Devero Mountain Contest 2005
The first edition of the “Devero Mountain Contest 2005” has taken place on July 30 and 31, in the wonderful natural scenery of the Parco Naturale of the Alpe Devero. Many days have passed since then, more than a month, but the memories are still strong. Here a little history of the event. Our friend Michele had already had the idea for some time, until one night, on the terrace of his hut, between a dish of polenta, a local cheese and a good wine, he decided to speak about it with the friends of MountainCube. Obviously everybody liked the idea and we started straight away with the planning of the event. The work of planning and organizing has taken a lot of time and hard work of many people, as it very often happens with some difficulties, aspects that have only increased the satisfaction, with which we write now this report.
Finally the day before the contest arrives. Unfortunately the weather is horrible, as the forecast of the previous days had announced. We can’t deny that we organizers slept very badly that night, fearing that no one would come the next day. But what could we do. The next morning the wonder: almost 60 climbers with crash pad were standing in front of the tent of the organization, ready to entry and eager to start trying the problems, challenging a menacing sky. The misfortune hadn’t finished its action yet and mid-day a strong thunderstorm obliged everybody to find cover in the huts, under the tent or under the boulders for three hours. Only at about four in the afternoon a pale sun came out and the competitors could start again to climb on the humid boulders. The desire and curiosity of “pulling” on the boulders, new almost for everybody, were strong and they climbed until dark, waiting for the evening grill party.
The Saturday night party, with the projection of the movie made by a cameraman during the day, started with a succulent dinner of polenta and pork chops, followed by music, dance and fun for all presents.
The next day the fate has decided to make us a gift, to compensate the misfortune of Saturday: a nice sun and warm temperature let everybody enjoy the second climbing day. All participants started on the problems they hadn’t managed the day before or that were in bad conditions. Until late afternoon the tent of the organization has been visited only by tourists and curious people, who tried to understand what was that strange habit of climbing on the boulders with a “cushion” on the ground, while the climbers were busy on the boulders spread among the bushes of the flat.
The first edition of the Devero Mountain Contest 2005 has ended in the evening, with a funny amateur competition on the artificial wall where, until a few seconds before, the alpine guide of M3-MountainCube had introduced the interested people (many children) to climbing. Although all climbers were tired and exhausted after two meeting days many of them, with praiseworthy generosity, have accepted to compete on a very intense 8-meter long route, offering an exciting show and a valuable conclusion of the wonderful event.
The organizators were very satisfied because despite the bad weather forecast a lot of participants came from Italy and Switzerland. Thanks to these people, a praise to their patience and availability, factors that have made possible a nice, pleasant and relaxed climate.
Surely this first edition of Devero Mountain Contest has represented an important start, both for M3-Mountain Cube and the territory of Alpe Severo. All of us wish to continue to promote this sports discipline and propose it in the interesting scenery of Ossola and its valleys, with the hope that it becomes a further stimulus to bring people nearer to the alpine sports and to provide incentives to experience the mountains in an environmentally friendly way.
A special thanks to the management and the alpine guides of M3, the hotel managers of Devero who have generously contributed to the realization of the event, to the section of Alpini of Baceno, the SAGF of Domodossola, the friends Ricky and Lorenzo of ALP, Mosoni Sport of Domodossola, the cameraman Giovanni, the Comunità Montana Antigorio Divedro Formazza, the Ente Parco Naturale Veglia-Devero, Vibram e all the participating sponsors.
See you next year!
Tomaso Dameno