It’s that time of year again when spring warms the earth and flowers bloom, and many outdoor sports enthusiasts are already eager to hit the trails. Recently, another incident occurred in Shandong’s Laoshan Mountain, where seven hikers got lost. After a seven-hour search by a rescue team, they were finally brought to safety. Experts have pointed out that although outdoor sports in China have not been around for long and still have much room for improvement, countries in Europe and America with more mature outdoor sports industries offer valuable lessons. Switzerland, a renowned mountainous country in Europe, is home to people who love outdoor activities and have accumulated extensive wilderness rescue experience. Today, HowToTrip connects with Liu Suyun, our reporter stationed in Switzerland for China Radio International's Global News Radio, to bring us an introduction:
Host: Hello, Liu Suyun. First, please give us an overview of the current state of outdoor sports in Switzerland.
Reporter: As we know, Switzerland is a beautiful country, with the Alps covering 60% of its land area. High mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, and canyons are both thrilling and picturesque; nearly 1,500 lakes are scattered throughout the mountains, adding to their mystery and charm. Therefore, the Swiss have a deep love for nature and outdoor sports such as mountaineering, skiing, hiking, and cycling. Every weekend, it’s common to see Swiss people driving on the highways with roof racks and various sports gear, heading off into the wild. A recent survey in Switzerland asked what daily expense people would cut back on if they needed to reduce spending. The Swiss said they’d rather buy fewer clothes or live in smaller homes, but they absolutely wouldn’t cut back on sports or travel expenses. It’s precisely because of the diverse natural environment and their passion for outdoor activities that the Swiss began outdoor exploration over 100 years ago. Today, it’s a highly mature, well-regulated activity with excellent services and rescue systems.
In Switzerland, the most common outdoor adventure is mountaineering. Mountaineering has a history of over 150 years in Switzerland. In 1863, the Swiss Alpine Club was established. Now, the club has set up about 150 overnight camps in the high-altitude regions of Switzerland. For mountaineering adventures—especially in less-frequented mountain areas—a guide is essential. Over 150 years ago, Switzerland issued its first set of guidelines for guides, started training courses, and those who passed the exam could obtain a professional certificate. Today, if mountaineers want to find a qualified alpine guide, they can simply contact the local tourism office.
Host: Right, as you mentioned earlier, the history of mountaineering in Switzerland is quite long. Could you introduce some of their more mature experiences in terms of services and rescue?
Reporter: Mountaineers must meet certain qualifications before joining a mountaineering club or participating in club-organized activities. Even so, treatment varies depending on individual circumstances, as mountaineering is divided into several levels—for example, regular climbing, ice climbing, night climbing, and so on. Individuals also need to be well-prepared: one aspect is equipment, as a complete set of mountaineering gear can be quite expensive, costing tens of thousands of yuan; another is insurance. While it’s not mandatory to purchase separate accident insurance, most mountaineering enthusiasts add accidental injury coverage when renewing their medical insurance. This additional coverage is about twice as expensive as normal insurance, but it comes with better services—such as helicopter rescue.
Additionally, Switzerland has 50,000 kilometers of clearly marked hiking trails and nine dedicated cycling routes, all varying in difficulty.
For recognized adventure routes, all signs are very clear, indicating directions to destinations, estimated time required, altitude, and more. Adventurers can choose routes based on their own time and skill level. Where there are no signs, paint markings are made on rocks and tree trunks, making them easy to identify. At night, there are also glow-in-the-dark markers along the routes. Outdoor adventure rescues in Switzerland are generally handled by private companies or non-governmental organizations. For example, the Swiss Accident Prevention Board is a private company established in 1938 with branches nationwide. Another organization called Air-Glaciers is a non-governmental group that primarily provides air rescue services.