Saas Fee Ice Climbing World Cup, Car Parks and Ice Climbing?

Goodbye France hello Switzerland, driving out of Chamonix we were all talking of how sad we were to be leaving, as we climbed higher in to the mountains thoughts soon turned to swiss chocolate pyramids, purple cows, fondue and maybe even some ice climbing. As soon as we crossed the border we were winding down the switch backs, endless views unfolding before us, the hills were certainly alive with the sound of music,  a mix of the cinematic overtones of Jonsi and laughter. 

As we descended our way to the valley floor, and were guided forward by the looming hills either side of us, our prehistoric map disintegrating in my hands with every fold and slight breeze, we knew we had to be on the right track. A quick stop to try the little German I know, a handy phrase usefull for most

  situations,"Ich bin ein Schlumpf ", and to

confirm our suspicions that indeed we were

on the right road to Saas Fee. Before we 

knew it old faithful Beatnick, our van and 

home, was climbing hills that soon turned 

in to steep sided mountains, the architecture

becoming more classically swiss, still no 

purple cows though.The excitement 

growing every second, verbalised by our 

quad copter pilot Dale, who literally at one 

point going a little crazy with excitement. 

Soon we arrived in Saas Fee the venue for 

Pete's first climb as a GB team member, 

now at first it seemed to be just a car park

with a stylish multi-storey car park beautifully set in the mountains. 

Not your classic swiss mountain town. Once we parked up and 

realised this was not just a car park but our home for the next few 

nights, we left the van behind we set off to explore the town. 

Nestled behind this multi storey car park we were delighted to find

a dream toy town, a proper ski town, no cars, log cabins left right 

and centre, shops and cafes adorning the fairy lit high street as 

snow gently fell in the background. 

After a coffee, a little organisation, a quick hunt for a cuckoo clock,
getting Pete to the right place, and signing the crew up for press
passes for the next day, we decided to explore the what can only be 
described as sculpture like structure, adorning the inside of the 
spiralling car ramp. A mix of granite, ice and wood, formed to  test
willing climbers. This was like abstract visual pornography 
to us, the film makers and 
photographers, with man made 
access to every level and angle. So 
with a certain amount of excitement 
brewing we decided to try get some
sleep.

We knew tonight was going to be 
cold and, was probably going to be 
a test of our will power. So with a 
certain looming horror of our first 
night outside in the tent, so Pete 
could grab some sleep the night 
before the comp, we set up the tent 
high in the mountains, surrounded 
by snow capped peaks hidden
 in the night sky.

I would love to tell you the romantic dream continued through the 
night, the mountain god gently singing to us as we slept. 
Unfortunately the truth was a little further from that, we did indeed 
sleep considerably well in the sub zero temperatures, partly due to 
the seventeen layers of clothing, my four season sleeping bag, 
a couple of pain killers for my gammy knee, and probably no doubt,
in part, to the single malt whisky Ben had cleverly stashed in his 
hip flask earlier. That was until the mountain gods got bored and 
decided to whip up a ten minute storm not only outside our tent, but
inside it, and amazingly all the way in to my sleeping bag and 
clothes. Yes, at this point I did almost scream like a girl and woke 
up simultaneously, with Dale in a what could be referred to as a 
flap and panic. The old blizzard in a tent 5.45 wake up call, nothing 
like it! 

We managed to get back to sleep and quickly eight o'clock rolled
around, I decided as chief Panda to provide nourishment, rather 
CHFing expensive nourishment at that, croissants and coffee for me
and the athlete, and a croissant each for the boys to lift spirits. 
Well I am only mentioning this because, as a man with a bad knee 
in and icy town what could go wrong? Yup well this is one occasion
I kinda wish someone did get on camera, coming back to the car 
park, down a reasonable incline for a hobbler, I lost both feet in a 
rather comedy fashion, and of course after the price of these gold 
plated, titanium swiss coffees and croissants, I was not going to 
spill them. And yes there were witnesses to the event so it wasn't 
completely wasted, if a hobbling cripple falls on ice and there are 
people there to see it, they do indeed make a sound, and that sound 
people is laughter. 

After a tasty breakfast in the van it was time

our first competition experience, as we 

arrived at the venue there was already an 
atmosphere of excitement growing. Round 1

for the day was going to be speed climbing, 

Pete and and a few other members of the 

had entered this, now there was no 

expectations as most of them had never been 

speed ice climbing before, a whole different 

ball game, and a completely different

technique. What I would describe as a mix of 

skill and frantic arms and legs, whirling and

working hard, these machine of men flying up 

a ice face in literally seconds. 

Whilst the boys did amazing, and 

to be honest I think surprised themselves and all of us with their 

performance, this round mostly went to the Russians, with a high 

percentage of places in the finals going to the eastern quarter. There 

was no disappointment here just smiles and giggles at the 

experience. We had time now for a little fun with the quad-copter, 

and grab some cut aways for the film of this picturesque town. 

Before we knew it Pete was off to isolation and the qualifiers 

started, great music, commentary, a willing crowd cheering on the 

athletes, and to top it off displays of climbing beyond anything I 

have seen before. Grunts, groans, and god like effort helping get 

some climbers to the top, but as a rule most climbers did not 

complete the course, proving more difficult thank many of them 

and us had anticipated. While the GB team didn't place highly in

this round, it was clear to see they all enjoyed the experience, and 

with positive attitudes, 

and smiles, they all 

looked upon this as a 

great opportunity to 

learn and develop for 

the next round. Again 

there was a level of 

eastern dominance 

here. 

Now as for the crew, we 

all definitely enjoyed the experience, we did a lot dancing and

jigging to keep the chill out our bones, our Lowerpro's working

hard to keep the chill and frost of our camera gear, and on review

of some of the footage it was clear to see some of us suffered in 

arctic like conditions, more than a little camera shake caused by 

vibrating bones and bitter cold. Now the round was over, and a pan

of pasta cooked in melted snow was on the boil, spirits warmed

through the decision was made to leave for Kandersteg, or possibly 

just somewhere lower in the valley to increase our outside 

accommodation by a couple of degrees. Who knew this may prove 

to be a fateful decision.........