Chalet Nethercott Travel Report  – Olly Gough (2019, DPhil History)

Dear Trustees,

Thank you ever so much for the generous grant to aid my travel to the Chalet des Anglais this year, it allowed for an intellectually stimulating, physically challenging and spiritually rewarding experience in the mountains. The quiet and reflective aspect to “Chalet life”, as well as the inspiring Alpine setting, allowed me to get some serious reading and reflection done. Thinking through the various problems and challenges of my DPhil thesis by the light and warmth of the fireplace will long be a cherished memory. I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to hike some of the most impressive trails around the Mont Blanc massif, to dip in the cold mountain water of the Arve and the even colder water of the Lac glaciaire de Bionnassay, and just to take in the clean Alpine air of the Haute-Savoie region. The highlight was, of course, the assent of Tête Rousse and the crossing of the glacier to the little refuge right at the top, taking in the breathtaking views of the valleys and mountains beneath us and the stunning rock face of the Grand Couloir above. Matt, Jorin and I have been inspired by the trip to come back to the region next summer and tackle the full assent to the Mont Blanc summit, although we will take some extra drinking water with us this time to avoid the 9 Euro charge for a bottle at the hut! More significant than the views and the trails, though, was the genuine sense of camaraderie fostered by the group at the Chalet. It was refreshing to engage with a like-minded group of strangers of different ages and backgrounds, and to work together in this strange environment to cook, clean, and keep warm. In all, this will remain by far the most unique and special memory of my time as a graduate student at Univ.

Find out more about the range of travel grants and scholarships available to assist Univ students on our Travel Grants page or read further travel reports.

Published: 17 January 2024

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