Most of Switzerland is mountainous. No wonder that your favorite sport in the country is alpine skiing. In the season, which lasts from December to March, the Swiss try to spend all weekends on the slopes. It is good to have a couple of hours maximum from any part of this small country by car. Poor in the past mountain villages today thrive on skiers who come here even from Australia.
In a village with a population of 1500 people for the winter can visit more than 100 000. The resorts are all designed for the convenience of guests, everything works for the - people and equipment. You can rent or buy ski equipment at every corner. Buses run between the hotels all the time and take skiers to the lower stations of the numerous cable cars free of charge.
In some resorts, people are cared for to such an extent that even the buses have been abandoned. So that they do not pollute the air with their emissions. Skiers do not experience any inconvenience.
Saas Fe is a clean air zone. Everyone moves around in electric cars. The only person who can drive a car is a local doctor.
Saas Fe understands ecology in a broad sense. The construction here is being carried out in such a way that the new buildings do not disturb the general style of the alpine village. Outside it is a traditional wooden chalet. Inside, they have everything that a modern hotel should have.
Even at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level, you can enjoy all the charms of a tropical resort. Alpine tanning is available not only in the mountain sun but also in the solarium.
Sports recreation in the local resorts is not limited to alpine skiing. Those who wish to play curling can resemble cross-country skiing.
Walter has been working as an instructor for eleven years. According to his observations, flat skis are becoming more and more popular in Switzerland every year.
- People now prefer to go in for healthy sports. In this respect, cross-country skiing is out of competition. When you run on them, almost all muscles work. Also, cross-country skiing is much more democratic than alpine skiing.
Also, alpine skiing is much more expensive. More expensive equipment. Much has to be spent on ski lifts. For cross-country skiers they are not needed - it is enough to have skis, boots, suitable clothes. If you need an instructor, you have to pay for the lessons, but it is in the mountains as well.
- And who is more fond of cross-country skiing, Swiss or newcomers?
- I think, the Swiss. A lot of Germans, too, English.
But still, most people go to Switzerland for the sake of beautiful ski slopes.
Alpine skiing is a whole industry, which brings Switzerland a lot of income. High mountain resorts, luxurious hotels, recovery procedures and, of course, ski fashion.
- Sports shops are full of various equipment and costumes. All this is designed mainly for the wealthy public. Only a jacket can cost about 1000 dollars. In the rental, of course, the costumes are simpler, but they are extremely functional. Here I am dressed, and now you can go to the mountains.
- The first impression is much more people than I expected. It seemed to me that alpine skiing is one-on-one with the elements, speed, risk... And here it is very beautiful, but somehow too civilized - a cafe, queues for the lift.
- I found myself on the blue track, it's the easiest one, that's why there are a lot of people on it. Experienced skiers go skiing in other places, and some prefer to go down in general outside the slopes. It's quite risky, if only because there's no guarantee that you won't be covered by an avalanche far from the marked slopes.
- Rescue of those who are in trouble is engaged in rescue service. Its employees are equipped with the most modern equipment, and they have no experience.
Andy Hus, the lifeguard:
- With the help of a special device, they are looking for people who are covered by an avalanche. The system works on the principle of G.P.S., determines the point where the signal comes from.
However, it is possible to use it so much if the victim has a special radio beacon. It is included in the set, which should be carried by everyone who goes to the mountains. If there is even the slightest chance to get into an avalanche.
- How does this work?
- This arrow indicates the direction to go, the numbers are the distance in meters to the object. They appear when you are close enough to it. And the closer you get, the louder the receiver beeps.
Andy buried a lighthouse somewhere in the snow. It's to make sure that the system is so simple that anyone can handle it:
- I'm going left, the numbers are decreasing, so I'm in the right direction. So, 6 meters to the object I'm looking for, 5 and 9, 5 and 5. …. 3 and 3, obviously, I'm going the wrong way, falling into the snowdrifts... It's here, isn't it?
- You're doing good, Daria.
We dug up our conditional victim in two accounts. In reality, a man is sometimes buried under a snow thickness of many meters.
The rescue kit includes not only the lighthouse. Behind my back, the rescue device, I try to pull the handle to activate it, it is specially made quite tight, so that the system does not work from accidental touch. It finally opens up. But I can't see what's behind my back... Oh, it's the wings. These wings are a real rescue for the skier. If he gets caught in an avalanche, then at least the top, i.e. the head, hands, will be outdoors and he will be able to breathe.
At a time when skiing was not even heard of, and the mountains were walked not for pleasure, but if necessary, the rescue of people was done by dogs. They have been used in such operations since time immemorial.
Wando is nine years old, five of them working in the rescue service. Now Wando will show us his abilities. And so that the dog doesn't see what kind of test he is being prepared for, they take him to the hangar.
Dog training in Switzerland is taken very seriously. First they take a full three-year course, and then they take their exams every two years. There are two types of training - military and rescue training. Wando has received a complete dog education. The person Wando has to find is Thomas. In the snow he was buried quite deeply.
Finally, Wando is released and Britta gives the command to "search". The dog did its job in a matter of minutes. Wando is able not only to find the victim, but also to dig him up from under the snow. In real life, the dog carries the necessary set of medications, so that the person, until the rescue team, could not be ready, could provide themselves with first aid.
Of course, the vast majority of those who come to Swiss resorts, ride on perfectly equipped routes, where the probability of avalanches almost zero. And yet it's nice to know that your safety here is the responsibility of high professionals who have everything they need to do their job well.