with OUGS!

Yes, I certainly was feeling a bit like a child on its first day at school when I set off from Berne towards the Rhone valley to meet the OUGS trippers on their arrival for a 10-day geological visit to the Alps. What would I encounter? Was I going to be the only novice in a team of experts? Would I feel uncomfortable and completely out of place?

My nervousness increased as I drove into Martigny to try to find the hotel. The town centre was closed to traffic, having been taken over by hundreds of would-be Napoleonic soldiers and their horses for the 200 years Bonaparte festival. With the help of a few locals, I finally managed to find my quarters, and this before the British group had arrived.

Fifteen minutes after my arrival, the group made its appearance and I was pleasantly surprised to find not only experts, but many interested amateurs wanting to learn something of the geology of the area, and looking forward to some good mountain hiking under the leadership of Dr. Bill Fitches, duty geologist for the trip, for whom it was familiar territory, having visited the area with students from Aberystwyth some years before.

Supper was a cordial affair, with much talk of rocks and exchange of experiences, and I felt very comfortable, now excited at the anticipation of a day's outing with people sharing my own interest. Bill gave a short briefing on the next day's programme and it was off to bed, ready for an early start, with the promise of fine weather from the local meteorologists.

The weather men were wrong! A light drizzle had set in as we drove up to the campsite, the start of our field trip. This turned to quite heavy rain as we set off along the trail leading upwards towards the dam and Lac de Salanfe at almost 2 000 m. I'm not a good hiker and found it difficult going, but even though I made slow progress, there was always someone to accompany me, to chat about geology, and to admire the Alpine flora, at its very best this time of year. The scenery was enchanting, and to my joy I discovered I wasn't the only one who picks up any and every interesting looking rock available. Pockets were soon being filled with small pieces with interesting fold patterns or minerals, but I do have enough experience to know that it can be hard going if you insist on taking every rock with you. I have learnt to be selective.

As we approached the dam the sun finally broke through, and it was warm on the terrace of the chalet which serves drinks and snacks to the few hikers and tourists who pass by. Waterproof gear was stowed away and sun lotion made the rounds, as at these altitudes and with added snow glare, the sun can have devastating and painful effects on the skin for those who come unprepared. After lunch and an informative lecture on the geological history of the Morcles Nappe, we set off along the lakeside to look at some limestone boulders resting precariously on a steep slope, and the evidence of great geological events which they contained. Here another lecture, for which we were joined by a herd of inquisitive cows, the incessant ringing of their bells making Bill's explanations inaudible. One of the cows took a liking to one of the male members of the group who was sitting on a rock trying to listen to the talk, and spent a good ten minutes licking him from head to toe, taking particular interest in his bronzed bald head, a sight which caused great merriment amongst the group.

Towards evening we made our way back down the mountain to the campsite and finally the hotel, where I had to leave the group and return to Berne.

I refrain from giving the geological details of the trip, as I didn't have the printouts provided for the rest of the group, but I can guarantee I learned a lot, and will look forward to going through the notes when I receive a copy. It was a good day, an interesting theme, a great group of like-minded people, and the whole trip summed up by one of the ladies with 'it is always a good experience to be able to get together with others and 'talk rocks' to those who understand!

by Annette Kimmich

PS A more detailed report of this excursion is published in
Open University Geological Society Journal, Spring Edition 2001 Volume 22(1):
Alpine starts and afternoon nappes
OUGS Severnside and South West Branches' excursion to the Western Alps July 2000 - Leader Dr William R Fitches
by Linda Fowler, with contributions from Isa Adams, Philip Clark, Martin & Jenny Elsworth, Ted Smith & Rob Tripp

Go to What wouldn't I do for a tutorial? to read the contribution from Isa Adams.
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