Climbing in / around Lausanne

Hi All,

I'm going to move to Lausanne in a couple of months and, besides sorting out the flat / admin, I'm trying to think at the positive aspects of living over there.

I'm excited by the proximity to the big-mountains, but I'm hoping to climb on a regular basis in Lausanne or close by.

In other forums I've seen some indications in terms of outdoor, quite reassuring, but is there any indoor centre near by? I've read about one in Chavornay and the Gecko.

By the way, I will definitely be interested on meeting climbing partners ( rock climb + mountaineering), so feel free to let me know if you are interested.

Thanks,

Giada

Hello and welcome to the forum.

First of all, before you get aclimatized, why don't you pop by at our infro section and introduce yourself, before asking for help with a specific question. People are more likely to share with somebody who they know, at least tiny bit.

Then, you can find a bounty of info if you use our search function (upper right corner), hiking yeilds a ton of links, general info here .

Then, I am sure loads of hikig and general sport clubs are associated with universities in Lausanne (EPFL, UNIL), you can check out their offer, too. I would probably prefer that route since you will be able to practice French and find new local friends.

Good luck relocating to our area, lovely season we are having at the moment.

Hi Giada

There is a climbing/boulder group in Lausanne (Diablerets)

www.cas-diablerets.ch/escalade_activites.htm . They mention on their website a 'salle d'escalade' in St. Legier.

I've googled, and assume it is this one: http://www.sportescalade.com/

This is the list with all the indoor climbing halls in CH Climbing Halls.

Enjoy.

Hi and Thank you both MusicChick & m_dalloway.

I'm sorry MusicChick, I didn't mean to be rude, but I had no idea there was and "infro" section...still don't know where is it though (?).

I'll follow your advices... Thanks!

to the EF! Introductions

Hi Giada,

I have to agree with Musicchick: people will want to know a bit more about you before they show any interest in a new climbing partner...for example, are you a hot climbing chick? Or a middle aged married male, in which case do you have gear/car or are interesting in some other way.

And for reasons of practicalities as well as vanity, climbers tend to be very discerning when it comes to who they rope up with, to the extent of sounding elitist: what grades do you climb, how experienced and how fit are you? How heavy?

On a more serious note, EF is not the best site if you are a serious climber; try kletterportal.ch , it is the best-suited. It also has detailed info on Swiss climbing walls. Hikr.org and Summitpost.org could prove useful too...

All the best,

N

I couldn't disagree more. Climbers certainly are not elitist and for a bit of indoor toproping such as at the St Legier you can be very different grades and it does not matter. If your ice climbing in Chamonix then background is important but please dont be put off there are plenty of newbies welcome climbing groups around Vaud. I would offer myself but we just had our first daughter so I've temporarily hung up my ropes for a bit!

Happy climbing.

Mike

Ok, no worries! I completely agree on knowing the climbing partner, I'm actually very selective myself!

My post was of general interest to understand what is Lausanne like in terms of climbing atmosphere: I don't pretend it to be like Chamonix, but hopefully it's better then London.

I'm sure you all agree that a Forum it's still a tiny bit too virtual to expect to know each other properly: pls don't misunderstand, it's very useful and nice, but still ....

Anyway, if an introduction is needed, here it's a brief one, so we are all happy.

I'm italian (woman, 30 years old), but I lived in London, which I know consider home, for the last 6 years. Somehow my passion for the Mountains made me decide that, instead of struggling to spend all my holidays ( winter and summer) in the Alps, it would have been a good idea to try to combine life-leasure + work. I'm an architect, which in London means: forget about having a proper life balance. So here's the decision to Move to Switzerland, at least for a while.

I've been up the mountains since I was little, when I used to spend my holidays on the Dolomites, which I deeply love and still go to every year...I have to!

Trekking and Via Ferrata have been what I started off with. The attraction for the big mountains was too strong though....

Unfortunately moving to England didn't help to keep up the passion a bit of lack of verticality...the real verticality I mean). I managed to squeeze some mountaineering in: Mont Blanc, Aiguille de Rochefort, Aiguille d'entreve, Aiguille Verte, others....some rock climbs : Dent du Geant, some on the Aiguille Rouges + Peak District / Forest of Dean / Wye Valley / Dolomites and a trip to Nepal; I loved getting to EBC and Kala Pattar, but I'm desperate to go back for a proper technical climb, hopefully within the next 12-18 months.

Currently I'm more confident mountaineer than rock climber unfortunately and I'm determined to push this side. Trad E1(2), Sport VI sh. To be honest I understand that people is keen on the grades, but I personally think that it's quite silly...it should not be a matter of a number, not if you're a real climber. I believe that the passion and the focus are what drive you. Many times I've climbed, without knowing it at the time, routes of a much higher grade just because I was super motivated and enthusiastic. Others I would't be able to climb a simple route for the opposite reason: which is why I go indoor, because it's necessary, although I tend to climb much worst because I feel restricted by "colours" and people who go there instead of training on a treadmill.

I'll try to get a car while in Lausanne, but as a start I will have to live with Public Transport and my bike. The idea is to go to a close by climbing centre or outdoor boulders a few times during the week and then going further away the week end for some nice routes. Now, I cannot predict the future and it might well be that I won't manage to, but I'll try. During the summer I'll ty to travel often to Chamonix / Zermatt I hope: I would like to squeeze some routes / summits which I've had in my head for a while.

I hope this is enough to satisfy any curiosity and/or doubts.

Thanks for the advices.

G

Not sure what part you are disagreeing with, because basically I agree entirely with your post, that's what my earlier post meant to say .

Giada: now that's one interesting profile

you can do indoor climb at Dorigny (UNIL/EPFL) check that here https://applicationspub.unil.ch/inte....php?DisId=104

you should contact them. they speak english and they always find a solution

You know what I meant..

All local climbers I know are somewhat associated with EPFL/UNIL.

Hi and Thanks! I hope they accept outsiders / not uni students. I'll contact them anyway...

Cheers,

G

Hi Giada. Welcome to the forum!

As for climbing in Lausanne, there are several possibilities. There is one indoor climbing wall at EPFL/UNIL sport center. It isn't very high and there are not so many routes. For other indoor climbing walls check out this link (the bottom of the page), they are not in Lausanne, but you may drive there or take a train. As for me, I prefer to go to the EPFL/UNIL sport center because it's only 5 min walk from EPFL and cheaper, even though the selection of different routes there isn't very big compared to the walls in other towns around Lausanne area. As far as outdoor climbing goes, there are a lot of places around Lausanne many within 20-30 driving distance (again you may take a train, if you don't have a car). Every week someone from the EPFL mountain club organizes outings, usually during evenings. I'm not sure if people from outside EPFL can subscribe to the mailing list of this club, anyway you may ask them.

If you have some knowledge of French you may try to participate in activities of the local Swiss Alpine Club mentioned above by m_dalloway. Also, there are commercial outings by aventures alpines .

Hope you will enjoy Lausanne,

Victor

Thanks a lot Victor, the links are very useful!

Is it actually possible to climb at the EPFL/UNIL sport center not being a student / working at the uni?

I'll drop them a line I guess...

G

I don't know if it is possible to use the wall not being affiliated with uni. You may ask them via email [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) .

Hi,

I am going to be in Switzerland (based near Zurich) for July till mid September- am keen to mountaineer PD/AD grades- am flexible of where and when. If you are interested email me on [[email protected]](mailto😃[email protected])

Cheers,

Darren

Hey I am new in Lausanne, I went this sunday at EPFL sport-centre climbing wall and but news... was the last day openned it will be closed for all the summer...

So if you have already found any nice climbing wall in the city let me know please!!! i am strongly interested!!

BTW I am also looking for people to share this sport as well as outdoor activities.

See you!!!!

Davis

Hi Davis,

I've finally moved to Switzerland a couple of days ago, so I didn't know about this news on the EPFL. I was thinking to pop by after work next week, but I guess I will have to change my plans!

I'm going to work in Lausanne, but I'm living in Montreux. There isn't any other climbing centre in Lausanne, but I've had a look at the centres around, this is what I found so far, but I can't guarantee on the quality of any of them I'm afraid:

- http://www.sportescalade.com/ My preferred so far in terms of location, I think I'll try it next week;

- http://www.escalade-chavornay.ch/

- http://www.geckoescalade.ch/

I'm really keen on squeeze in as much outdoor climbing / mountaineering as possible, but I'm sure it won't be as easy as it sounds since I've just arrived.

Let me know what you think or your plans!

See you,

Giada

I see quite a few climbing folks here on the forum. This is an unexpected bonus! I am more into mountaineering than climbing and will be looking for partners too when I arrive (September).

N, thanks for the links!

Wow, even summitpost.org is here. I have been a regular at SP for years!

Vlad.