Page 22 - 1992 Mountaineering Club Review

CMEM(L) P E BAKER
Li A LANCASTER RN
Mid T T HALL RN
Mid A E VEAL RN
CCCT M METCALF CPOMEA L CATHERCOLE POMEM I AISTON
LMEM G TURTON LPT C BREMMER Marine A B TENNANT
Clyde Submarine Base RAFWYTON
RNEC MANADON RNEC MANADON
HMS MERCURY
RMS COLLINGWOOD Clyde Submarine Base Clyde Submarine Base HMS ARGYLL COMMANCHIO GP RM
3. CAMP SITE AND LOCAL FACILITIES
a. The “Camping Marmolada” camp-site w>as used by all personnel attending the Joint Service Alpine Meet as the Base camp. The camp is situated near to the centre of CANAZEI, telephone number from the UK: 01039 462 61660, Fax number 01039 462 61722 (use Italian if possible).
b. The camp-site is very well laid out and run. Care should be taken to select a site that is well drained, also a hammer is quite useful for the placing of pegs. The facilities are of a very high standard and are provided at no extra charge. A bank of telephones is situated opposite the camp-site entrance. The camp cafe provided a wide range of beverages at most reasonable prices and consequently was well patronised.
ANNUAL REVIEW
REPORT ON THE JOINT SERVICES ALPINE MEET 29 AUGUST TO 13 SEPTEMBER 1992
References:
A. DClAGen) 30/92.
B. BR 4042 Para 0231.
C. D/DNPTS/5/2/3.02 daied 14 Jul 92.
D. V ANGUARD (CHRM: RNRMMC)
daied 6 Jul 92.
1. INTRODUCTION
The aims of this report are:
a. To carry out the requirements of paragraph 3 of Reference C.
b. To give a summary of the accomplishments of the RNRMMC members during the Meet.
c. To provide up to date and useful information about the area visited.
d. To comment upon and make recommendations concerning the organisation of the Joint Service Alpine Meet.
2. ATTENDEES
The following 10 RNRMMC members attended the Meet:
c. The charges start at £7.00 per tent, a group discount was negotiated by the Meet leader resulting in a charge of £4.00 per tent. All charges are seasonally and exchange rate dependant.
d. Mountain huts abound in all the frequently visited mountain areas and the accommodation and facilities are of a very high standard. Nearly all huts can be booked in advance by telephone, numbers and help in communicating can be found at the local “Tourist Information Centre”. A restaurant cum emergency accommodation can even be found at the summit of the highest mountain in the Dolomites “Maimolada”.
e. In the area used by the Meet attendees the BMC reciprocal rights was of no use in reducing charges as the majority of huts are privately owned. The charges ranged from £7.00 to £20.00 per night.
f. CANAZEI as a major mountain resort is able to provide all services that could be reasonably expected by the modem Alpinist. During the period of the Meet many gear shops were holding sales and many bargains were enjoyed by Ihose with cash to spare.
4. TRANSPORT
a. Continental Rail Travel Centre was used to book tickets, reserve seats and sleeping bunks for five people from LONDON to BOLZANO and return which included ferry' fares.
b. A Sherpa mini-bus funded by the RNEC MANADON was used by three people. The other three used private vehicles.
c. The cost of vehicle travel was reduced by using the Forces concession booking facility on the Channel Ferries.
5. MOUNTAIN ACCESS
a. The local bus service is well subsidised and with a little planning can provide a useful way of moving around the Dolomites. Timetables can be obtained from the CANAZEI Tourist Information Office.
b. A bus leaves the Bus Station adjacent to the Rail Station in BOLZANO four times a day, travelling across the Dolomites via CANAZEI to CORTINA.
c. As the area is a popular tourist destination. Telepheriques abound and provide a rapid means of access.
d. Well marked and maintained mountain peaks abound. The Via Ferrala System
provides not only a quick protected means of reaching climbing areas but in their own right can give fine exposed mountaineering.
e. As always, the use of a vehicle enables a far greater flexibility than a reliance on public transport. It should be noted that those who wish to shorted the ascent into the CATINACCOI area from MAZZIN must now leave their vehicles at the camp-site just south of MAZZIN and use a taxi service to Refuge GARDECCIA.
6. WEATHER AND CLIMBING CONDITIONS
a. On arrival, the Meet was greeted with a torrential thunderstorm followed by two days of good weather conditions. This general sequel of weather was to be the norm during the Meet. The difference was that with the subsequent fronts, the freezing level dropped to below 2000 mtrs leaving a covering of fresh snow above this level and quite substantial amounts of verglas on north facing cliffs where water lurked.
b. The predominantly multi-pitch routes with exciting exposure is what makes the Dolomites so enjoyable. The south face routes dried very quickly though remaining cold into the afternoon, the north face routes tended to be of a more sustained nature and combined with the cooler temperatures required a greater commitment.
c. The Via Ferrata (Iron Way) provided excellent climbs in their own right, with difficulties ranging from UIAA Grade I to IV but as with all alpine climbing weather conditions could substantially increase the complexity of a route. Care should also be exercised by testing in situ protecting due to the action of the weather, rock-fall and metal fatigue.
d. A well protected climbing crag is situated 2km east CANAZEI opposite the Telepherique Station to CIAMPIC. Good for the evening work-out or the rest dat wake-up.
7. GUIDE BOOKS AND MAPS
a. Climbing guides:
Dolomites Selected Climbs by R JAMES, ISBN 0-900532-55-7.
Classic Climbs in the Dolomites by A CHURCHER, Cicerone Press, ISBN 0- 902363-44-4.
THE ROYAL NAVY & ROYAL MARINES MOUNTAINEERING CLUB
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