Destination Magazin Nr.3/2019 EN

One autumn, a seemingly normal day of excavation on the glacier
turned into a particularly memorable moment for Thomas. As he was
clearing the ice with his excavator shovel, something caught his eye.
Wait, was that a trouser leg? As it turned out, the glacier had finally
released two Bernese mountain climbers who had been missing for
35 years. Not quite your normal day at the office.
In winter, six snowcat drivers, five piste patrollers, a mechanic
and a snowmaker look after Saas-Grund’s ski slopes. Anyone with
a category F driving license is allowed to drive a snowcat provided
they complete a two-day driving course. But in addition to this,
Thomas has a license to drive lorries and construction vehicles and is
a trained piste patroller. He’s also completed avalanche management
training including avalanche blasting and charge throwing. Only with
all this under his belt, can Thomas, together with the head of the
mountain rescue, guarantee safety on the glacier piste.
As soon as the first snow falls, Thomas‘ crew climb aboard
their snowcats. The weight of the beasts breaks down the snow
crystals. They drive back and forth over the snow, condensing the
snowpack and pushing the air out of it, preparing a perfect base
for the ski slope. The flawless, white corduroy lines come last. The
heavy-duty front tiller spins at 1000 revolutions per minute, digging
five to six centimetres deep into the snow as it crushes lumps and
breaks down artificial snow. The rear tiller is flexible and adapts to
the terrain to create the wonderfully smooth corduroy pistes. It’s time
to enjoy some turns.
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Walliser Tiim Wörk
Allmei 5a - 3930 Visp - Tel. 027 945 18 67 - www.faigle.ch
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The glacier slope in Hohsaas exists since 1983. Back then, they worked on the ice and rocks only with a chainsaw and a small excavator.
Lauber IWISA AG | 3906 Saas Fee | T. 027 957 25 34 | info@lauber-iwisa.ch
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