Oeztal Alps 2013

Information Evening

Welcome

• Welcome & Introduction• Ash• Andy• Other key people …

Ash Green• IT Engineer for

LCC.• District Explorer

Scout Leader (Ormskirk) & ADC Activities

• Mountaineering experience in UK, Europe & Greenland

• Ardennes trips, walker, climber

• Guitarist.• Sprouts.

Andy Mathers

• Teacher of Science at MontgomeryHigh School, Blackpool

• Explorer Scout Leader (Blackpool)• Mountaineering experience in

UK, Europe, North America & Canada• Ardennes Adventure, Nepal• Mountain (death) Biker

Tonight

• Overview of trip & intentions• Activities• Logistics• Equipment• Costs • Q&A

Overview of the trip

• Mountaineering group• Experience, safety record• Developing participants• The Oetztal area• Weather

.......

Mountaineering Group

• Over 10 years• Snow and Ice • Multiple Alpine Trips bi-annually including:– 1999 Dauphine Alps (France) – 2001 Oeztal Alps (Austria)– 2003/2006 Jottenheimien in Norway– 2005 Swiss Alps (Arolla)

• Greenland 2004 & 2007

Stuff run by your leaders

• Skye Trips ~ 8 years• Ardennes Adventure• Dolomites 2009 Mountaineering Trip• (in the future…) Greenland 2015

Experience, Kit, Safety

• Mountain leaders have ML (summer) or equivalent permit

• All activity leaders will have permits to cover activities.

• Over 18s arrangements.• Excellent safety record on mountaineering

trips.

Developing Explorer Scouts & Scout Network Members

• Skills in the outdoors– Dealing with Altitude– Alpine Mountaineering– Hut systems

• Independence (Big Boys & Girls)• Teamwork & Over 18s arrangements• Personal responsibility for transport, food,

accommodation etc.– You pick what YOU want to do. Own choice!

The Oetztal Alps

• Geography• Where is it? • What is it?– Alpine Austrian Mountains– Granite• Formations• Colours

– Big Skiing area (in Winter!)

Big Map

Weather

• Alpine (regular thunderstorms)• Dry / Wet• Alternative activities. Activities not

necessarily possible every day.

Dates

• 26th July – 11th August• Flexible dates – possible to do part of trip.

Most vehicles will follow those dates• All participants to be present for opening of

event at our campsite 5pm Sunday.– Gives chance for all options of travel to arrive

Activities

• Alpinism• Via Ferrata• Mountain Biking• Single & Multi-pitch climbing• Walking

Walking & Alpinism - Paul

• Way Marked Paths• Scenic• Opportunity for self led, remotely supervised

groups• Hut System

Wildespitze

Similaun

Hintere Schwarze

The Gurgelferner as seen from the north from the Spiegelkogel, with in the distance (left of center) the Hochwilde.

Alpine Huts – multi day trips?

The Gurgelferner as seen from the north from the Spiegelkogel, with in the distance (left of center) the Hochwilde.

Via Ferrata - Ash

• Climbing by numbers• Equipment• Safety / routes

Learnin….

Get into impressive areas …

Weird stuff

How to do it …

MTB Austrian

Over 860km of way marked bikepaths.Use of summermountain ‘railways’.Longest descent inAustria, starting at Gaislachkoglbahn mountain

station 3,000m+

Terrain

• Steep!• Mix of fire road, singletrack, road • Lifts (the European way)• VF not a good idea!

Climbing

• Single Pitch• Multi Pitch• Multiple crags in the area• Indoor if weather breaks

From Beginners ….

To adventurers!

…more

• Sport climbing – Tyrol a reasonable area• Will use other single pitch crags nearby• Accessible by public transport• Coaching

Activity Costs

• MTB – bike hire ~ £20/day• Climbing – free • VF – free• Walking – free (lift and hut charge)

Training

• Leader Training• Participant Training• Weekend away

Leader Training

• Via Ferrata session in Lake District.• Arranging for Multi-pitch bolted permit

assessments.• Using Andy Brown (MIC) for training &

assessments.

Participant training

• Overall Fitness crucial to the trip.• Time to get fit from now.• Geoff's fitness plan – see

http://mountain.westlancashirescouts.org.uk/Documents.htm for the link. Aim high!

• Unfit = unable to achieve goals on trip = stuck at campsite = wasted money!

• Walk, bike, and climb!• Spring Meet, MAC, Alcatraz, Dragnet etc.

Weekend away

• Welsh meet• 3rd – 6th May 2013• Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia• Activities (walking, climbing, scrambling, biking,

expeditioning)• Meet the team (Bonding joys)• Share transport/tentage.

YOUR Equipment

• 'normal' UK walking kit• Shorts - sun block. Prepare for hot, and wet

weathers!• Climbing harness• Helmet• 120cm (4’) tape with 2 x HMS Karabiners.• Strong walking boots.• Recommended Equipment list to be circulated.• Borrowing = cheaper than buying!

Stuff not to get

• Ropes• Via Ferrata kits• Other kit owned by WLMG

Over 18’s rules

• In a nutshell:– There to facilitate activities for those aged over 18

but not permitted– Its an enabling structure, not a prevention.– Every time someone does an activity under the

over 18s rules, there will be a form to fill in (not onerous!)

– There is ….some detail ….

Adult Groups in Adventurous Activities (a.k.a. “The over-18 rule”)

See: Fact Sheet FS120087 Jun/10 Edition no 3 POR Rule 9.8 Adult Groups in Adventurous Activities

• Allows groups wholly aged 18 or over to participate in adventurous activities (without the need to be accompanied by an appropriate Permit holder).

• Allowing personal development, enjoyment and the ability to develop skills.

• Framework to allow each adult to give ‘informed consent’ based on the knowledge of the potential hazards and risks.

• Every participant, as an adult, has the responsibility to question what measures have been taken for safety and well being.

• For any Scouting activity: InTouch (POR Rule 9.3) Risk Assessment (POR Rule 9.4) Emergency Procedure (POR Rule 9.5) Banned activities are still banned!

• In addition: Each activity must have a co-ordinator Each participant must sign an Acknowledgement of Risk Statement and have read FS120087 Liaison with an Activity Advisor / seek Technical Advice

Logistics - Andy

• Number of options• Fly/train/car/bus• Go independent or choose to travel centrally• By road = overnight stop in Belgium

Travel in Austria

• Local transport excellent• Public transport where possible• Other will be by using cars• And … although Red Bull is alleged to give you

wings, it ain’t playing out on this trip!

Camping - Marita

• Camping near Solden, next village down the valley

• Charged per person and per ‘place’– If up the mountain then don’t pay the ‘person’– Place = measured space (tents/cars)– Far cheaper to share a tent

• Located at the edge of the forest exciting holidays are guaranteed.

• It’s the perfect base for hiking, climbing and mountaineering tours.

• “Alpengasthof am Feuerstein” with toboggan run directly accessible from the campsite.

Bread baking facilities on site

Wireless LAN available and Internet station

Washing machine on site (cost around 3Euros per wash), Drying room available

The Campsite

Child friendly campsite and facilities

Restaurant within 200m, a small Supermarket in the village as well as 2 bakeries (for those cakes and sarnies!!!)

Distance to nearest town only 4km (for Sports shop, Mountain bike hire, for example)

Campfire is allowed (we need to provide something like a half drum)

Good News: quiet time begins at 22.00h, so nobody will disturb you if you want early nights (no doubt you want to be up early and refreshed in the morning, ready for those exciting activities!!)

If you do hut-to-hut expeditions the Campsite Manager will give you your money back for those nights you stayed up high (hut receipts required as proof)

Costs - Bob

• Transport• Central• Individual

Transport

• SHARED CAR – KEEPS COSTS DOWN TO POSSIBLY AROUND £150 FOR THE RETURN JOURNEY DEPENDANT ON FUEL COSTS IN 2013

• BUT …… IT IS A LONG DRIVE OVER TO AUSTRIA AND BACK ,COMPLETE WITH AN OVERNIGHT STOP IN BELGIUM FOR COMPULSORY DRIVER REST.

Transport…

• BY MINIBUS – THE AVAILABILITY OF A 17 SEATER MINIBUS WILL BE CONFIRMED SHORTLY AND ALSO THE COSTS OF TRAVEL IN THE BUS WILL BE CALCULATED

• BUT …….. SPACE WILL BE LIMITED…..

Transport…

• BY AIR – SEVERAL BUDGET AIRLINES ARE FLYING INTO AUSTRIA – RYAN AIR AND EASYJET TO NAME BUT TWO , RETURN FLIGHTS INTO AUSTRIAN AIRPORTS RANGE BETWEEN £109 AND £185 FOR NOW

• BUT …….CAREFUL USE OF THE INTERNET AND ADVANCE BOOKING CAN REDUCE COSTS.

Transport Costs (est as of Nov ‘12)

• Transport by Air (inc bus/train hostel) £ 250.00• Transport by Minibus (10 seats) £ 155.00 • Transport by Petrol Car (4 seats) £ 175.00• Transport by Diesel Car (4 seats) £ 150.00

– PER HEAD

Central Costs

• Camping• Insurance• kit hire• branded clothing• Contingency• £200 for full trip (or appropriate part for those

not staying full length)

Individual Costs• THIS IS THE PART OF THE TRIP YOU CUSTOMIZE TO CREATE YOUR OWN OETZAL

EXPERIENCE !

• FOOD – SELF CATERING SO CAN FIT TO YOUR BUDGET , KEEP AN EYE ON THE EXCHANGE RATE , IF YOU EAT OUT EVERY NIGHT THEN BUDGET ACCORDINGLY OR PACK LOTS OF BEANS …. BUT REMEMBER TO BUDGET FOR A SLAP UP TEAM MEAL AT SOME POINT IN THE TRIP .

• STAYING IN HUTS WHILE WALKING UP MOUNTAINS CAN BE AN OPTION , PLEASE NOTE WILD CAMPING IS NOT ALLOWED IN OETZAL. COSTS VARY AND IF DOING A LOT THEN JOINING THE AUSTRIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB MAY BE AN OPTION.

• IF YOU PLAN ON DOING A LOT OF “UP AND DOWN” IN THE MOUNTAINS THEN A LIFT PASS MAY BE AN OPTION BUT ANOTHER OPTION AVAILABLE IS THE ….

Oeztal Card• AVAILABLE FOR 7 OR 10 DAYS

– 7 DAYS COSTS €68 FOR ADULTS €34 FOR CHILDREN– 10 DAYS COSTS €87 FOR ADULTS €43 FOR CHILDREN

• BENEFITS– CABLE CARLIFT 1 RETURN JOURNEY DAILY– AREA 47 1 USE OF THE BATHING LAKE– AQUA DOME 1 X 3 HRS IN SPA– 1 BIKE HIRE– BATHING POOLS/LAKES – 1 X DAILY– PUBLIC BUSES INC GLACIER ROAD & HIGH ALPINE ROAD – UNLIMITED USE . 1

X DAILY RETURN TRIP BY MOUNTAIN BUS– MUSEUMS AND OTHER ATTRACTIONS 1 DAILY– 30% DISCOUNT OFF HUT TAXIS

Individual Costs - cheapItem Per day (€) Quantity Total (€)

Food 3 15 45

Bike Hire 20 1 20

Lift Pass/Oeztal card

68 1 68

Hut Stay 25 2 50

Meal out 15 1 15

Total for activities / food €198 / £160

Individual Costs – less cheapItem Per day (€) Quantity Total (€)

Food 10 15 150

Bike Hire 20 3 60

Lift Pass/Oeztal card 68 1 68

Hut Stay 25 5 125

Meal out 15 3 45

Total for activities / food 448

Total Costs

• Taking a sample set of activities (food for 15 days, 3 days biking, Oeztal card, 2 nights in a hut and a meal out, including central costs)

• Total cost inc. Air transport = £610.• Total cost inc. minibus = £ 460• Total cost inc. car = £485

Best Case :: Worst Case

So, there’s a BIG difference in costs due to activity!

The choice is yours.

Insurance

• Scouting Insurance policy• Underwritten by ACE Insurance• Covered from when booked.• Includes:

• Personal Injury• Medical & repatriation• Personal belongings to £1000• Money loss to £1000• Cancellation of flights• Missed Departure• Personal Liability

Health Forms

• Will be circulated closer to the event, prior to Spring Meet.

Locals

• Found a Scout Group not too far off• Trying to make contact at the moment• Hoping to meet up for an evening at some

point of trip

Communication

• Email will be the main method of communication

• We need a valid – and regularly checked – email address for everyone

Q & AWhere are YOU going to play next

summer?

Cheers for

coming!!!