Axalp!!!!!!

I finally decided to share my experience about Axalp Air show.....

Officially it’s not an air-show, it’s the annual real shooting training of the Switzerland Luftwaffe, that accidentally takes place on high peak over Interlake lake and is open to the people. I don’t know any other place around the world where it is possible to do the same... Normally you can see low flight freely but shooting is inside military ranges...

Geographic Section
Where:
South of Axalp village: the new sat-image is with snow, isn’t good to see, but helps to understand environmental conditions... image 1
Link:
http://maps.google.it/maps?ll=46.706687,8.054148&spn=0.001766,0.004801&t=h&z=18&vpsrc=6

Here also the 3 “stations” where stop, have lunch, relax, take photo... You can use as waypoints: Stations: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17674326/Axalp/Axalp_Station.kml
How:
To do it last year, my school-friend and I waked up at 04.30, left accommodation around 05.20 and walked to bus departure. The bus left around 06.00 and climbed arriving to Axalp village at 0639. A little walk in the dark to reach chairlift departure and when on top of it Trekking starts.
We can divide the climb in 4 sections:
transit (light climb, nearly flat), stop to the toilets (I didn’t need it but they are there),
Vertical climb (really steep, there’s a footpath but it’s straight to the peak), after the stair you reach the first stop, Station 3;
now you have last climb on grass (easy but still angular...). you are at Station 2,
Last walk is from Station 2 to Station 1and the control tower, but if you did all, this is a joke....
Don’t forget, you must do the same way to go home....
Here I decided to link my GPS file track last year and you can download and use in Google Earth or your GPS device: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17674326/Axalp/Axalp2Target1.kml (please forget speed datas, iPhone GPS during climb told me that I was 19[km/h] fast, and I was climbing hard.....) I did it in 1h38min but can be more... And here you can see a view by G-Earth how is steep (it’s steeper....) image 2
Here another G-Earth file: this track is to climb by cars, it means that a 4X4 vehicle can do but during air-show it's blocked by Police and Army (it’s why there’s shuttle buses)
From Axalp to Lutschentalti, is the track to do in case chairlift isn't available. Climb from Axalp village to Station 2 take around 3h or more
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17674326/Axalp/Axalp_Car.kml

Preparation Section
So now how to prepare you and your Mountain bag.
Yes, you must prepare yourself, because even if I’ve seen girls with Converse on feet arrive on top, you must remember you are climb to 2200[m] (7220[ft]) and going to watch a dangerous show, aircrafts shoot real bullets, helys work with reduced envelope and aerobatics still something that could go wrong (remember Reno???)
So take you at minimum 1 month before to do aerobic training (run, bike, row...). Ask to your personal trainer a special plan if you go to the gym...
If not in time, don’t be afraid, take more time and many break, also if your soul is telling you to stop do it, and if you don’t fill to reach the top Station 1 and 2, don’t worry the air-show is appreciable even from lower place. Last year I had a great lucky to shot F-18s entering down from the valley.
And I say again later you must come down and drive....

Dress for trekking:
Boots: if you have good, if not, you can buy for less of 20€ (if you think you will never use again)
Trekking pole: useful to climb but fundamental to down hill
Beanie: it’s already fall, you are on mountain and on the chairlift it’s really cold.
Gloves: like for beanie, and also to protect you hand during the climb, I’ve a special transformer with half fingers...
Pack: I bring my huge military pack, it’s like a caravan, really huge room, but you can use what you want...
Jacket: very warm, water resistant (like The North Face), I use one for chairlift and very bad weather, later before the Vertical climb I use a very light jacket for bike (to protect from wind and humidity) plus a vest of duvet (to keep me warm). This combination affords me to keep me and clothing dry and to be smart (multi layer....)
T-shirt: minimum 2 so you can dry the one you used to climb and don’t forget underwear.
Pants: long with many extra pocket...
Socks: you can know, but an extra could be useful...
Warm cloth: absolutely you need a pullover in particular for chairlift and when on top.
Hear Protection: for me it’s normal for air-show or race car, but here it’s fundamental, even echos are powerful, don’t worry you will feel screaming engine through your skin....
If bad weather will be, rain stop (poncho) and something to seat down (plastic bag...)

Food and drink:
You can bring your home made food, but I suggest to buy on top, Army prepare some, like wuster or nice meat with cheese. However bring something to eat during the climb (fruit pack) and something to recharge you (energy bar....) on top and for the way-back.
Also last year before to go to the bus, just after the the chairlift departure you can buy, seat and eat a real swiss food: Raclette. Just gorgeous!!!!
Drink: drink a lot, all water you can, also use energy drink during the climb (like water+enervit...) I use during climb and down a Hydration pack bladder, refilled on top.
Don’t forget, drink is more important than food, you do hard movement and altitude increase dehydration.

Photography
Well it’s for what we are here...
The place it’s incredible!!! Even with a normal kit zoom lens you can have good shot.
Some crazy men brings huge 500-800 [mm], but remember you must bring it up and down... With such lens, yeah you can watch inside the cockpit, but it’s really hard to follow shooters, they are really fast and the short distance make relative angular speed huge, the action end in less of5 [sec] (identify, aiming, shoot, exit).
My bag this year will have:
3 SD (4+16+16GB)
Canon eos 500d body
18-55[mm] kit lens
200[mm] tele
Monopod
I’m still thinking if bring the fisheye and Tripod (for panorama and auto-shot)

Travel Info:
You are in Switzerland, so transportations are always on time, safe and clean. They love silent and quite, so don’t try to find nightlife... After 1700 only restaurants and few bars are open.
They also love speed camera so if you are by car don’t run... Tunnel too....
If you come from East like me from North Italy, and you have time to watch not only aircrafts, remember there are other wonderful features to see:
Luzern: wonderful old town on lake (old bridge, good pubs long the river, art museum, Nuclear Power station...)
Pilatus: it’s a peak near Luzern with an incredible rail: http://www.pilatus.ch/
Brienz: town where you catch the bus, also is the departing place for the last steam rail climber: http://www.brienz-rothorn-bahn.ch/ I hope this year to arrive on time and do it

I hope to say all and be useful for some.. When I’ll back I’ll update how is gone!!!!
In Bocca Al Lupo!!!

Photo-film: http://youtu.be/zq3dRJXgyiA?hd=1
Film: http://youtu.be/GlRpYFmSH50?hd=1

Webcam: http://www.bildersammlung.ch/brienz-axalp-bahn-live-wetter-webcam-schweiz-suisse-swiss-switzerland/webcam.php

Help link: http://www.sentiero.ch/en72_axalp_swiss-air-force.htm
http://airshow-reviews.com/axalp.html

Official: http://www.lw.admin.ch/internet/luftwaffe/en/home/verbaende/einsatz_lw/flpl_kdo_mei/fliegerschiessen_axalp/allgemeine_infos.html