Univ Record 2018

The Chalet
Chalet Reading Parties 2018
First Party: 13 to 23 July
Second Party: 23 July to 2 August
We are glad to report the appointment of Jack Matthews (2011, Geology; Chalet 2012-
17) as the third Univ member of the Board of Trustees, an elevation which he celebrated
by being the leader of Second Party. It was a full season out on the mountain, with
15 in First Party, including the Master, and 18 in Second. A particular pleasure was
the number of visits from Old Members associated with the Chalet: Professor John
McMillan, previously Hastings JRF and assistant party leader, made his return to the
Chalet after 15 years, with his daughter Isabel. Second Party enjoyed the company of
Andrew (Chalet 2008-11 and 2017) and Jessica Ward (Chalet 2012) and a visit from
the newly married Lucy Hall (Chalet 2010/11) with her husband John. Julia Schollick
(Chalet 2010/11/15) and Oli Dammone (Chalet 2013) celebrated their honeymoon in
the area, and arrived in true Chaletite style by a morning croissant run.
Karyna Mishchanchuk (Chalet 2017) joined First Party from her new base in London
and proved her worth when we had an unexpected visit from two Ukrainian street
musicians. Busking in Geneva, they had heard about Mont Blanc and had determined
to play on its summit. With Karyna’s grasp of the vernacular and as gently as they
could, First Party pointed out that this mountain bid might not survive their footwear,
clothing, kit, provisions and general preparedness, and that following Sat-Nav from
Geneva to the summit of Mont Blanc was an unconventional approach, to say the least.
Sadly we cannot confirm whether they ever achieved their ambition but descending from
the refuge at Tête Rousse (3,200 metres altitude) two days later, First Party found them
still labouring upwards. The meeting of these gentlemen apart, First Party’s programme
was conventional and also included the Réfuge de Bérard from the village of Buet, the
Argentière Glacier, and a reading of Twelfth Night.
Second Party continued to strengthen the relationship with the neighbouring
Boucher Chalet by the joint adoption of a lost husky for an afternoon, “Torres” later
being reunited with her family in the valley. Walks included the Col de Tricot, Nid
d’Aigle, Tête Rousse, and also Lac Blanc where many Chaletites braved the icy waters for
the traditional swim. Inspired by the aforementioned prowess of Schollick-Dammone,
fresh pastries for breakfast were a regular occurrence, with a number of very impressive
~1 hr croissant runs being recorded.
As for the Chalet itself, it continues to prosper under Univ’s leadership of its care. This
year arrangements were made for a rolling programme of repairs to shutters and doors
and we re-stocked on mattresses and pillows and made minor alterations to smooth the
path of parties in future.
As ever, we continue to be grateful for the help and support we receive from Yves
Hottegindre at the Prarion Hotel. On this occasion he came to our rescue when a cable
car breakdown threatened the Master’s return to Oxford for pressing duties. It was a
distinctly unusual feature but this year the weather on the mountain provided a welcome
relief from the heat wave then dominating the UK.
Stephen Golding, Keith Dorrington and Jack Matthews
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