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places to visit => abroad => Topic started by: cjsheps on May 09, 2017, 09:00:21 am

Title: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: cjsheps on May 09, 2017, 09:00:21 am
Hi UKB,

It's turned out that I may or may not be doing a PHD at EPFL Lausanne (I'm on their system, but still have to request a particular project). Being Switzerland, I suspect that there would be some decent local climbing  :P - but really I have no idea.

Does anybody have experience of the climbing in the area? I guess I'm looking at:
1. Local venues: <1hr away from Lausanne. I've heard of St Loup, but not much else.
2. 1-2hrs away: Chamonix is 1.5hrs away, and Gastlosen looks similarly close. I've heard that the latter is a bit of a bitch to get to though.
3. Further afield: I guess a lot of classy venues are doable in a long weekend.

Any other general advice about the region would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Chris.
Title: Re: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: Pitcairn on May 09, 2017, 09:56:34 am
Your pretty close to the Valais area which is absolutely awesome for everything.  The other channel crag database gives some idea...
Title: Re: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: duncan on May 09, 2017, 11:16:16 am

3. Further afield: I guess a lot of classy venues are doable in a long weekend.


Probably the best multipitch sport climbing in Europe is <3 hours away (https://goo.gl/maps/BnhmvXw2WS82)

Surely this has to be an amazing spot for a climber?
Title: Re: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: mde on May 09, 2017, 01:24:58 pm
Check here for a map with climbing sites in the vicinity of Lausanne.

https://www.grimper.ch/sites-de-grimpe/carte-des-sites/

Yes, there is St. Loup, but also many crags between Villeneuve and Martigny which are easily accessible with year-round climbing. Not a bad place to live for a climber.
Title: Re: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: dave on May 09, 2017, 02:46:17 pm
Pretty sure there's also plenty of bouldering venues in the valley between montreux and martigny, they'd all be within about 45mins drive.

I reckon you'd be spoilt for choice for stuff to do within 1-2 hours drive. I mean for a long weekend you could be in Font in about 4 hours! Go for it.
Title: Re: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: sjw on May 09, 2017, 05:07:50 pm
There's some class bouldering in Valais which is really close, we've been a few times. Look up Vernayaz, Trappistes (like a giant bowderstone), Plex (one of the prettiest places ever) and Fionnay (never been but we're heading in June on the recommendation of a few people). As others have said, there's a bunch of little areas and odd blocs dotted around the valley, like this thing which looks mega: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJRbrp0XR5A
Title: Re: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: alx on May 09, 2017, 06:48:27 pm
Gryon & Plex

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yBqOROh7ZYs

Have a mate, a kiwi who is at Lausanne for his Post-doc, highly recommends Plex

Title: Re: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: CanadianDave on May 09, 2017, 07:03:16 pm
As has already been mentioned the bouldering in valais and Plex in particular is quite good. There are also a couple areas closer to Lausanne such as St. George, it's a steep limestone crag with bouldering at the bottom, hardly a destination venue but good for evening session after work or for when its raining.

I live in Geneva at the moment and there is lots to climb within a reasonable drive, nice thing about Lausanne is you are even closer to the valais!

This site is quite good for finding spots
http://climbingaway.fr/en/rock-climbing-areas/world-map-of-rock-climbing-areas/suisse
Title: Re: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: cjsheps on May 09, 2017, 07:32:43 pm
Thanks so much for all the responses! Among the Universities I had in mind, I'd been leaning towards Lausanne - partly because of the climbing potential. I'll know in the next few days what my chances are of ending up there - depends if I have funding for a project or not. Exciting times!
Title: Re: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: CrimpyMcCrimpface on June 27, 2017, 11:21:54 am
If you do move to Switzerland definitely download Les Carnets d'escalade on your phone. Went cragging at Dorenaz near Martigny a couple of summers ago while staying in Cham and one of the locals recommended it. It's similar to the UKC crag map with pictures and topos for each of the locations. Was a little buggy then but was free and pretty extensive. Basic French will help but not necessary.

https://itunes.apple.com/ch/app/les-carnets-descalade/id590658279?l=fr&mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nomadsystems.carnetEscalade&hl=fr

Adam
Title: Re: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: jwi on August 09, 2017, 03:07:32 pm
Speaking about Switzerland. My better half is contemplating moving to St. Gallen, which would make sense career-wise for her (for me, not that much...). Climbing wise I'm sure that it doesn't make too much sense compared to Toulouse. Does anyone know?
Title: Re: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: mde on August 11, 2017, 01:55:15 pm
Cannot compare to Toulouse, but lose a few words about St. Gallen. There's no climbing directly in or near the city.

You would have to drive either to the Alpstein massif where the main cragging area is Äscher (which is accessed from Wasserauen). That's pretty big and nice (>300 routes), but being at 1600m with either cable car or a longer foot access it is not really a year round option. Also, though it's predominantly single pitch it is not really a sport climbing venue (mostly vertical face climbing on gouttes d'eau in abrasive rock in the 6b-7b range). There are multipitch offerings in the Alpstein massif, too.

For sport climbing, you'd have moderate drives to the Bregenz/Feldkirch area with all the Vorarlberg crags. Also the Rhine valley near Sargans has a few not so well known, but good crags (~30-60 min driving time from St. Gallen). Some of the most famous sites in this area include Voralpsee, Bürs and Känzele. 

And then, it's only a good 1.5 hours to Rätikon.
Title: Re: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: SA Chris on August 11, 2017, 03:13:12 pm
Climbing wise I'm sure that it doesn't make too much sense compared to Toulouse.

What have you got; Toulouse?
Title: Re: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: jwi on August 11, 2017, 09:52:57 pm
I don't have the gallen me to riposte. (sorry, weak pun)
Title: Re: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: Oldmanmatt on August 12, 2017, 10:45:58 am
This is a whole Gallen of cream cheese.
Title: Re: Moving to Lausanne?
Post by: tomtom on August 12, 2017, 10:50:40 am
Climbing wise I'm sure that it doesn't make too much sense compared to Toulouse.

What have you got; Toulouse?

So Sage.
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