad bank run by Mark1, monkey roll under treetrunk. Second attempt a model of synchronised linethrowing and efficiency.
28th June. Wednesday.
Loisach. Anyone remember anything about it?
Upper Ammer sounded good. The guide description was similar to the Isar. We drove along many random roads, including one with a 3m heigh bridge. We discovered the bus with boats, is 2.999m high. Eventually we found the right put in... but gave up on the river, because it was late. Drove home.
Mark1 collected wood for campfire. Temptation to maroon him was irresistable. Patrick collected a giant tree for the campfire. Foolishly he decided he didn't need a deck. He only just avoided a swim, and got drenched. Tree was a great seat but poor fuel.
29th June. Thursday
Mech Eng regained several students. Mark1 became Mark1st, prompting shock-hug for Ollie and smiles for the rest of the day. Harry waded into ice-cold river with a barbeque, waded out with half a barbeque, gained the “Drongo award” and wore the high-vis jacket with pride. Harry does these things.
Upper Isar. Taxi up with Christian (4) relegated to the boot by mercenary taxi driver. River pretty, low-volume, "easy" but fast and continuous at the top. Rory and Rik swam. Rory first and longest, 100m+, boat 500m, boot 1000m before fished out Chad. Canoes scattered all along bank, generally out of sight. Rik failed to see tree.
Adam and Chad explored interesting confluence with turquoise stream. Chad broke paddle going for Rory's boat at the takeout. Glyn and James demonstrated leadership skills by missing 100m long takeout and then missing must-portage-weir-with-metal-stakes. Ferbie demonstrated nascent survival skills by getting out to inspect must-portage-weir-with-metal-stakes... but then ran it anyway.
Drive to Landeck campsite in rain. Since Joe was turning 19 and Mark1st was still smiling there was much merriment that evening including Pizza, cake, and steins.
30th June. Friday
Hot. Most went to the Rosanna; steep and good bouncy fun around some large rocks at top, quieter below weir tended by two diggers. Alistair was not on great form (two swims, bashed hand and foot), but two chases are not enough for Mark2, who for variety a) chased his own boat, b) ran a "slightly mad" chute from the railway. RobM followed, slightly modifying the nose of the Stretch.
Harry was attacked by a knife-wielding loaf, fought it off with a flesh wound. These things happen to Harry.
We went to a lake to practice proper rolling; Rachel's AWOL, but valiant attempts made to coax it back with Haribo Colas. Mark F smiled again, Sophie has the evidence.
Meanwhile, Sanna gorge was a challenge as team of 8 shared two swims on huge waves, rapids, stoppers etc. Chaseboating entertaining, particularly for Mark F who hurled blades up a cliff and then struggled to retrieve them.
Harry fell in love with a fiery East-European beauty with and insatiable appetite and a Є25 pricetag. Consumation prevented by early closing.
Ollie demonstrated firebreathing with 60% Stroh, RobM fell off a bench. That kind of evening.
1st July. Saturday
Grey start but quickly hot and sunny. Imst Gorge, big wavetrains and eddy lines the main obstacles. Sophie remembered not to roll, twice. Rory+Rik forgot to roll twice each. Rory's second saw him skulking underwater for 5s, emerging for a brief synchronised swim with Rik. Rik landed, but got bored and lonely so swam after Rory.
First two groups were now jumping off the takeout bridge on passing kayakers. Glyn demonstrated English football skills, missing the ball by 10m. Eventually barefoot, boatless Rik persuaded them that waiting for the right kayakers might take a while. Parties headed up each bank about 1km to meet a well-organised posse towing some spare boat Ollie had found.
England got knocked out by Portugal. A singing six-year old Austrian cyclist survived only due to Mark F’s iron self control and residual good humour.
East European beauty proved coy (and is not all there) but eventually got the hots for Harry.
2nd July. Sunday.
Morning mission to Sanna with a slightly reduced team. Maybe a foot lower than on the previous trip. More rocks visible, features smaller, Pians Gorge holes maybe grabbier. In descending order of control:
- Ollie "I would have been disappointed if I didn't swim" failed until the bottom boil.
- Paula swam 3/4 way down.
- Alexa reasoned that holes flush faster inverted.
- RobM f*cked up everything in sight and rolled about 9 times on 4 features before taking a long-overdue swim.
It is dispiriting to roll up, after protracted rocks and stoppers and general crap, on a glassy smooth wave and then get hurled back down by a breaker you don't ever see. It no fun to swim when having your head above water just means a brief chance to admire the next giant foamy thing a few feet above you. Crawl out, collapse in soggy, belching heap.
Someday James wished to run the gorge while not chaseboating. Leading around rather than through holes may help him to achieve this goal.
Afternoon Lech run was an underachieving grade 2, much beer drunk.
3rd July. Monday.
For a real faff-fest, we started early. RobM was still half way up a hill during unprecedented 9am start. However, Inns chute dam was not releasing so we were back at camp by 11. Off to the Pfunds section, enlivened by Patrick and RobM’s 10 minute shortcut to travel 200m. Pfunds was a bit of a pain, the top section fastish but very dull. A hippo on valium, it would suit big hangovers or insomniacs. Everyone was rather glum after 4 hours in bus. Mark stopped smiling.
Bottom section (Toisens Gorge) was fast and scary, as the hippo showed teeth. Anyway 700m was, I'm guessing about the rest as Chad, Harry and RobM leave on the same corner. Chad pulled a shoulder muscle, Harry worried about semi-attached finger (despite ample Gaffer-Tape armour). RobM continued piscatorial adventures, rolling on the edge of the second stopper and flailing about for some time before swimming a rapid, again accompanied by that nice Mr "LET GO OF MY BOAT" Ludi. Ferbie made the right decision 700m earlier. Ollie and Alexa showed considerable class. Mark F seemed to spend a long time failing to keep right on the next corner.
Comedy retrieve as RobM wandered off. Rachel, Sophie and crew spotted him but prioritised lunch over rescue and continue to the agreed rendezvous – and nobody, nothing, nada, rien. RobM looking vaguely useful, crew hot-tailed back to find him and Chad (who wandered off more slowly). RobM refused to divulge a location unless transported so five, Micra and 4 boats eventually discovered bus, food etc concealed at The Reid Wave. Micra relieved. Sophie and cleanup crew picked up remaining stragglers, Wigan Mark provided on-the-job stress relief.
Lunch at 4.
Inn Chute Epic. Joe "Didn't bother to inspect the last drop as the others had looked easy and it was a long walk", took a line straight through middle and swam for first time in 4 years as his Jefe went into autocartwheel. Wigan Mark took a couple of rolls. Mark F, lurked below where the Landeck Gorge joins Wigan Mark chaseboating, asked Sophie to drive down to the takeout to pick up the pieces if they swim past. The remaining Landeck Gorge team were not amused as their kit was still in bus.
Sangria, fish curry and cake cooled nerves. Ludi got older.
4th July. Tuesday
RobM reintroduced Ollie to Amanda, to remind him why he now sleeps in a hammock and drinks only in moderation.
Imst Gorge, again, and just as much fun. Stylish swim of several 100m from Rory -- kept asking which way to go, but as no-one has any idea we just smile, nod and follow him. Second microswim, 10m or so, from leaning back too much crossing the eddyline when he launched. Big guy, little boat...
Transfer to Switzerland, 2h or so. Little food as we'd missed shops in Austria, so Patrick "Masterchef" Clissold rustled up a veggie surprise (Coconut, tomato, garlic, carrot...) with rice. Some opted for goulaschsuppe at the local restaurant and missed half the fun (except Glynn, still hungry).
5th July. Wednesday.
Inn, again, down past the campsite. Fafftastic start, with RobM and Adam abandoned at campsite. Fortunately headed upstream, unfortunately missed bus and 2 cars. Quite pretty but almost no water... until 6 when they opened the dam. Great circular walk half way up the mountains, starting at a golf course 5m or so south of the campsite. Only 11km but 750m height gain and, according to the sign, 755m descent. Cool Alpine lake a pleasant swim, though there were two humps of snow only a few metres above; stunning views. Donner und Blitzen and a sprinkling of 14mm hailstones but almost dry.
Great evening, courtesy Patrick’s Finnish-Swiss diplomacy, mad hatchet action and resulting logs. Woke at 1am to someone's voluble defence of her reputation as a "Playa" and to Paula explaining her approach to long-term relationships: "I think 'I love you' is 3 months and 'I fart all over you' is 6 months... but I'm not a farty kind of person". Dear Diary…
6th July. Thursday
Inn, yet again, Schulls section starting a bit below the Brail gorge. Faffertastic, with Rachel's car leading and apparently oblivious to the fact that everyone else had stopped at a different put-in. Hard to know why they carried on really; perhaps its Patrick's Viking blood, or was that Lemming?
There are two ways to get everyone to put-in in reasonable time:
- Make sure everyone agrees where it is.
- Stop if you lose sight of the cars following you.
You only need one of them, but unless you have taken the time to guarantee (1) don't mess with (2).
The river was pleasant, starting gently and building to a solid 3 at the end where it was joined by a brown, storm-swollen, pongy stream. Reduced, anosmiac team continued for a grade 4 and 4+ section following. The rest headed for lunch, shops and home. If the team go down with lurgies don't blame Harry's sausage or E25 beauty (now looking quite homely).
7th July. Friday
Alistair is well on his way of making a tradition of going to hospital on the last day, as he did just this for the second year running.
9th July. Sunday
0345 - Patrick, having draped himself across a chaise longue with hitherto inconceivable finesse, wooed a gaggle of P&O chicks with his masculine snore.
Quotes
Rory – “I was on fire on the river today… until I swam.”
Mark W – “Every trip needs an over-sexed half-German.”
Chad – “Fucker!” (With his last breath before Sanna hole.)
Sophie – “Shotgun first turn in Rory’s sleeping bag.”
Everyone – “Where’s Chad/Rik?”
Alexa – “I’ve never been on such a big one before!” (about the Imst Gorge)
Oli – “I would have been disappointed if I hadn’t swum.”
Joe – “I didn’t inspect the last stopper. It was a long walk and the others had looked easy.” (Inn chute after his first swim in four years.)
Rob – “Rob McRae mooning, bloody hell.”
Oli (at 1700m) – “What is that strange white deposit in the gulleys?”
Mark – “I can’t run the Inn Chute, I’ve got some library books to take back.”
Paula – “I think ‘I love you’ is three months and ‘I fart all over you’ is six months… but I’m not a farty kind of person.”
Patrick (to Rory) – “I feel sorry for the riverbed with you bashing it all the time.”
Patrick – “I find it hard to drive because I keep looking in the rear view mirror and admiring my beard.”
Oli C (about Rik) – “When we set up camp he played me Bird-song on his I-River.”
Rory – “I can actually suck off a gummy-bear.”
The original Itinerary
- 23rd 14:00 Meet at Beit Quad Stores to jump in the bus and go and load all boats/kit from Paddington. If you need club kit, will be good if you're there. (As many people as possible, please)
- 23rd 15:00 Will hopefully have packed all club kit and will be at SK to pick up latecomers)
- 23rd 16:00 Aim to set off from the union by at least this time
- 23rd 20:25 We have to be at the ferry terminal (Dover)
- 23rd 20:55 Ferry departs
- 24th 16:00 (or possibly earlier) Shops close for the weekend.
- 24th Evening? Arrive Kitzbuhel area (Camping Reiterhof, Hopfgarten)
- 24th/25th - Anne and two mates are heading out on the morning of the 24th. Meeting us in Kitzbuhel either late 24th that evening or the morning of the 25th
- 25th 16:00 England v Equador must find pub to watch the match
- 26th 18:30 Patrick arrives in Salzburg airport (after his norway trip)
- 27th Leave Kitzbuhel campsite. Move to Upper Bavaria
- 30th Leave Upper Bavaria. Move to Sports Camp Tirol, Landeck (booked)
- 4th Leave Landeck. Move to Engadine/Upper Rhine
- 8th morning? drive back to Calais
- 9th(Sun) 02:10am(local time) Ferry departs Calais
