Dr Chris Needham

Swiss Adventure 2005

Here's a few photos from the 400 I took on holiday this year. If you'd like a Hi-res version, or would like to see more, let me know: chrisn@comp.leeds.ac.uk. Clicking on an image should take you to a medium resolution image 1024x768. There's not much story to go with it. Generally just there so I can recall what I did... Hope you enjoy it. --KermiT.

Friday 5th - Plane to Geneva, Train to Sion, Walk to Vex.

Saturday 6th - Bus to Thyon, wander around, descend to Vex.

Sunday 7th - Hitch to Vex. See Ruth run. Meet Doscoe. Textured rain. Thyon-Dixence. 1h42. Cloud. Sub-zero.

Monday 8th - Perfectly clear day. 0730 Bus from Vex to Grande Dixence. Along Lac de Dix to Cabane de Dix. 2 litres of tea and spaghetti with some wild meat. Enjoyed the sun with Ruth and Mr D. Mr P safely guided us over the glacier, then up the ladders, over Pas de Chevres, and into Arolla.

Tuesday 9th - Frozen tent. Another cracking day. 3h45 up to Cabane de Bertol 3311m, including some snow. 2hrs steady jog back down. Aren't innov8's brill.

Wednesday 10th - 1h30 to Lac Bleu, 30mins trot back. Moved camp to Les Hauderes

Thursday 11th - Epic. 1500m climb to Col de Tsate. Along Lac de Moiry. Chips in cafe, then 600m up to Sorebois, and descend down the zig-zags into Zinal. Le Pub.

Friday 12th - Morning run round the best doss brekkie run route in Europe. Cabane de Tracuit 3256m, no snow.

Saturday 13th - Attempt at jogging with Shane. Cabane de Petite Montet.

Sunday 14th - Watched Sierre-Zinal from the 3km to go mark. Then an 1h00 run up the zig-zags, and post S-Z cardinals in Le Pub.

Monday 15th - Woke to snow to 2000m. Brekkie run. Bus/Train to Zermatt with Dave.

Tuesday 16th - Mettlehorn. 3h15 walk up by the quite route. 1h20 run down via Trift stopping for an excellent couple of pints of homemade iced tea. North Wall Bar.

Wednesday 17th - Pollux 4092m. Early start, cable car to Klein Matterhorn, with Dave and our guide Thomas, then a snow plod for a couple of hours, then rock climbing for a while, before putting the crampons on the climb the snow ridge to the summit. Awesome views. Bit of abseiling down (not done that since I was a cub scout). Snow plod back. Crevases seem to have opened up a lot more than on the way out! Beer at 3880m. Pizza in the North Wall Bar.

Thursday 18th - Morning trot from the cemetery. Chill out. Sore neck/shoulders. NWB.

Friday 19th - Schonbielhutte. Quite a trek. Saw the middle third of the Matterhornlauf course. Matterhornhorn hidden in the clouds. NWB.

Saturday 20th - Morning run to clear the beers from the night before. Easy day. Look around Zermatt. Grim weather. Afternoon kip, etc.

Sunday 21st - Matterhornlauf. Snow above 2200m. Brill race. 1h24s55. Finished in the snow. Beers at Furi on the way down with Keswick. Then beer in Zermatt, and celebrations in the North Wall Bar - managed to get 5 North Wall Bar teams finishing! Doss beat Ireland B.

Monday 22nd - Back to Geneva, for a flight home...

Some Race results:

Thyon-Dixence

Doscoe                  1:21.47,8
Steve Bottomley         1:23.45,4
Kermit                  1:41.52,0
Ruth Wilcox             2:03.17,7

(Longest I've been on my feet all year - crawling at the end. Unreal!)

Sierre-Zinal

Doscoe                  2:54.47,9
Steve Bottomley         3:00.21,7
Mannion                 3:43.39,0
Bendy                   3:49.02,8
Nocock                  4:04.19,8
Raveb                   4:30.45,0
Ruth                    4:49.59,6

Matterhornlauf

Steve Bottomley         1:18.48,8
Graham Patten           1:21.54,7
Chris (NWB)             1:21.55,4
KermiT                  1:24.55,3
Shane Green             1:25.58,3
Anne Buckley            1:26.39,9 
Mannion                 1:27.18,2 
Andy Owen               1:31.21,0 
Triss Kenny             1:34.59,4 
JP                      1:35.38,3
Mark (NWB)              1:37.00,9
Nocock                  1:37.49,8
Panje                   1:51.57,1

(Better run here 1001m of ascent! in 14.35km - The only way is up!)

Owner: Dr Chris Needham| Last updated: Friday 09 September 2005