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Pitching a tent in Swiss Alps

PostPosted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:00 am
by Bartjuh
Hey,
does anyone know if camping is allowed in the Swiss Alps? And if not, if it is tolerated above, let's say, 2800 metres?
thanks in advance!

PostPosted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:44 am
by visentin
I have actually the same question about Austria !

PostPosted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 1:58 pm
by Flachlandtiroler
Camping = staying for several days -- usually disallowed
Bivouac = arrive in the evening, leave next morning -- for mountaineering purpose usually ok.

The more frequented the area is (more people, other overnight facilities), the more problems you get.

Martin

PostPosted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:23 pm
by Bartjuh
OK, thanks for the info Martin.

PostPosted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:13 pm
by Diego SahagĂșn
Les Swindin and Peter Fleming say that on their guide "Valais Alsp East" of the Alpine Club, London 1999:

Despite the benefits of hut facilities, during the high season, noise, overcrowding and increasing costs have led to a number of parties electing to camp or bivouac near by. Discreet wild camping/bivouacking is tolerated in the mountains, though officially tentes should only be erected from dusk to dawn and should be a suitable distance away and preferably out of sight of a hut. Above the snowline there is very little problem. The Swiss hava a much stricter approach to wild camping than the Italians. Whether camping, bivouacking, staying in huts or travelling through the mountains there is absolutely no excuse for not taking all refuse back down to the valley for proper disposal or recycling.