Question 1

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF TREKKERS?

Accepted Answer

Please make sure you arrive at the starting point on time and check what you need to bring (see below). Come prepared to share, connect and laugh with your fellow trekkers.

Question 2

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM A TREK?

Accepted Answer

Each hike is either a full day or a half day of strenuous hiking ending with a convivial drink in a buvette. On weekend hikes, we’ll stay overnight in a cabane.

Question 3

WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY OF EACH TREK?

Accepted Answer

Hiking in the Alps is not a stroll in the park! You'll be expected to be able to walk at a steady pace for at least 4 hours, up and down in potentially uneven terrain.

Check out the difficulty levels below and contact me if you'd like me to help you ensuring you have the right level.

The difficulty of each hike is indicated in the listing and based on the following parameters: 
Easy hike: 10-12km distance, maximum 500m elevation and 4hr hike on easy terrain (wide, not vertiginous paths) This would be a T2 on the CAS (Club Alpine Swiss scale). 
Medium hike: 12-17km distance, 800-1,200m elevation and 4-6hr hike on mixed terrain likely to include some narrow, slippery or exposed sections where sure-footedness might be required (T2, occasionally T3 on the CAS scale)
Hard hike: the sky’s the limit! It will include narrow or slippery paths, vertiginous sections and will require a faster pace (T3 CAS scale).

Question 4

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE WEATHER IS BAD?

Accepted Answer

A little rain never hurt anyone, so light rain won’t deter us. If heavy rain or other inclement weather we’ll either choose an itinerary more suited to the weather or reschedule where possible. If neither option is possible then you’ll get a full refund.

Question 5

HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL THERE BE IN A GROUP?

Accepted Answer

There will be a maximum of six people in the group. This keeps the group agile and moving quickly, makes it easier to connect as a group and means we can all sit around the same table in the buvette.

Question 6

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

Accepted Answer

I’ll take care of any specialist equipment, but please make sure you bring the following with you:

1 DAY HIKE 
Small hiking backpack 
Weather appropriate clothing (think moisture-wicking and layers)
Hiking boots or shoes. They must be sturdy, with good grippy soles. Please make sure you’ve used them at least twice before the hike. A full day hike on new shoes is a sure-fire recipe for blisters!
Snacks or light picnic meal
1-2 litres of water. In chilly weather, I like to split the liquid into two bottles: one for water and another for a hot tea or drink. For a tasty and energizing alternative to plain water, add some mint leaves, a drop of lemon or some syrup to your water
Sun protection (cream, lip balm) 
A light hat (if cold) or cap (for warmer days). This is VERY important on warm weather days
Sunglasses
Thin gloves (in cold weather or when hiking above an altitude of 2,000 meters)
Hiking poles are optional but I personally recommend them

WEEKEND HIKE WITH OVERNIGHT STAY IN A CABANE
All of the above plus everything you need to be comfortable staying in a cabane. (Details to be provided separately for overnight stays in the mountain).

Question 7

WHAT HAPPENS IF I’M LATE?

Accepted Answer

Everyone is late occasionally but no one likes waiting around for latecomers so please make a special effort to arrive on time. If you’re running late for any reason, please call me to let me know so I can work out the best plan of action.

Question 8

WHAT ARE THE CANCELLATION TERMS?

Accepted Answer

Single-day hikes:

You may cancel your participation in a single-day hike without penalty until 20:00 on the Thursday before the scheduled hike date.

If you cancel less than 48 hours before the hike start time, you will receive a voucher that can be used for another hike on a future date. (Vouchers are valid for 12 months).

Multi-day hikes:

You may cancel your participation in a multi-day hike without penalty up to 15 days before the start date.

If you cancel within 15 days of the start date, a 50% cancellation fee applies.

Question 9

DO I NEED SPECIAL INSURANCE?

Accepted Answer

Yes — everyone joining a trek needs valid accident insurance that covers mountain activities, including rescue and (if needed) helicopter evacuation.If you're employed in Switzerland for more than about 8 hours a week, your standard accident insurance is likely to cover rescue costs in full but I recommend you double check. If you're self-employed, retired, a student, or working very few hours, your health insurance only covers half of rescue costs — the rest is out of pocket. In that case, I'd strongly recommend signing up as a Rega patron (see below) — it's CHF 40 a year and takes five minutes online.If you're joining me from abroad, please double-check that your travel or health insurance explicitly covers search & rescue and helicopter evacuation in Switzerland. Not all policies do, and it's worth confirming before you arrive.

Question 10

WHAT IS REGA AND DO I NEED IT?

Accepted Answer

Rega is Switzerland's air rescue service, and I'm a patron myself. Being a patron isn't insurance exactly — it's an annual contribution (CHF 40 for adults) that means Rega waives whatever costs your insurance doesn't cover if you ever need a rescue mission here.For treks that go into more remote or exposed terrain, I ask that you either be a Rega patron or be able to confirm your insurance covers Swiss mountain rescue in full. It's cheap peace of mind, and you can sign up in minutes at rega.ch — patronage works for visitors too, not just Swiss residents.