http://www.sentiero.ch/de72_axalp_fl...u_militaer.htm

Axalp, you bet. Missed the last 2 years due weather and cancellations, so this year have both days booked off. It's a great day out, and a fun climb up the hill :-)

Chris

What a day or two out that would make for the Zürich/ Basel/ Bern photoclubs....

It's always a photgraphy fest up there, so many cameras and lens combination on view, plus the view back all the way down to the lake at Brienz is simply stunning if the clouds clear.

If anyone wants to arrange a meet up this year, I'll be there. I've already booked the time off, and have a friend coming over from UK for it, plus a couple of guys from work.

Chris

Sounds like a plan.

looks like a good event for the photo clubs. Thanks

...would be a great idea for my next birthday... Till when should I let you know?

Assassin's post reminded me it's next week.
Big Boom in Bern

A few questions, having searched the previous threads and looked at the official website:

1. For those of us with no interest in arriving at 2 am to climb 2000 metres to see the sunrise, what's the best time to arrive at SBB Brienz to catch the shuttle in time for the kick off at 14:00 hrs. I assume the crowds build up causing rush hour queues which are best avoided.
2. How much of a trek is it from where the shuttle/chair lift drops you off to the spectator areas?
3. Does any one spectator area offer much of an advantage over the others? I'm thinking views of the display and the scrum for the lift/shuttles back down when it's over.
4. Any other tips for axalp virgins?

Sounds like hard work - I'll probably just wander to the bottom of the garden instead

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1. Plan on being in Brienz around 0800-0830 as the que for the ski lift part of the clmb can be upto 2 hours, if you don't want the long walk (4 hours)

2. Depending on the ground condition, and your own state of health, between 2-3 hours. There is usually a bottle neck at the pass just before the first level viewing point. Last time I stood around in it for about 1 hour.

3. For aircraft coming right to left, no, but to catch the ones coming from behind, then higher the better, plus thses give you views onto the aircraft either looking slightly down on them or level. My personal preference is the middle hill, as far up as I can get. Also gives really good views 7500 feet down to Brienz, sometimes with a few clouds below you.
Going back down, it's a 50/50 with some going back via ski lift, and a lot of us taking the long walk back, worth it as it is stunning scenery.

4. Good hiking/walking boots, there are no set paths, you are climbing up the side of a STEEP hillside for some of it. Bring both cold and warm gear with you, and decide if you can carry it all. If you have ski poles, they can help as ground is uneven, and also help during the steep climb.
Take food and drink with you, unless you want to que for a beer and bratwurst. They also fly in porta-loos, but suggest your own loo roll in case of problems.
For photos, a good fast zoom is needed. You can get away with 200mm, but I prefer 400mm to give me more shot options. Wide angle if you want the nice scenery shots. Or bring a Canon and see me :-)

If you have any more questions, just ask, this will be my 4th visit in 5 years. Last year it was cancelled due weather. Previous year, the buggers cancelled just as I'd finished the climb.

Chris

2006 with Canon 350D and cheap 75-300mm

2007 with 5D and 100-400mm

Shall we start a list of who will be there which day, and organise a meet somewhere in Brienz or ski lift etc.

Me, only going on 13th. Driving down, so will be in the Brienz carpark somewhere between 0800-0830 traffic depending. Tel no on request

Chris

Does anyone know if many people walk there from First (the cablecar above Grindelwald)? It looks like if the pass at 2,600 metres is free of snow then it wouldn't take much longer than going from Axalp, and would be more adventurous.

I've been every year since 1986, but am going to purposely avoid it this year as I reckon on a complete cluster with the organization of the Park & Ride.

This may sound selfish, but back before the internet and hundreds of Dutch anoraks, the Axalp show was a well kept secret and they used to cook you lunch and you could move around freely up at the top of the hill. These days it's like a mass pilgrimage and then you get to stand in a crowd fenced in like sheep. Nah, it's run it's time, even if the aerial show is spectacular.

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Crash your karma into little bits of happiness

I blame the internet! There are no secrets and the only people you meet are weirdos

For those that are interested, been chatting with the met office below us, and long forecast is reasonable, shows a stable airmass expected at present, so weather should be ok. Of course, as it's the weather, anything can change between now and then :-)

Chris

Anyone bring back any good pics they'd like to share?

Hope to have some after the day out tomorrow, but give me a few days to edit and upload to my site :-) Also see my earlier post with links to the 2006 and 207 galleries.

Chris

Well, went with a couple of other guys, and enjoyed the show, but they seemed to be keeping further away from the crowd this year. As someone else has said, the new idea with the bus transport needs work. Going up was ok, waited in line for about 30 mins, then got dropped of for the usual ski lift que. Next came two hours of reminding my body what exercise is, maybe I should do more The let down was the organisation of the bus return to the park and ride. About 1000 bodies herded into what can only be decribed as a holding pen, the shuffle forward as each bus comes. Was stuck in it for 2 hours before we made a bus back to the P+R. Anyway, pics are processed, will post a link as soon as I build and upload the gallery.

Chris

Here is the link to my gallery. Total of 39 pics I'm happy to share out of 341 taken. Weeded out bad ones, duplicates and any that are almost the same. If anyone wants bigger files suitable for printing, let me know

Gallery Here

Chris

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Who going this year?
Its on tommorrow and the day after.