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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:35:42 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:35:42 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10969-0.txt b/10969-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c1bb117 --- /dev/null +++ b/10969-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4131 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10969 *** + +[Transcriber's note: The spelling and punctuation inconsistencies of the +original have been retained in this etext.] + + +SKI-RUNNING + +BY + +KATHARINE FURSE + +G.B.E., R.R.C. + +WITH MAP AND FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS + +1924 + + + + +PREFACE + + +So many excellent books have been written about Ski-ing that it is, +perhaps, presumptuous on my part to think that there is room for +another. + +Mr. Vivien Caulfeild in his "How to Ski" and "Ski-ing Turns," as well +as Mr. Arnold Lunn in his "Ski-ing for Beginners," "Cross Country +Ski-ing" and "Alpine Ski-ing," have covered all the ground of +the technique discovered up to date. What future discoveries and +inventions may be made, requiring new books, no one knows as yet. + +Had it not been for the help and coaching these two exponents of +Ski-ing have given to me personally, I should never have been able to +enjoy the sport to the extent I do now, because I should probably have +been content to continue running across country, falling whenever I +wanted to stop, and using a kick turn at the end of my traverses. +Their enthusiasm and example gave me new ideas of the standard I +wanted to attain, and their unfailing kindness and advice helped me to +get nearer to it than I could otherwise have done. + +The standard still lies away up out of reach, as age undoubtedly tells +against the Ski-runner, and the perfect Christiania in deep, soft snow +round trees growing close together on a steep slope must be done in +heaven rather than on earth by people who are nearer fifty than forty. + +Much experience of coaching beginners convinces me that there is still +room for a book such as I hope to make this--a book containing only +the simple answers to questions put to me during the last three years, +when I have been responsible for running the Ski-ing in various +centres. The object of such coaching is to raise the standard of +British Ski-ing, and it is satisfactory to realize that other nations, +including the Swiss, already marvel at the fair average of our +runners. This is specially remarkable when it is remembered that most +British runners can only afford a bare fortnight or three weeks' +winter holiday in the Alps, and that they are not always in training +when they arrive. Ski-ing is a sport which exercises every nerve and +muscle as well as lungs, as is soon discovered during the first 100 +feet climb or the first fall in deep snow on the Nursery slopes. + +In addition to my conviction that there is room for another book +for beginners, my love of the Alps, which have been my home for the +greater part of my life, also induces me to try to show something of +the real objects of Ski-ing; namely getting to the silent places which +can only be reached on skis, realizing something of the strength +and immensity of Nature at her grimmest, profiting by the wonderful +atmosphere of the mountains, to say nothing of the beauty of an Alpine +view on a fine day. + +The greatest pity is that most British winter holiday-makers can only +go out for Christmas. This is admittedly the worst time from the +point of view of weather. At low altitudes rain often falls early +in January, turning the snow into slush and reducing the Ski-er to +despair. After the 15th January, the weather is usually better, and in +February the days are longer and finer. The best time of all for an +Alpine holiday is usually February and early March. My advice to +novices, who are not tied by Christmas holidays, is to come out about +the 20th January, when the hotels are less crowded, the days longer, +the snow more certain and all the conditions more favourable. Some of +my own best Ski-ing days have been late in March when the crocuses and +gentians were already opening to the sun on the Southern slopes, and a +soldanella might be found along some tiny stream. Few experiences can +equal a Spring day among the Alps when the wealth of flowers begins +to show in the valleys, while masses of good snow still lie on the +Northern slopes or on the ridges above 6,000 feet. + +Early starts are necessary these days as the sun blazes after 11 a.m., +but nothing can equal the bodily comfort and well-being enjoyed at +midday, lunching at the top of some peak or pass, basking in the blaze +and imagining the run down cool slopes. No Ski-runner, who has not +been out in late February or March, realizes the joy and comfort of +late Ski-ing. The hotels will remain open as long as clients stay to +make it worth while, and all the mid-winter amenities will be kept up +if they are wanted. + +In recommending places and equipment, I intend boldly to confine +myself to the places I have been to and to the equipment I have used, +or of which I have had reports from people I trust. This is a somewhat +risky determination as there is great competition among the various +centres and business firms which cater for Ski-runners. My reason is +that the endless advertisements must be extremely confusing to the +novice, who does not know what to believe, and who may sometimes be +let down by a glowing description of some place or gear, which proves +to be quite unsuitable. + +The old hands will find nothing new in this book. Not even controversy +about the nomenclature of turns or as to which foot should carry the +weight in a Christiania. My own view of Ski-ing turns is that they +are a means to an end, and not an end in themselves, and that the +Ski-runner, who is content to spend weeks on the Nursery slopes, +perfecting one turn, has wasted almost weeks, when he might be +enjoying what Skis enable one to reach among the mountains above. At +the same time every beginner should be content to devote two or three +of his first days to the Nursery slopes, learning the elements of good +Ski-ing before dashing off on an excursion. As I know from painful +experience, there is much to unlearn in what one has picked up by the +light of Nature. Scrambling down a run, crashing and sitting on one's +Skis, may be great fun the first day, but is tiring and humiliating +as time goes on. It is infinitely preferable to learn the knack of +Ski-ing tidily, and thereby keeping dry and, in a few days, running +well enough thoroughly to enjoy a day out with its slow climb to the +top of some peak or pass, and then the slide down under control. + +This is where tests are so valuable. Most people undoubtedly enjoy +competition and, if the passing of the turns is made a necessary +qualification for the timed run of the 3rd class test, most beginners +will determine to learn them and then to try the Run and, having +successfully passed that, wear a Badge. Badge-hunting, like +pot-hunting, may not be a very worthy object in itself, but if it +encourages people to become proficient in a beautiful sport, let us +give our weakness of character free play and achieve the results it +leads to. The tests of the Federated Ski Clubs of Great Britain have +done more to raise the standard of our running than anything else +imaginable. + +The beginner is wise, who chooses a centre where the Ski-ing is well +organized, and where he can be certain of getting coaching as well as +excursions suited to his standard, as nothing is lonelier than going +to a place where he is dependent on his own initiative; neither is +anything more irksome to the good runner than to be asked to admit a +stranger to his party, who may keep him back and spoil his run. This +will be further alluded to in the Chapter on Etiquette, and if a +beginner wishes to be popular, I advise him strongly to adhere to +the "Law." A strict code has been adopted, mainly as a result of the +suffering from pertinacious runners, who put their standard higher +than is admitted by others. + +Where the Ski-ing is organized, tests sort different individuals into +their different standards and Runs are planned accordingly, so that +the novice is not over-strained and the experienced runner is not +hindered by too big a party. + +The beginner should also choose a centre where there is a railway to +help him. A great deal of precious time and energy may be wasted in a +short holiday when all climbing has to be done on skis. The first runs +are tiring enough without the additional fatigue of climbing, and +going up in a funicular or railway opens up numbers of runs which +would be far too energetic for most people who are not in training. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +PREFACE + +HISTORY OF SKI-ING + +COST OF A SKI-ING HOLIDAY IN WINTER + +SKI-ING CENTRES + +CLOTHING + +EQUIPMENT + +CARE OF EQUIPMENT + +THE ELEMENTS OF SKI-ING + +ETIQUETTE + +SNOW AND LIGHT + +FALLS + +TESTS + +GUIDES AND SKI INSTRUCTORS + +MAPS AND FINDING THE WAY + +AVALANCHES + +ACCIDENTS + +THE ATTRACTIONS OF SKI-ING + +SUMMER SKI-ING + +APPENDIX: REGULATIONS OF THE BRITISH SKI TESTS + +INDEX + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + +From photographs by E. Gyger, Adelboden, Switzerland + + +ACHIEVEMENT! + +MAP OF SWITZERLAND + +THE UPHILL TRACK + +POWDER SNOW + +SPRING + + + + +SKI-RUNNING + + + + +HISTORY OF SKI-ING + + +Very little is known of the early history of Ski-ing. Doctor Henry +Hoek in his book "Der Schi" gives a very interesting chapter tracing +the use of Skis back to the earliest records. He thinks that Skis were +used by Central Asian races thousands of years B.C. and long before +they were used in Europe. According to his book the word "Schi" is +derived from the Gothic "Skaidan," the German "Scheiden," Latin +"Scindere," and so on. All these words mean split or divide, and might +be used to describe the split wood of which Skis are made or their +action in dividing or separating the snow through which they pass. + +Doctor Hoek further says that early records show how Ski-ing was a +sport practised by knights, and he quotes Rognwald of Orkney (1159 +A.D.) who states that he could run on Skis. + +The Swedish Bishop Magnus writes in 1533 of the way in which the +Norwegians used Skis for traversing country when hunting. + +During the Swedish and Norwegian war in 1808 the Norwegian Army +included 2,000 Ski runners, but the use of Skis does not seem to have +come into warfare again until the Great War of 1914-1918, when the +Swiss, Austrians and Italians all used them on the Alpine frontiers. + +The modern and fully recorded use of Skis began about 1843 when the +sport became really popular in Norway and a Ski race was run at +Tromso. In 1861 a Ski Club was founded, and in 1863 an exhibition was +held there. + +The Swedes also took up Ski-ing as a sport at about this time but Skis +do not seem to have penetrated into Central Europe until after 1870 +when a French doctor tried them at Chamounix in 1871. + +The first introduction of Skis into Switzerland, which I have been +able to trace, was by the monks of St. Bernard, who obtained some +pairs from Norway in 1883, thinking that they might be useful in their +work of mercy, rescuing pedestrians who were in difficulties on the +Pass. About 1887 Colonel Napier came to Davos bringing with him a +Norwegian man-servant and a pair of Skis. Mythical tales were told of +the way this man slid down the slopes from châlet to hotel, carrying a +tea tray on his shoulder. I have only a vague recollection of seeing +him perform, but when Colonel Napier left Davos the same year, he gave +the Skis to me to play with. They were very similar to modern Skis but +had a rigid binding made of sealskin with no means of tightening or +loosening it. Not knowing better, I used to try to run in gouties or +rubber snow-boots which slipped about inside the binding so that I had +absolutely no control. This did not make much difference, as I knew +nothing of the art and only used the Skis as a freak on days off from +tobogganing. I knew nothing of wax, and when the Skis stuck, they +stuck, and I thought it a poor game. When they slid I sat down and +I thought it a poorer game. It never entered my head that I could +traverse across any slope and so I always went straight down and only +by a fluke did I ever stand. Then Tobias Branger, who was a great +sportsman and kept a sports shop at Davos, imported several pairs of +Skis and practised the art himself. + +About this time Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Dobson +took up the game and we spent many hours practising on the slopes +behind Davos Dorf. + +The Richardson brothers, who had been to Norway, came to Davos about +1893 bringing with them knowledge of the sport and soon gathered round +them a keen lot of disciples. The Davos English Ski Club was formed +and from now on Ski-ing spread rapidly throughout Switzerland. + +In the meantime, Ski Clubs were also being formed in the Black Forest +and other parts of Germany, as well as in Austria. + +Doctor Nansen, in his book about Greenland, described the use of Skis +for Arctic exploration and his accounts fired a great many more people +to try the game. + +I advise anyone who wishes to know more of the development of Ski +running to read Doctor Hoek's book "Der Schi," published in 1922, as +he gives a long account of the first forming of Clubs as well as the +gradual adoption of Skis as a means to winter climbing, and, further, +a useful list of the literature on the subject. + +After the first beginnings in 1899, the Swiss became energetic and +enthusiastic runners. The children could be seen on barrel staves with +a pair of old boots nailed to the centre into which they slipped their +feet with their own boots on. It was not a particularly graceful game +in those days. Runners armed themselves with poles some 8 feet long on +which they leant heavily when running downhill. This school soon gave +way to the more modern school, which proved that the carrying of two +sticks was better than one only. A great many books on the technique +of Ski-ing followed each other fast and furiously--Zdarsky and +Lilienfeld, Caulfeild and Lunn, Roget Hoeg and others all contributing +to the controversy on technique. + +Now there are innumerable Ski Clubs with their own year-books, and the +sport is so well launched, not only in Europe, but also in Australia, +New Zealand, East Africa and America and elsewhere, throughout the +world, that there is but little chance of its ever again dying out. + +The British Ski Clubs include the Ski Club of Great Britain, the +British Ski Association, the Alpine Ski Club and the Ladies' Ski Club. +These are federated in one Council and work harmoniously together for +the furtherance of British Ski-ing. + +This is a very incomplete history, but I feel that it is better +to limit it to a few dates and to await the publishing of a more +extensive history of Ski-ing in English than now exists. + + + + +COST OF A SKI-ING HOLIDAY IN WINTER + + +The expenses of a winter holiday differ according to the place chosen, +the hotel and the organization to whose care you commit yourself, if +any. Any figures I quote are approximate and are subject to change +owing to fluctuations in exchanges, etc. + +If you go to a large hotel, with all its luxuries, you will pay +anything from £1 a day upwards, and this may not include sports tax, +etc. The smaller hotels will probably make arrangements for pension at +about 16 francs, or even 14 francs, or less, per day, but may not +be very comfortable, and comfort is important in winter. It is +particularly necessary that the hotel should be well heated, as the +drying of Ski-ing clothes is a very important point. + +As I said in my Preface, the beginner will be wise who chooses a +centre where the sports are highly organized, and where he will be +certain to find coaching and arrangements made for tests and runs, as +well as a railway or funicular to help with uphill work. Only in such +a place can he learn enough Ski-ing in a short time to enable him to +begin to enjoy touring before he returns home, panting to come out +again and continue the experience. One joy of Ski-ing is that you +usually begin again where you left off, and have not to relearn what +you learnt the winter before. + +Having lived in the Alps off and on for forty-six years, and having +seen all sorts of different ways of running things, I realized at +Mürren, where I first learnt to ski properly four years ago, how much +the beginner profits by going to such a centre. Otherwise he may +waste infinite time in Ski-ing without skill and with only half the +enjoyment. It is not only at Mürren that the coaching is given, +though Mr. Arnold Lunn's system of helping everyone originated there. +Pontresina provides it also, and Klosters and other places as well, +but it seems to me that Mürren is the mother of up-to-date British +Ski-ing. + +The cost of a fortnight at a good hotel comes to about £15, including +sports tax, afternoon tea and heating. The journey about £7 return +2nd-class or £9 1st-class, in addition. This can be reduced by +travelling 3rd class in England and Switzerland, where at any rate it +is quite possible to travel 3rd class on any mountain railway. + +In addition to the expense of Pension at an hotel and of the journey, +at least £5 will probably be required for local railway fares, +subscription to entertainment fund, baths, gratuities, hire of Skis, +lessons, guides, etc. £30 ought to cover a fortnight, and £35 three +weeks, and a good deal less can be reckoned if a smaller hotel be +chosen. + +Most of the Sports Hotels will now quote an inclusive price per day, +to which at least 10 per cent. should be added to the estimate +for gratuities to servants. This is the recognized scale at which +gratuities are given by most people, though they might often amount to +more when any special service has been rendered. + +Local railway fares on mountain railways are high, because of the +great expense of keeping them open, but most of these railways offer +special sports tickets, either for a definite period as a season +ticket, or for a certain number of journeys. For instance, on the +Muottas Muraigl Funicular Railway above Pontresina 24 tickets single +journey can be obtained for the sum of Frs. 50, while the ordinary +single fare is Frs. 4.75, or more than twice the reduced fare. + +The cost of equipment must be added to the estimate, but this need not +be very great as Ski-ing boots and gloves are the only items which +cannot usually be used at home by men--trousers or breeches being an +additional cost for women. + +People sometimes complain that a Swiss winter holiday is very costly, +but I believe it can compare favourably with a golfing holiday at +home. Ski-ing is the cheapest possible sport, if runners are content +to foot it uphill instead of using railways or sledges. During the +months of February and March, special low terms can probably be +obtained in the hotels, as they are anxious to prolong their season, +and will do anything they can afford to induce British sportsmen to +come out then. February and the first half of March are the best time +from every point of view, so that no one who can take his holiday +then, and who does not want all the gaiety of the social side, will +regret going during these months. In old days before the war this was +fully appreciated and the season used to last three months, instead of +a short six weeks as it does now. + + + + +SKI-ING CENTRES + + +In this chapter I propose only to describe such of the larger Swiss +places as I know personally, or by reputation. There are a great many +smaller places where equally good, or even better, Ski-ing may be +found, but, as my book is meant mainly for beginners, it seems +preferable to adhere to the advice given in the preface, and for me to +mention only such centres as provide comfort in the hotels and good +coaching and organization of tours, as well as facilities for playing +other games. Most people when they go to the Alps for their first +winter visit wish to try all the different sports in order to see +which they like best, and there seems to me to be no question but that +the all-round sportsman gets the most out of his holiday. + +There may be days when Ski-ing is not possible or when a few hours on +the rink or toboggan run offer a relief to a stale Ski runner. It is +usually only the really keen enthusiast of some years' standing who +can spend the whole day waxing or oiling his Skis, or poring over a +map planning future runs. + +When choosing a place the first objective is a good supply of snow. +This does not seem to depend entirely on height, though there is more +likelihood of finding it above 4,000 feet than below that height. +Above 5,000 feet there is less chance of thaw and rain--the bugbears +of all Winter sportsmen, who can only go out for the Christmas +holidays. + +I have known a Winter when snow has lain in one district at 5,000 feet +and not at 6,000 feet in another, but this was exceptional. The higher +you go, the more hope you have of snow as a rule and also of frost, +which is so necessary to keep the snow in good condition. + +The centres I recommend are mainly arranged in groups geographically, +taking the Canton of Graubunden, or the Grisons first, because it is +the country I love best, having spent most of my early life there. The +heights are taken from Murray's Handbook. + +KLOSTERS, 3,970 feet above the sea. This seems to me to be one of the +very best Winter Sports centres. It is a small village with two large +and a few small hotels. It usually has good snow and is protected from +wind. There is plenty of sun, but North slopes provide good runs near +the village as well as on the Parsenn. + +The Rhaetische Railway helps runners to get the maximum of downhill +running for the minimum of climb, especially opening up the whole +Parsenn district to those who want a long day's tour with only some +1-1/2 hours' climb. + +The Nursery slopes are good, and there is plenty of open ground near +the hotels for practice. The Ski-ing is well organized by the local +club, and there are 1st-class Ski Instructors, as well as Certificated +Guides. + +The rinks are well kept and the Klosters run of old renown is +maintained in good condition for tobogganing or bobbing. + +There is quite a good Ski map to be obtained locally, but the Ordnance +Map should be used as well. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +DAVOS, 5,015 feet above the sea, was one of the first places at which +Winter sports began, and it still offers almost everything desired by +the Ski runner. The fact that Davos is much visited by invalids deters +a great many people from going there, for fear of infection. As a +matter of fact they are probably a good deal safer there than in some +other places where there may be a few invalids, but where the same +precautions regarding disinfection may not be taken. + +Two or three hotels are kept open for sports people only, and at these +the life is just the same as in all the other well-known centres. + +Davos is within very easy reach by the Rhaetische Railway of all the +Parsenn runs. The side valleys, Fluela, Dischma and Sertig, all offer +innumerable good runs to the energetic runner who does not object to +climbing, and there are endless Nursery slopes. It is one of the +few places whence tours can still be planned over almost unlimited +snow-fields when a track is a rare sight except on the few ordinary +short runs or on the Parsenn. + +The local club organizes the Ski-ing, and good Ski Instructors and +Guides are available. + +The rinks are excellent and the Schatzalp and Klosters runs are +maintained for bobbing and tobogganing. + +There is a good Ski map showing all the runs round Davos, but the +Ordnance Map should be used as well. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +AROSA, 5,643 feet above the sea, is said to be excellent for Ski-ing, +but I do not know it well. There is no railway to help runners much. +Invalids go there as well as to Davos, but the same precautions are +taken as at Davos. + +There are rinks and a very good run for bobbing and tobogganing. + +LENZERHEIDE, about 4,500 feet above the sea, has a fine reputation for +easy Ski-ing. There is no railway to help it and all uphill work has +to be done on Skis. I have never been there in Winter-time, but know +that a great many runners speak well of Lenzerheide. The Ski-ing is +organized, and good Instructors and Guides are available. + +There is probably a good rink, but of this I have no personal +knowledge. + +In the Engadine[1] valley, which is also part of Graubunden, the +following centres can be recommended. + +PONTRESINA, 5,916 feet above the sea. The Nursery slopes are very +extensive and offer short runs to the beginner. The Muottas Muraigl +funicular conveys runners up some 2,000 feet, when after an easy climb +of one hour a really good run may be obtained back to Pontresina. + +The Rhaetische and Bernina Railways open up a large number of good +runs in the Engadine valley and also up the Bernina and Morteratsch +districts. + +Open wood-running as well as glacier-running under safe conditions can +be enjoyed near home, and Pontresina is undoubtedly one of the best +places for people who want to perfect their cross-country running +under different conditions. + +There are no short afternoon runs ending in the village, but the +railways enable people to enjoy all the tours of the Upper Engadine. + +The longer tours, such as those over the Kesch Glacier to Bergün or +Davos, are unequalled so far as I know. + +Having spent two Winters at Pontresina, I can recommend it from +intimate knowledge, but only for the real beginner or for the expert +who wants amusing running. It is not the place for Ski-ers who only +want a short run between lunch and tea. + +First-class Guides and good Instructors are available. The Ski-ing is +organized and plenty of coaching is given to members of the Public +Schools Alpine Sports Club. + +Excellent rinks and short bobbing and tobogganing runs are maintained. + +A useful guide describing all the runs in the Upper Engadine can be +obtained locally. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +ST. MORITZ, 6,037 feet above the sea. +CELERINA, 5,750 " " " " +SAMADEN, 5,669 " " " " +are all served by the Rhaetische and Bernina Railway, and have the +same Ski-ing facilities as Pontresina. + +Their rinks and toboggan runs are well maintained, those at St. Moritz +being, of course, among the best in Switzerland. + +Good Guides and Ski Instructors are available, but, so far as I know, +Ski-ing is not in any way organized for beginners in these places. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +ZUOZ, 5,617 feet above the sea, is also a good Ski-ing centre further +down the Inn Valley. There are only two or three hotels, and the +village is quite unspoilt. It provides the most wonderful open South +slopes for Ski-ing and North slopes are also within reach across the +valley. + +Zuoz lies almost at the foot of the climb for the Kesch runs and also +taps the country further down the Inn valley behind Schuls. + +So far as I know the Ski-ing is not organized in any way, but Guides +are available. + +There are rinks, but, Zuoz being still one of the old-fashioned +places, life would be quiet there. + +CAMPFER, about 5,850 feet above the sea, and + +SILS-MARIA and SILVAPLANA, about 5,950 feet above the sea, lie +further up the Inn valley beyond St. Moritz. No railway exists to +help Ski runners, and the slopes are somewhat steep and apt to be +precipitous except in the Fex Thal, south of Sils-Maria, which has +lovely snow-fields. + +Campfer and Silvaplana tap the country lying behind the Julier Pass, +but, as no railway helps here, the tours entail a lot of climbing and +a drive on the way home. + +MALOJA, 5,935 feet above the sea, lies at the upper end of the Inn +valley. + +Never having been there in Winter, I cannot describe it during that +season. + +It is a beautiful place in Summer, and may open up a good deal of +country which is not much tracked, as there is no village and only one +large and two small hotels. + +The post road runs zigzagging down into Italy and is said to provide a +very fine bob or toboggan run. A Rink is kept open. Now that Maloja is +being opened as a Winter centre, every amenity for a Winter holiday +will probably be offered. + +The Bernese Oberland is also one of the best Ski-ing districts in +Switzerland. + +Mr. A. Lunn has produced a very helpful guide to all the Ski-ing tours +and also, with the help of Herr Gurtner, a first-class Ski-ing map, +using the Ordnance Map as its basis, so that only one map need be +carried. + +MÃœRREN, 5,368 feet above the sea, seems to me to be one of the very +best centres for beginners as they receive so much help, and there are +numbers of short runs aided by the Allmendhubel funicular which runs +up some 700 feet above the village. From the top of this several short +runs end in the village or on the Berner Oberland Railway, which +brings the tired novice home without much effort. + +The Berner Oberland and the Wengern Alp Railways also enable people to +get the best of the Scheidegg runs down to Wengen or Grindelwald. + +The Ski-ing is very highly organized at Mürren and beginners receive a +great deal of help and encouragement. + +There are Guides and Instructors. + +The Rinks and bob run are admittedly among the best in Switzerland. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +WENGEN, 4,187 feet above the sea, is a lovely place, with the most +beautiful view of the Jungfrau. It faces south, but provides two or +three nice home runs, which remain in good condition except for the +tracks of innumerable runners. + +The Wengern Alp Railway is usually open to the Scheidegg, though after +a very heavy snow-fall it may take a few days to clear. This enables +people to enjoy all the runs down to Grindelwald, returning to Wengen +by train. + +The Ski-ing is organized and there are good Guides and Instructors. +Rinks and a most amusing toboggan run provide for off-days. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +GRINDELWALD, 3,468 feet above the sea, is too well-known as a Summer +resort to need much description here. + +Its main fault in Winter is that the sun disappears behind a mountain +for about an hour and a half in the middle of the day. This ensures +perfect ice on the rinks and does not much affect the Ski runner, who +can climb beyond the shadow for lunch. I cannot resist mentioning my +good friend Frau Wolther's tea-shop as one of the great attractions at +Grindelwald, drawing many a Ski runner over the Scheidegg from Mürren +and Wengen! Frau Wolther's unfailing welcome and hospitality are a +great joy at the end of a hot, wet run, and the fact that a change of +clothes can be sent round by train to her care is a great comfort to +those coming from afar. + +There are plenty of short Ski runs above Grindelwald, and the +Scheidegg railway is kept open as far as Alpiglen to help with the +climb on a long day's tour. + +There are good Guides to be had, some of whom are probably Ski +Instructors. + +The Rinks are first-class and both bob and toboggan runs are kept up. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +LAUTERBRUNNEN, about 3,000 feet above the sea. People who know +Switzerland well may wonder why I include Lauterbrunnen in my list, +but I have often wondered equally why no one makes it a centre for +Ski-ing. Though the sun may not shine there for long hours, the fact +that it lies at the junction of the Berner Oberland Railway, the +Mürren Funicular and the Wengern Alp Railway seems to me to make it a +very possible Ski-ing centre. + +There are good hotels, and the Herr Gurtners, whose home Lauterbrunnen +is, may be depended upon as two of the best Ski runners in Switzerland +and two of the most active pushers of Ski-ing, to do their utmost to +help any British runners who decide to try Lauterbrunnen. + +All the Mürren, Wengen and Grindelwald runs are within easy reach of +Lauterbrunnen, and if the railways will sell special tickets, the cost +of the journeys should not be prohibitive. + +To my mind, the fact that one could stop at Lauterbrunnen after a day +over the Scheidegg would be a great comfort, as the last journey up +to Mürren or Wengen is apt to be tiresome after a long run, if often +repeated. + +In any case it seems to me that runners might do worse than write to +Herr Gurtner at Lauterbrunnen and ask for particulars, at any rate for +the Christmas holidays, when most of the popular villages are very +full and the hotel rates are high. + +Good Guides are available at Lauterbrunnen. + +KANDERSTEG, 3,835 feet above the sea. I have never been there except +in Summer when I know it well. + +One great attraction about Kandersteg is that it can be reached by a +through train from Calais or Boulogne. + +From the Ski-ing point of view, I think Kandersteg might be +disappointing to the runner who hopes for short runs. There are +excellent Nursery slopes, and the Loetschberg Railway probably opens +up quite a lot of country. + +Guides are obtainable. + +Rinks and toboggan runs are maintained. + +ADELBODEN, 4,450 feet above the sea, is said to be an excellent +Ski-ing centre, but I do not know it personally, having only just been +up there in Summer time. + +There is no railway to help, so that all climbing has to be done on +Skis. It is within reach of very good tours throughout the lower +Bernese mountains. + +The British Championship was held there in 1923, which shows that the +Ski-ing is organized, and good Guides are, no doubt, obtainable. + +Adelboden, being a well-known Winter Sports Centre, the rink and +toboggan runs are probably excellent, but, never having seen them, I +cannot vouch for them. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +SAANENMOSER, 4,209 feet above the sea, lies at the top of the low +pass between the Simmen Valley above Zweizimme and the Sarine Valley +running down to Gstaad and Chateau d'Oex. + +There is only the one Sports Hotel and no village. It is a most +charming place within reach of Ski-ing in all directions among the +lower Bernese mountains. + +The Montreux Oberland Railway running down both sides of the +Pass helps a little by carrying Ski runners home after some long +excursions, but all uphill work has to be done on Skis. The slopes +are gradual and the Saanenmoser runs are perfect for people who have +learnt the elements of Ski-ing in some active place, and who then want +to gain confidence by free running over easy country. + +The Ski-ing was not organized when I was at Saanenmoser in 1921, and +neither Guides nor Ski Instructors were obtainable. There was only a +tiny rink and no toboggan or bob runs. + +Skis can be hired at Gstaad. + +GSTAAD, about 3,800 feet above the sea, lies below Saanenmoser, and is +a large village with numbers of hotels. The Ski-ing is very much the +same as at Saanenmoser and the Railway serves the same purpose, only +helping runners a little. + +I have never stayed at Gstaad, but have heard it well spoken of as a +Winter Sports centre offering all the usual attractions. + +Skis can be hired locally, I believe, and Guides are obtainable. + + * * * * * + +The Rhone Valley offers a few centres which I do not know in Winter. +Among those I have heard most about, the following are outstanding. + +VILLARS, 4,000 feet above the sea, is reached by a railway from Bex. +It lies on slopes facing South, and I gather that the Ski-ing there is +somewhat limited. + +The rinks are said to be good and the usual Winter attractions are +offered. + +MONTANA, 5,000 feet above the sea, is reached by a funicular railway +from Sierre. Like Villars it also lies on slopes, facing almost south, +but there seems to be good Ski-ing among the mountains behind. + +MORGINS. In addition to the above, I would mention Morgins, which I do +not know personally, but of which I have heard a good deal. Morgins +is 4,406 feet above the sea, and is particularly well-known for its +rinks, which seem to be first-class. The Ski-ing is said to be good +but not extensive. There is no railway. + +DIABLERETS, 3,849 feet above the sea, in a valley going from Aigle +among the mountains to the East, might be a good centre for Ski-ing, +but I only know it in Summer. So far as I have heard it offers the +usual attractions in Winter, but there is no railway to help much. + +In other districts of Switzerland the following places should be +mentioned, although I have never been to them in Winter time. + +ENGELBERG, 3,343 feet above the sea, in the Stans valley near Luzern, +is often well spoken of as a Winter centre, though it is liable to +thaw and shortage of snow. From what I know of it in Summer time I +should think that most of the surrounding slopes are too steep and +precipitous to allow of much free running, but the Titlis group +probably provides some open country and there is a short funicular +above the village. + +There are excellent hotels, and all the usual attractions are offered. + +ANDERMATT, 4,738 feet above the sea, lies in the Gothard Valley above +the Tunnel, and is easily reached in Winter by express trains stopping +at Goeschinen, whence a short mountain railway runs up to Andermatt. + +I have only been there in Summer, and from what I saw should imagine +that Andermatt was subject to a great deal of wind. The slopes all +look somewhat steep and are bare of forest, so that they might be +somewhat dangerous on account of avalanches. + +There is no railway to help Ski runners, but Andermatt might offer +quite a lot of good runs to experienced people. + +I know nothing of the other attractions for the all-round Winter +sportsman, but have little doubt that Andermatt, which is a go-ahead +place, does all it can to satisfy them. + +There are, of course, innumerable other places which may be good +Ski-ing centres, not only in Switzerland, but also in Germany, +Austria, and the Italian Tyrol. + +The Jura mountains and places, such as Splugen and Schuls in +Graubunden, might open up new districts. There is much new country to +explore, and I have only picked out for notice the few places to which +I have been myself, or of which I have heard from people I trust. + +My description may not always be appreciated by people who have +special affection for any one centre, but I have only tried to put +forward my own impressions for the guidance of any beginner who may +feel in a quandary as to what place to choose. + +So much depends on weather conditions: if there is plenty of snow and +if the sun shines, almost every place is delightful. If, on the +other hand, a thaw settles in or fog descends on the mountains, or +a blizzard blows the snow about, or, worst of all, if rain falls, +reducing the snow to slush, nobody will be satisfied anywhere. Luckily +for Ski runners, even a few inches of wet snow will provide practice, +so that they suffer less than other Winter sportsmen when the weather +is unfavourable. + +One thing can invariably be depended upon in Switzerland, namely a +warm welcome from the hotels, and every endeavour made to ensure the +comfort and enjoyment of their clients. + +No country in the world lays itself out more for the satisfaction of +its visitors, and no holiday can beat a Winter holiday among the Alps +when the conditions are favourable and the sportsmen determined to +enjoy themselves. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: There is apt to be a certain amount of wind in the whole +Engadine but its height counterbalances this by usually ensuring that +there is not a thaw, even at Christmas time.] + + + + +CLOTHING + + +Clothing should be light, smooth, warm, loose and, when buttoned up, +it should leave no gaps. It is better to wear several thin, warm +garments than one thick one, for the simple reason that going uphill +one wants to peel to the minimum; sitting on top of a mountain or +ridge in a wind, one wants to pile on everything one possesses, and +going downhill one wants a medium amount, all of which will button up +so that the snow cannot penetrate inside. Ordinary country clothes +will usually suffice for the first season, especially if they are of +smooth material which will shake off the snow. + +Men usually wear smooth wool or cotton gaberdene coats, and trousers, +and a peaked "Guide's" cap. Their trousers either tuck inside the +uppers of their boots and should be sufficiently long to do so without +pulling out in a strained turn or fall, or they may be buttoned round +outside the boots or folded and tied on with Norwegian puttees or +swanks. Breeches and stockings may be worn, but long puttees should be +avoided as they constrict the muscles and stop the circulation, thus +tending to frost-bite, which is a serious danger at high altitudes. + +Sweaters, unless worn under a coat when practising or running +downhill, are quite unsuitable as the snow gets into the stitches and +then melts, and the sweater becomes a sponge and often stretches till +it is more like a woman's coat-frock than anything it was before! A +Ski-ing suit should be well provided with pockets, all of which should +have flaps to button over and keep the snow out. Also to keep the +contents in. Money and other things carried loose are apt to fall out +in a downhill fall. Once this winter, when getting up from a fall, I +saw what looked like a useful leather boot-lace lying in the snow. +I picked it up and found it was the bootlace attached to two +stop-watches, which I had been using for a test. As one cannot tie +one's money up with a boot-lace, it is wise to carry it safely, and +cheat the goatherds, who may surely make a profitable living out of +the various treasures lost by Ski-ers, which appear on the slopes +after the snow melts. + +Women need very much the same sort of clothing as men. Either trousers +or breeches, whichever they prefer. These should be made to measure in +order to fit well and be worn with braces to pull them up. Thick boys' +stockings should be worn to pull up over the breeches. If women would +only realize how sloppy their nether garments sometimes look and how +really horrid breeches look hanging loose over silk stockings indoors, +they would surely be more careful to study and copy a man's neat legs +before they venture into man's apparel. + +One sometimes sees women's coats made with innumerable fancy buttons +or tabs as decoration. These only add to the weight which no one would +want to carry, and also look out of place. So does fur trimming. +Ski-ing clothes cannot be too simple. Elaboration is easily obtained +by bright-coloured gloves, scarves or swanks. + +Coats should be made with a belt, which can be buckled tight before +the descent. A sitting fall in soft snow is apt to provide the runner +with a good dose of snow inside the coat. For the same reason breeches +and trousers should be cut somewhat high above the waist. + +Women need just as many pockets as men, and I strongly advise two +large side pockets and two smaller breast pockets outside the coat, as +well as two inside breast pockets--all with flaps to button over. + +A felt hat is now usually worn by women Ski runners, who find the brim +a comfort on sunny days, while it also protects the eyes when Ski-ing +through a blizzard. Incidentally it helps to prevent snow from going +down the neck in a head-first fall. A chin-strap may be required for +fast running. + +Boots are, perhaps, the most important part of a Ski runner's outfit. +They must be water-proof and large enough to hold two pairs of socks +in addition to stockings. The soles must be so stout that they will +not buckle or bend under the instep when the Ski binding is tight. +Heels must be low and should be slightly grooved at the back to hold +the binding. I have no hesitation in saying that most of the Ski-ing +boots sold in England prove to be unsatisfactory. Such firms as +Lillywhite and Fortnum & Mason, which make a study of suitable +equipment, may be trusted, and almost every Swiss bootmaker now sells +trustworthy boots for Ski-ing. I always buy my own boots from Och, +who has shops at Geneva, Montreux, Zürich and St. Moritz. They can be +relied on for at least two or three long seasons, if one is careful to +oil the uppers with boot oil occasionally, and never to oil the soles +except with linseed oil, which is said to harden them. On the whole, +however, the soles are safest left untouched. Boots should never be +dried on a radiator or by a fire. Personally I like hooks, rather than +eyelets, and I find that leather boot-laces last longer than others. + +There is much discussion as to whether Ski boots should have nails in +the soles or not. They tend to wear away the aluminium or linoleum +plates fixed to the Skis under the foot, but on the other hand they +are almost indispensable when Skis are carried across a hard, steep +slope, or down an icy path. It seems to me that it is positively +dangerous to go any real Ski tour with unnailed boots unless crampons +or spikes to fit on to the heels be carried. New plates can easily be +fitted to the Skis when nails have worn through them, but nothing can +help the Ski-er down a steep, icy path or across a hard frozen slope +on smooth soles, unless he carries special contrivances to fix to his +boots. + +People are now trying crepe rubber soles, but they are not solid +enough to bear the strain of tight bindings unless fixed to the usual +thick leather sole, when the whole becomes too thick for comfort. My +experience for several winters with beginners is that the soles of +most English boots buckle as soon as they are subjected to the tight +pull of a leather binding. + +Few things are more irritating to a beginner than to find that his +binding will not hold on his boot. Over and over again in a run down +his Ski comes off and he delays his party by having to stop and put +it on again. Still it will not hold even though he ties it on with +string. Then he realizes that his boot is buckling. The sole arches up +under the instep and the binding, becoming loose, slips off the heel. + +There is no cure for this, and the only solution is to use a toe +binding, such as the new B.B., or a solid binding such as the Ellessen +or Lilienfeld, instead of a heel binding. As most hired Skis have the +Huitfeldt heel binding it is essential to ensure that boots are of the +very best. + +Gloves are another very important item of clothing. They should be +waterproof. This is easy to say but very difficult to obtain. The +rub of the stick on the palm of the hand tends to sodden almost any +material. Snow also gets inside during a fall and then, of course, +even the waterproof glove comes home wet. The best gloves are paws +made of thick horse-hide and lined with wool. They should have long +gauntlets wide enough to pull up over the sleeves and they should be +joined by a string going round behind the neck, under the coat collar, +long enough to allow of free use of the hands, and this string should +have another string joining it across the chest. It is often necessary +to slip off a glove and if they are not safely hung round the neck +they fall in the snow, which promptly runs inside, or they may be +dropped and lost. + +Socks are a matter for individual choice. Some people like goat's-hair +socks, which have many of the qualities or disqualities of a hair +shirt. They are prickly and, therefore, perfect as a counter-irritant +under very cold conditions, but far too irritating for ordinary wear. +I was much amused in a London shop last winter when I heard a Ski-ing +expert advising a lady not to buy "those repulsive goat's-hair socks." +When she had bought what he advised I said I had come especially to +buy "a repulsive pair of socks." He immediately explained that he had +advised the lady not to get them because they only had two pairs left, +and he did not want to sell them. He let me have a pair, and the +only time I wore them I thought with amusement of his advice and +explanation. The lady was undoubtedly well out of them, and I hope +never to use them again. Some people swear by them, so all tastes must +be allowed for. + +It seems to me better to wear two thin pairs of socks in addition to +stockings, rather than one pair of thick socks. If these seem to fill +the toes of the boot too much, the toe part of one pair of socks can +be cut off, the remainder being worn as an anklet. + +Swanks, or Norwegian puttees, may be used to tie the socks above +or over the boot so as to prevent the snow from getting inside. Or +shooting anklets may also be used, granted that they are large enough +to go over the wide uppers of a Ski boot as well as the socks. + +Footgear for Ski-ing is not elegant, but as every one wears the same, +nobody need feel shy. It is another reason for buying in Switzerland. +Ski boots of the right size bought in a London shop look so Gargantuan +that people will often insist on having a smaller pair than is really +useful when the time comes to wear them. + +Spare clothing should invariably be carried on any run beyond the +nursery slopes as, in case of an accident and delay in fetching help, +a runner who is hurt may be badly frost-bitten. This, of course, only +applies to high places during the months of December, January and +early February, when the thermometer may often register 32° of frost +or more after the sun goes down. + +When choosing equipment it is wise, therefore, to remember spare +clothing, which should include a Cardigan or Jersey, a dry pair of +woollen gloves, a dry pair of socks or stockings, a warm cap of some +sort to cover the ears and a scarf. All these should be chosen for +a combination of warmth and lightness. A wind-jacket is often +recommended. Some people carry a thin silk, or oil silk, or even +chamois leather, or paper waistcoat, to put on under their coats +when a wind blows. This is not necessary for any but long tours in +midwinter. A very useful "sail-cloth coat" specially made for Ski-ing +can be bought in most Swiss sports-shops and is excellent. + +The great thing to remember about clothing for Ski-ing is that +climbing uphill you will probably get very hot and perspire freely. +To stop in a biting wind in this condition without putting on spare +clothing is obviously risky. It is difficult to ski freely in heavy +thick clothes, so that everything should be warm and loose and made of +wool except, perhaps, the wind-jacket or the Swiss coat, which can be +worn over a sweater. + +Cotton or linen underclothing will probably soon be discarded, but +this is a personal matter, and need not be dealt with here. + + + + +EQUIPMENT + + +The minimum amount of equipment should be purchased before going out. +The Swiss shops are just as well provided with Ski-ing necessities as +the British and it is expensive to take out heavy luggage. Most Swiss +hotels will gladly store Skis or gear of any kind through the Summer, +and these can be posted or forwarded by rail to any place the runner +chooses for the following season. + +Clothing has been dealt with in a former chapter. Here I propose to +describe the equipment which I know, from experience, to be useful. + +Skis can be bought in England or in Switzerland. One or two English +firms, such as Lillywhite, which really take pains to obtain the best +possible quality of goods, may be trusted to provide Norwegian Skis, +but there are also several makers of good Skis in Switzerland. Skis +should be made either of hickory or ash. Other woods such as birch and +walnut have been tried but these do not appear to make as satisfactory +Skis as hickory or ash. Hickory is heavy so that the beginner will +do well to get ash Skis in the first instance. Their average length +should be the height of the Runner with his arm extended above his +head, the tip of the Ski when standing upright being in the palm of +his hand and his fingers just able to bend over it. When the novice +becomes more proficient, he may like to try longer or shorter Skis, +but the average length is best to begin with. + +Good makers, such as Bjornsted in Bern or Staub at Zurich, may be +trusted to make their Skis right proportionately, and the buyer need +not worry about their width or depth so long as the length is right. +There is a great deal of difference in the line of a Ski, as there is +in a boat. Flat ones are ugly compared with those which hump along +the centre, but they are also lighter. It seems to me wise for the +beginner to hire his first Skis, rather than to buy them. Most of the +sports shops in the different centres are very obliging and will allow +their clients to try two or three pairs of Skis in order to experience +the difference between them. + +They should not curve up too abruptly in front and they should be +about one inch apart in the centre when laid flat one against the +other. This spring adds greatly to the comfort of running and should +be maintained by the Ski having a block of wood between them when put +away for the Summer or even when laid by for two or three days. + +The question of binding is a very serious one. Broadly there are three +different types: + + (1) Toe bindings, by which only the toe of the + boot is attached to the Ski. + + (2) Solid binding with a sole attached to the + Ski. + + (3) Leather heel bindings. + +(1) I have tried two forms of toe bindings--the B.B. and the B.B.B. +and gave them up for the following reasons. Firstly, I think it a +dangerous binding. There is practically no give at all so that in a +bad fall when the foot is twisted under one, if the Ski does not move +the leg has to give way and may be broken. I think surgeons agree that +there are more accidents as a result of wearing a B.B. binding than +any other--so that it seems to me much better to start with another +type of binding and then go into the B.B. later if preferred. Another +drawback is that as the whole pivotal pressure in a turn is borne by +the toe iron, when a B.B. binding is worn, the toe irons are always +being forced open. Not only that, but the spring on the Ski which +holds the hook on the boot is so strong that it tends to pull the boot +through the toe irons, so that gradually the boot gets longer and more +pointed and the spring no longer holds. + +All this criticism may be due to prejudice on my part, but I have +tried the B.B. with enthusiasm and only gave it up because I was +convinced that a heel binding was more satisfactory. Since I tried it, +two or three new forms of toe binding have been put on the market, the +simplest of which seems to me to be the Davos form, which is merely a +strap fixed to the Ski with an iron loop at the end to fit into the +hook on the boot and an ordinary Huitfeldt spring buckle to fix it +firmly. + +(2) Solid bindings. The commonest forms of these are the Ellesen, +Lilienfeld and Bilgeri, but as I have never tried any of them, I can +say nothing about them. + +(3) Heel bindings. There are two main forms of these--the Lap thong +and the Huitfeldt. The Lap thong is merely a long strap of raw hide or +leather. A loop is drawn through the hole under the toe iron, the long +end is taken round the heel and through the loop, then back round the +heel and through a slit in the other or short end. The long end is +then carried under the foot and round the instep and finally tied off +with a knot. This has been improved upon by a ring and buckle being +added to save slitting the leather or knotting the ends. + +The Huitfeldt binding is a thick double-leather strap, which buckles +round the whole foot and has a strong spring to pull it taut when the +binding has been slipped on to the heel. This is the usual binding on +hired Skis. + +I have tried both these bindings, and now wear a Scheer binding, which +is a combination of the two--the long Lap thong with buckles and also +a spring similar to the one tightening a Huitfeldt binding. The chief +drawback to a Lap binding was that it took time to put on so that +fingers got very cold and clumsy when fitting it before a run down +from a height. The trouble about a Huitfeldt binding is that it is +thick and clumsy and the buckles stick out so that they catch in the +snow when running. + +The Scheer binding avoids these drawbacks. It is put on just as easily +as a Huitfeldt and the thin thong lies so closely along the boot that +there is nothing to catch in the snow. It is very easily lengthened or +shortened when the leather contracts or stretches and this is also +a great comfort. This binding being new, may not yet be obtainable +everywhere, but it is well worth trying to get. The Huitfeldt and +Scheer bindings both tend to give a little in a strained fall, so that +the foot slips round and the leg is usually saved. + +Toe irons pass through the Ski under the toes and come up either side +to hold the foot in place. They should be carefully fitted and, with a +view to this, the boots should be left overnight with the sports shop +and the Skis fetched next day. The boot should lie quite straight +along the Ski. If the toe irons do not fit properly, the boot will be +cock-eye on the Ski, and too much free play may take place. I have +often seen beginners take advantage of this to stick their heels out +and off the Ski into the snow to help them uphill, or to act as a +brake downhill. They will rue it downhill, however, as the foot should +be firmly held on the Ski or control will be impossible. + +Toe irons are sometimes made of very soft metal. These are usually +attached to Skis hired out by the sports shops in order that they may +be easily fitted to the many different shaped feet of the hirers. When +getting toe irons fitted to one's own Skis, it is wise to ask for +strong ones, as the soft irons give too freely to the pivotal action +of the feet in turns and tend to be constantly opening and becoming +loose. + +Cast-iron toe irons are often used in conjunction with toe bindings in +order to avoid the difficulty of the irons being forced open by the +boot being pulled through by the spring. These irons have one great +fault. They have to be screwed on to the Ski and are very cold under +the foot. This may be considered imagination, but I believe it to be +true, in which case it may be prejudice. + +The toe irons are joined over the toes by a leather toe-strap pulled +through and buckled. The irons should be so high that this strap does +not press at all on the boot, or restrict the free play of the toes. +The whole binding should be so fitted that it is possible to kneel +down on one's Skis. + +Foot plates are nailed on the Ski under the foot. These are usually +made of linoleum or aluminium. I prefer a thick plain aluminium plate, +and find that the snow does not stick to it. + +When the Skis have been chosen, sticks have to be provided. A pair +of sticks should be used, one being carried in each hand. They are +usually made of hazel or bamboo. The latter are light, but tend to +split. I always use hazel, which are cheaper and very satisfactory. + +Sticks should be so long that they reach to just above the waist and +should not be very heavy though strong sticks are necessary for all +real touring. They should have padded leather knobs at the tops, +as these prevent the stick from slipping out of the hand and being +dropped during a run, as well as saving the hand from blisters when +the stick is much used in practising lifted stem or jump turns. Wooden +knobs are often used but these tend to get coated with ice, which wets +the glove and is uncomfortable. + +A leather or webbing thong is passed through the stick or nailed under +the knob as a loop to hang them up by, but should never be put round +the wrist except for uphill work as the wrist might easily be broken +in a bad fall, if the stick be attached to it. My great idea is to get +rid of my sticks in a fall, as I once impaled my leg on the spike of +my stick in a somersault. I was thankful that the spike was a short +one and not one of the newfangled aluminium spikes which would have +penetrated much further and might easily have done damage to the bone. +Only a short spike is necessary--just long enough to go into crusted +snow and hold. + +The discs round the bottom of sticks should be large, about seven +inches in diameter, and they should be loose so that they will lie +flat with the Ski when packed. I prefer them put on with a thong which +passes through the stick and is crossed backwards and forwards across +the disc, allowing of plenty of free play in the disc. By this means, +the thong does not cut where it passes through the stick. Discs are +often made almost solid and then fixed to the stick with an iron hasp, +which is apt to snap or to split the stick. + +Sticks hired out with Skis usually have small discs and no knobs, and +most beginners will soon wish to possess their own pair, which only +cost about twelve francs. A word of advice here. Keep your sticks +in your bedroom. Even in the best Ski-ing circles sticks sometimes +disappear--and once your own sticks go, you are tempted to take +anybody else's and so the mischief goes on! + +The Rucksack is a very important item of equipment It should be +waterproof and large, even if you do not intend to carry much. Nothing +is more uncomfortable than a small full Rucksack, perching like a +football on one's back. By the time a packed lunch and a cardigan +as well as some spare gear is stuffed into the sack, it swells. Two +outside pockets and one large inside division are indispensable. Keep +wax, scraper, string, etc., in one outside pocket ready to hand. Map +in the other. + +Leather shoulder straps are the best as they do not cut the shoulder +in the same way as webbing. I once hunted a great many London shops in +vain for a Rucksack with leather shoulder straps. They all had thin +webbing, which soon turns into a wisp and hurts the muscles of the +shoulder. The leather straps should finish on a ring at the top which +should be attached to the top of the Rucksack by a leather tab firmly +sewn on. This is a much safer system than running the string, which +pulls up the top of the sack, through the shoulder straps at the back, +because the pull on the string chafes it and gradually cuts through +it. Some experienced runners prefer the Bergans Rucksack on an +aluminium frame. It is unquestionably heavier than the ordinary sack, +but the frame resting on the hips helps to distribute the weight and +it is said to be less tiring to carry. Another joy about it is that +the frame keeps the sack off the back, so that there is an air space, +and the usual poultice effect of an ordinary Rucksack is avoided. + +There are many different types of Rucksack to be had in Switzerland. +They should be waterproof and as the waterproof material is very +expensive now, a good serviceable sack costs at least Frs. 17.00 to +25.00. The better Rucksacks have straps fixed outside for carrying +one's coat or possibly sealskins. (Sohms skins should be carried +inside the sack.) I advise people to carry the various contents of +their sacks in different bags, or tied up in handkerchiefs. This may +sound old-maidish, but it is a trick I learnt from Swiss climbers and +I am very thankful. Anyone who has hurriedly searched his sack for +some particular bit of gear knows the sort of haystack which results, +while if first-aid equipment, sealskins, spare bindings, emergency +rations, mending outfit, etc., are all carried in separate, +differently coloured bundles inside the sack, endless time is saved. +This is particularly worth considering in a blizzard, when fingers are +cold and nothing can be found. + +Skins are used for climbing uphill on tour. They consist of long +strips of sealskin, which are attached to the running surface of the +Skis. The hairs lying towards the back of the Ski catch in the snow +and prevent the Skis from slipping backwards, which is a great help +and saving of energy. The Skis can be kept in good slipping condition +with oil or wax, and when the skins are taken off at the top of a run, +very little further preparation is necessary. + +There are two forms of sealskins: + +(1) Sohms skins, which are attached to the Skis with wax. + +(2) Those made up on canvas with straps to fix them to the Skis. + +The latter can usually be hired by the day for about Frs. 3.00 from +the local sports shop, and cost about Frs. 20.00 to buy. Most runners +now use the Sohms skins, the great gain being that one can run +downhill almost as well when they are still on, so that on a tour with +one or two short descents _en route_, the Skis may be left on. + +Waxes are of many kinds, and some runners, not content with what they +buy, prefer to mix their own. + +The waxes most used in Switzerland are Skiolin, both hard and soft, +Sohms' with red, yellow or green label, and Parafine. + +I have found that hard Skiolin ironed into the running surface of +the Ski with a hot iron, provides a good surface. Sohms' wax being a +climbing wax is apt to stick to some kinds of snow and if Sohms' skins +have been used, it is wise to scrape all this wax off before the run +down and to polish the Ski with Parafine wax if it needs a finish. On +hard snow this is not necessary. + +Some waxes are used as climbing wax instead of skins, but as different +sorts are needed for different types of snow, they complicate life +almost more than is worth while. + +A very good permanent surface on Skis is obtained by oiling them +repeatedly with linseed oil, allowing them to dry thoroughly between +each coat of oil. This is a somewhat lengthy process and an impossible +one if the Skis are in daily use, but it is much the best method at +the beginning or end of the season. + +The best Sohms' skins are dark grey or black and they cost about Frs. +25. The leather surface should be carefully waxed with green label +Sohms' wax before starting on an expedition. The wax should be +very thinly spread, and it is wise to get this job done at leisure +overnight and to lay the skins together with their waxed surfaces +touching, and to keep them in a warm room, but not near a heater or +stove. + +When starting on an excursion wear the skins wound round your body +under your coat so that they remain warm and supple until required. +Then wax the running surfaces of the Skis with yellow label Sohms' wax +as sparingly as possible. It should be spread smoothly and without +lumps. When putting on the skins lay them along the Skis from the tip +towards the back and run your thumb down the line of the centre groove +in the Ski, while you press the skin on evenly over the whole Ski. + +New skins are apt to shrink after use, so it is better not to cut the +strap, which slips over the tip of the Ski. The best plan is to make +a second slit in this strap and slip it on, and then if the skin is +still too long turn the end part up over the Ski at the back, sticking +it on with wax. Then, when the skins have been used for two or three +days, it is easier to decide what length the strap should be. + +Having put your skins on, lay the Skis flat on the snow so that the +skins will freeze on. + +Sealskins must never be dried by a heater or stove as the heat +shrivels them and they are ruined. + +When not in use, they can be kept rolled up in a bag and should be +carried in the Rucksack rather than hanging on outside. Frozen skins +are very difficult to attach. + +A scraper should invariably be carried when Ski-ing, even on the +Nursery slopes. These are made of aluminium and the best type has a +groove which will fit into the groove of the Ski and scrape this as +well as the flat surface, as ice is apt to adhere there also. Some +runners carry, attached to their belt, a Norwegian hunting knife in +its case. This is excellent for scraping the Skis and for any purpose +for which a strong knife may be wanted, but it always seems to me that +it would be a nasty thing to fall on. + +A strong ordinary knife should invariably be carried. The Swiss +military knife is the best possible as it seems to include practically +everything necessary. A really good one costs about Frs. 12.00 or Frs. +14.00, though inferior steel may be had for a great deal less. It +should have a ring and be attached to the belt. + +Dark spectacles or goggles should be included in equipment. + +A mending outfit is often needed, and at least one member of every +party going on tour should carry something with which to mend broken +Skis. There are many patterns of spare Ski tip on the market, all of +which may be useful in certain circumstances, but I have no doubt that +the wooden Ski tip is the best. It is just an ordinary front part of a +Ski, about two feet long and planed off, so that it will lie close to +the broken Ski. This is fixed on by metal clamps, which are made on +purpose and can be bought in most winter sports shops. Holes, at +different intervals fitting the clamps which should be put on +lengthwise, may be bored beforehand in the Ski tip, in order to save +time when the tip may be needed on tour. The gimlet supplied with the +clamps is usually a poor one, and I always carry a spare gimlet, a +little larger than is necessary, as it is difficult to make the holes +in exactly the right place in a broken Ski. Cold and clumsy hands have +always to be reckoned with when Ski-ing. + +The clamps being somewhat roughly made are apt to break so that one +should carry at least five pairs. In putting them on, take care not to +drop the little square nut off the bolt into powder snow as it sinks +at once and may be irretrievably lost. + +Other makes of spare Ski tips include one made of cast aluminium +produced by Lillywhite, who will probably improve upon it, as at +present it seems to me to be too flat. The method of fixing it is, +however, a good one. + +The Swiss sports shops also keep light tips made of tin and copper, +which are affixed by various methods, but they are usually too short +and thin to be more than a makeshift. + +If a Ski is broken near the front, the wooden Ski tip, when properly +adjusted enables one to run any distance quite comfortably and even +permits of turns. It is clumsy to carry except in a Bergans Rucksack. +A long, narrow pocket might be sewn diagonally across the back of an +ordinary Rucksack in which to carry it, but I am afraid it would be +uncomfortable. I tried such a pocket vertically and found it quite +intolerable and even dangerous in some falls. + +Mending outfit must also include a spare binding and a toe strap, +as well as some string and cord, wire, and two or three leather +boot-laces. The best spare binding to carry is a Lap thong, as it is +easier to push through than a Huitfeldt, unless a thin single strap is +carried for the front part of the latter. In any case a bit of wire +facilitates the pulling through of the thong or strap. + +An inexperienced runner, who has not used a Lap thong, should try +fitting one at home before depending on it in emergency, as it is a +little tricky to put on at first. + +Runners going any distance on tour should carry some sort of first-aid +equipment. It need not be elaborate, but should include bandages, a +clean dressing (a first field dressing is the best and most compact), +iodine and adhesive plaster, and some vaseline or boracic ointment. +Even a scratch will go on bleeding on a cold day and be very tiresome. +Accidents are miraculously few and far between in Ski-ing, considering +the falls and the large number of people who ski. But they happen +occasionally, and it is as well to be prepared. + +The list of gear could be prolonged to any extent, as "What to carry +in my Rucksack" becomes an enthralling hobby. Everyone will eventually +decide what he thinks he ought to have, in order to come home with a +free conscience after any eventuality. Another runner has suggested +my adding a pair of small pincers, a pocket tool outfit, matches or +fusees, an electric torch, scissors. + +Weight has to be considered, as the more the Ski runner carries the +greater the effort, but there is undoubtedly great satisfaction +in feeling that one has everything which might be helpful in any +emergency. If three or four runners are going together the whole gear +can be distributed among them, but this makes it more necessary than +ever for the party to keep together as a spare Ski tip or similar +luxury is no use at the bottom of a run when the accident is near the +top. + +Even if one does not need all the gear oneself, it seems better to be +prepared to help other people who are in difficulties. + +The following lists show firstly what I think every runner going +several miles beyond home ought to carry; and secondly what a great +many runners carry in addition: + +(1) A strong knife with corkscrew, leather punch, tin opener, etc. + +(2) A Ski tip, gimlet and mending outfit. + +(3) Wire. + +(4) String and cord. + +(5) Spare binding and toe strap. + +(6) Dark yellow glasses (Triplex are safest). + +(7) Siren or strong whistle. + +(8) Emergency ration of some sort, such as chocolate, raisins, dates. + +(9) Spare clothing including cardigan or sweater, dry gloves, dry +socks, scarf, cap to cover ears. + +(10) First-aid equipment. + +(11) Map. + +(12) Wax and scraper. + +Some runners carry all these things and the following besides: + +Matches, lantern (folding), or electric torch, aneroid, compass, +pincers, hammer, brandy, thermos with some hot drink. + +A great many people will laugh at me for suggesting all this gear, but +I do so out of experience. When one has ski-ed some years with a good +many people, one looks back with amusement to the number of times when +one has been asked to provide any of the above. + +People go out without spare clothing, food, first-aid equipment, +repair outfit. Something happens, and they at once look round to see +where they can borrow. Now borrowing is not part of the game and every +runner should be independent. It is easy when going on tour, to divide +up the gear so that every member of the party carries his share; it is +not necessary for each member to carry the whole of what I have shown. +Let each carry enough to feel self-reliant, and let the party carry +enough not only for their own needs, but also for any other runner in +distress whom they may come across. Ski-ing should be an unselfish +sport. + +At a certain centre one Winter, word was brought in at about 3.30 p.m. +by a member of a party of three that one of his companions was lying +in the forest about a mile away with a badly broken leg. Three runners +dashed off from the Nursery slopes with the man who brought the news, +to show them the way. I posted a friend to watch where they entered +the wood, while two other strong runners fetched clothing and hot +drinks in a thermos. Somebody else called up the Rettung chef and the +doctor. All this help was mobilized within an hour. + +Meanwhile the man was lying in the snow in the wood with a badly +broken lower leg. The sun had set and the temperature very low. +Not one of the party had any spare clothing or gear of any sort. A +sensible man, who had been one of the first three to go off from the +slopes told me afterwards that if hot drink and clothing had not come +soon, he was convinced that the man would have died. As it was he was +nearly unconscious and his pulse had nearly stopped. + +Dark came on and the doctor and the ambulance sledge did not arrive. +Instead of going the way the others had disappeared, they tried a +route they thought easier and took too high a line in the forest. +The trees muffled sound, and though both parties were shouting and +whistling, they heard nothing till at about 6.30 p.m. one of the +watchers heard a runner near and went off after him in the dark and +luckily found him. This man was scouting for the doctor and sledge and +finally brought them to the scene of the accident at 7 p.m. + +By this time some one or two of the watchers had gone home nearly +frozen, leaving all possible clothing on the injured man. Three others +stayed and rubbed him without intermission, which probably saved his +life and limbs. The doctor had brought a splint which he put on by +light of an electric torch and the man was taken to the station and +sent off at once to the hospital. + +Now, all this happened within a mile of home where help was handy. +Such accidents happening several miles from home may have far more +serious consequences, and every Ski runner, who scoffs at the +precautions of people more fussy than themselves, may very likely have +the life or limb of someone else on their mind when, had they been a +little more fussy, they might have saved it. + +Not only that, the selfish runner, who travels light, may well be a +serious burden to others and risk their safety and comfort through his +own foolhardiness. + +Ski-ing is a game which sorts people out, and where the character of +people like sailors, who know what it is to face the elements, shows +up well against the civilian, whose greatest risk in life at home is +crossing a street at a busy hour. + +People may ski for years without getting hurt, and the experienced +runner probably hurts himself less than the beginner. Yet it is the +experienced runner who carries the gear, the beginner it is who +usually scoffs and takes risks, not only to himself, but to the people +who have to go out to look for him when he is benighted or hurt. + + + + +CARE OF EQUIPMENT + + +Skis call for a good deal of attention if one takes the game +seriously. People who only come out for a fortnight and who hire any +pair of Skis, which they treat as they would the floor of an omnibus, +have no appreciation of how much attention Skis need, if they are to +be really dependable in all sorts of snow. + +New Skis should be well-oiled with two or three coats of Linseed oil, +which should dry between each coat. I think hickory needs the oil just +as much as ash, but some people disagree with this. The oil hardly +goes beyond the surface of the wood and soon rubs off on hard snow, +but it preserves the wood as well as giving a slipping surface so +long as it lasts. Newly oiled Skis when dry need very little further +attention for a few days, as they will run well over all sorts of +snow. + +When there is no time to oil, because the Skis are in daily use, wax +can be ironed in. Most good sports hotels now provide a bench with +an electric iron in a special heated and lighted room where the +Ski-runner can work happily after tea, or on a snowy day. If no such +room be provided, it should be clamoured for, because the waxing of +Skis is a much more difficult job without it. The patent iron "Para" +is helpful where no electric iron is provided. "Para" is an oblong +perforated metal box with a handle which screws in. A lump of Meta +(solid spirit fuel) is lighted and put inside and the iron becomes hot +and is rubbed up and down the Ski, while wax is pressed against it and +dribbled on to the wood. + +Almost any wax can be ironed in, but I think the hard black "Skiolin" +is best for the purpose. Be careful to wax the groove as well as the +flat surface of the Ski. + +When Skis are put away for the summer, the upper as well as the +running surfaces should be oiled or re-varnished in order to preserve +the wood. + +Leather bindings may be well oiled with special boot oil to keep them +supple. + +Skis should never be kept in a hot place, as they are apt to warp, but +they should be kept dry when put away. + +Boots should never be dried by a fire or on a heater, but should be +stored in a cool place. They need occasional oiling of the uppers with +some sort of boot oil. Dubbin may also be used and is good for filling +places, such as between the sole and the upper. The soles should never +be oiled, except perhaps with Linseed oil, which hardens the leather. +I think the wisest plan is to leave the soles dry, but if snow balls +on them they can be waxed with Ski wax. This is often specially +necessary on the heel. If boots be put outside the bedroom every +night, the porter will oil them automatically, in most good hotels. + +Sealskins should be wrapped up in newspaper and stored in a cool place +when put away. Moth will ruin them if left open and heat crumples +them, making them useless. A friend told me that when her seal Skis +(webbing ones) were ruined by being put near a fire, she recovered +them by soaking them in salad oil. She was certainly using them quite +happily afterwards. + + + + +THE ELEMENTS OF SKI-ING + + +This book does not profess to be in any way a textbook of the +technique of Ski-ing. As stated in the preface, my only idea in +writing it is to provide an answer to a good many questions which have +been asked me every year. Anyone who deals with a great many people +knows that there are always some fifty stock questions, which can +quite easily be answered by fifty stock answers. What I say in this +chapter about the first run will be the barest elements of Ski +running. + +Beginners should obtain either Arnold Lunn's books, or those of Vivien +Caulfield, and concentrate on the theory of turns. I have known two +or three novices who, though they had never even seen Skis before, by +dint of studying the technique in theory before they came out, were +able immediately to apply it in practice. Most beginners find, +however, that the moment the Skis start sliding, all theory is thrown +to the winds. Instinct of self-preservation prevails and they sit +down. Kind friends looking on say, "That was because you were leaning +backwards. You must lean forwards." Off they start again, carry out +the advice, their Skis stick for some reason and down they go head +foremost--the most difficult fall of all to get up from, and the most +aggravating. + +The great thing is not to do too much the first two days after coming +out. The height affects people more than they realize at first, and +great energy, due to the bracing air, is often followed by great +lassitude. Most people are not in training, and Ski-ing tries the +lungs, nerves, and muscles of the fittest as the whole system seems to +be brought into play. + +A few hours' practice on the Nursery slopes is usually enough for the +first two or three days, and if, at the end of the week, the beginner +seems to be falling more than when he first began, half or even a +whole day off Skis will produce wonderful results in better balance +and general fitness. + +Having chosen Skis, and ensured that the toe irons and binding fit +you, go out to some gentle slope of about 10° with soft snow, if +possible. + +Set your Skis at right angles to, or across, the fall of the slope +before putting them on, because Skis are quite apt to go off alone if +pointing down, hill. It is as well to realize this from the first and +to adopt the habit of preventing it in the way I suggest, because many +a run has been ruined by a Ski descending alone to the valley below, +leaving its owner to get home as best he can on one leg. Even if it +only goes down some 100 or 200 feet, the friend who goes after it and +brings it back often has a good deal to say, and you are lucky if the +Ski has not struck a rock or tree and got broken in its independent +run. It is no good getting angry on these occasions. I once watched a +boy on a distant slope, who had been obliged to descend some hundreds +of feet after one of his Skis. When he got hold of it in a temper he +started beating it with his stick, and continued doing so till the +stick nearly broke. + +While on the subject of runaway Skis, I may as well warn you also +against a runaway Rucksack. I put mine down at my feet on a steep +hard-crusted slope while I took off my coat one day, and the Rucksack +started sliding slowly down below us. The party was made up of +beginners and we had ropes on our Skis instead of skins so that no +one could catch it up till it stopped about 200 feet below us. To add +insult to injury at the same time, somebody dropped a 50-ct. bit at +the same moment and this danced off down into the valley, racing the +Rucksack and beating it hollow. + +But to return to the start. The Skis are safely lying across the +slope, and you are going to put them on. Put on the lower one first. +Never forget this, because it will often prevent a runaway Ski. If the +slope is very steep and hard, you should stick the other Ski upright +in the snow above you, in order that it may remain well in hand while +you put on the first. You will probably find it impossible to put on +your Skis with gloves on. If you lay these on the snow, they will +undoubtedly get snow inside them. The safest place to put them is one +on each stick, stuck upright on either side of you, or tuck them into +your belt or pockets. + +When you have your Skis and gloves on and everything else is +hermetically sealed, you are ready to start sliding or traversing +slowly across the slope, before going straight down it. This will give +you time to get the feeling of Skis, which are clumsy at first. Slide +one foot forward, then the other, but do not lift them. Now try a kick +turn and come back across the slopes to the top and face straight +downhill. Keep your Skis closely side by side, one foot leading by +about twelve inches and push yourself off with your sticks. Try to +imagine that the Skis are only a moving staircase and that all you +have to do is to stand upright on them and let them do the rest. If +your slope is only 10° and there is nothing steeper below you, the +Skis won't do much. Indeed in deep snow they may refuse to move at +all, in which case try pushing yourself along with your sticks. The +great thing is always to want to run faster than you are going and, +therefore, only to choose slopes where you feel that you can keep up +as fast as the Skis go. It is a mistake to start immediately down such +a steep slope that the Skis run away with you. At the same time it is +also a mistake not to increase the angle of your slope as soon as you +can compete with it. + +Stand upright, press the knees together and try to feel that there is +a spring in your knees. Let one or other foot lead so that, if the +Skis stop, the front foot takes your weight and prevents you plunging +forwards and if the Skis suddenly plunge forward, the back foot is +equally ready to take the weight and prevents you from sitting down. + +Whatever you do, avoid the hideous doubled-up position of a runner, +who bends at waist and knees, with feet parallel and far apart, +looking like a note of interrogation and leaving what we call +tram-line tracks. By his tracks shall a Ski-er be judged! + +Look back and see the line you have left. If your two feet have left +two tracks with more than six inches apart in soft snow, you must not +be contented. In a good track, the two feet should leave one track, +but some bindings make this impossible, so that unless you are wearing +a toe binding you need not worry about a gap of two or three inches +between your feet. This only applies to soft snow running. On hard or +crusty snow, it is almost impossible and also dangerous to keep the +feet together. + +When you have begun to feel at home on Skis, go off to a much steeper +slope and try traversing. Choose a slope which has flattish ground +below so that you have an easy out-run and nothing to make you +nervous. + +Remember for your comfort that if you go across a slope leading +with the upper foot and with most of your weight on the lower +foot--standing upright and, if anything, leaning a little outwards +away from the slope, you can traverse across almost any slope without +difficulty, so long as it is not too steep for the snow to bear your +weight without slipping itself. Nothing is more comforting to a +beginner than to realize this. It takes away the feeling of giddiness +and gives confidence, but it needs learning and should be practised at +once. + +The first tendency of Skis on a steepish slope is to point more and +more downhill till, finally having intimidated the beginner into +allowing them to go their own way, they plunge straight down, and the +beginner collapses. To counteract this put more weight on the heel and +less on the toes while traversing. + +This will push the back part of the Skis down and the front part +uphill across the slope and, if done sufficiently, the Skis will stop +and you have begun to get some feeling of control when traversing. + +Standing upright the inner edge of your Skis will bite into the snow. +Try leaning inwards, as you will do by instinct, and you will find +your feet slipping away down the slope and you will gracefully recline +full length against it. It is exactly the same when walking across +a steep grass slope in Summer. Most of the slips are due to leaning +towards instead of away from the slopes. + +As you get more confidence in your running, try lifting one Ski off +the ground as you slide along. Or even take off one Ski and try +running on the other; lifting a Ski will often save a fall. For +instance if the Skis get crossed, just lift the upper one and put it +down beside the other again while running. It is perfectly easy and +yet I have known people who, after weeks of practice, dared not lift a +Ski off the ground while moving, only because they had never tried it +as routine practice. + +Whatever you do by way of practice do it first on one foot and then +on the other, or you will become a right or left-footed Ski-er and it +will take ages for you to feel equal confidence in either foot. This +applies especially to turns. Beginners will often go on practising a +turn on the right foot, till they can do it and then have to re-learn +it completely on the left foot. + +Straight running downhill is mainly a question of confidence and +balance. As said before, it is better at first to avoid straight +running down a steep slope, because the Skis may go so fast that the +beginner is quite incapable of keeping up with them and a fall at very +high speed is somewhat upsetting and may temporarily shake your nerve. + +Choose a low gradient of about 12° or 15° where you can see the +out-run which should be on to level ground or even a gentle rise so +that the Skis gradually pull up of their own accord. Soft snow is the +easiest and confidence may soon be won in this. + +Stand upright or bend the knees, but do not bend at the waist. You +should feel as though on springs and you want your weight should be +well forward over your feet so that you can keep up with the Skis. +Standing in tube or bus, facing the way you are going and not holding +on to anything is very good practice at home. You will notice that a +bus conductor usually gives with the movement of the bus, so that he +is prepared for whatever it does. So with Ski-ing. Look ahead and see +what the ground is like, and then suit your balance to what is likely +to occur as the ground rises or falls. This soon becomes automatic but +it needs thinking out at first. + +When the snow is hard, practise side slipping, because it will help +you out of many difficulties and once you know the feeling of it, you +will find that it replaces the downhill side-stepping, which is so +slow. + +On hard snow, it is possible to go down broadside on by merely +standing on one's Skis and turning one's outer or lower ankle outwards +and one's inner or upper ankle towards the other, so that the Skis are +lying flat on the snow, instead of the edges biting into it. Push off +with your stick from the slope above you and weight your heels or your +toes according to whether the Skis are sinking in front or behind. +Have confidence, keep upright, lean away from the slopes and let your +Skis slide and don't blame me if you suddenly slide into a soft patch +of snow, which stops the Skis dead and you fall head downwards. This +is all in the day's work. If the surface of the snow is uniformly hard +you will slip down without difficulty. + +Seriously, side slipping is a huge help and should be learned at once. +Mr. Caulfield gives first-class instructions, which are easy to follow +in detail. + +When going uphill never try to climb steeper than is easy. If the Skis +are slipping back, you are going too steep and should turn off and +traverse instead. No time is saved by too steep a climb; the man who +goes easily gets to the top first, while the other clambers up almost +on all fours, gets hot and exhausted and has gained nothing. If I am +leading an elementary run uphill, I can soon pick out the experienced +runners by the line they take and the pace at which they climb. The +puffing, panting, stumbling people, who forge ahead, herring-boning or +turning their ankles over their Skis so as to get a grip with their +boots, are not included in my "experienced runners." + +Another hint for uphill work is that when traversing a slope, the +Skis should be edged so that the inner edge of the Ski bites into the +slope. A Ski with its whole surface flattened to the slope is bound to +slip especially on hard snow. By standing upright as you go uphill and +keeping the ankles straight, the Skis will be edged in the right way. + +A quick way of getting up a steep slope is side-stepping. As you stand +with your Skis horizontal across the slope, lift the upper foot and +place it on the slope a few inches higher. Then lift the lower foot +and place it beside the upper. You will soon be able to do this while +advancing across your traverse at the same time, but it is hard work +and should only be used for short climbs. + +Side-stepping is a very good way of climbing, but should be avoided +when descending, except when approaching a narrow gap in a fence or +crossing a stream where the approach is steep. + +I have known a party almost benighted by a beginner, who had +discovered the joys of side-stepping and proposed to descend some +1,000 feet by this safe method, instead of sliding in the proper way. +Allowing eight inches to each side-step, how many hours would it take +to descend 1,000 feet? + +A further hint, which may be useful for uphill work. If the Skis are +slightly lifted at every push forward, they tend to stick instead of +sliding back. + +Always stand upright when climbing and keep the weight well on the +heels. People tend to bend forward and this adds greatly to the effort +and the Skis are more likely to slip back. + +On long climbs sealskins are usually used on the Skis. The hairs lying +towards the rear stick into the snow and prevent the back slip, while +when the Ski pushes forward, they lie flat and offer no resistance. + +The best uphill track is the one which keeps going at the same angle. +Every good walker knows how tiring it is to go up and down across +country when gullies have to be crossed. It is disappointing, having +got up a certain height, to lose all that is gained by going down +again. So it is even more with Ski-ing, when uphill work is really +more arduous than walking. Mr. Caulfield gives a very helpful +description of a good uphill track, and Skis tend to teach the +beginner how to keep the angle as they slip so easily downwards the +moment the uphill direction is altered. + +When going uphill make up your mind what point you want to reach in +the distance and what line will take you to it most easily and then +go for it steadily, keeping the same angle all the way so far as is +possible and choosing your places for turns very carefully before you +reach them. + +Following an experienced leader teaches a great deal about the art of +setting an uphill track, and the criticisms of the rest of the party +following, when the leader loses height soon make one want to avoid +comment. + + + + +ETIQUETTE + + +In organized Ski-ing centres a perfectly good code of etiquette is +growing up as the result of experience. + +So many novices pour out on to the slopes with no knowledge of the +game that notices are even posted on the boards in the hotels giving a +few of the main points of the Law. + +One such notice runs as follows: + +(1) Ensure that you take your own Skis, sticks, etc. when you start +out. It is wise to mark sticks, and they are safest kept in bedrooms. + +(2) Never join a private party unless invited. + +(3) Only join the advertised tours, the test for which you have +passed. + +(4) The slower mover has the right of way. The faster mover must avoid +him. Never call "Fore," "Achtung," etc. + +(5) Always offer help to anyone in difficulties. + +(6) Keep with your party. They might waste a lot of time looking for +you while you run home because you thought their pace too slow. + +(7) Never desert a runner who, for any reason, is unable to keep up +with a party. + +(8) Carry your own gear including spare clothing, Ski-ing necessaries, +etc. + +(9) Avoid stepping on the Skis of another runner. This caution is +especially necessary for uphill work. + +(10) Remember that wherever you leave a track others may follow. +Therefore only choose safe slopes. The snow is liable to slip on +slopes of 25° or more, so that these are dangerous. + +Ski-ing is a sport which can be made dangerous for others if +individuals do not carry out the usual etiquette. It may seem +extraordinary that people should need warning not to join a private +party unless invited, but it is sadly true. + +One day as I was starting off on a long run a stranger came up to me +and asked if she might join us. I consulted the Guide, and he said he +already had as many in the party as he could take charge of. I told +the lady this, and said I was sorry that we could not accept her +companionship. She at once replied cheerily, "Oh, then I will follow +you." Nothing could prevent her from doing this. Switzerland is a free +country, and there is a right of way anywhere over the mountains in +winter. We started off and she followed. From that moment, of course, +we automatically became responsible for her because one of the Laws +is that you never desert a runner who is alone. She was a very poor +performer and fell a great deal, so that for the whole six or seven +miles' run, we were kept waiting for her. Of course, we were under no +real obligation to look after her, but had we left her and anything +had happened to her, we could never again have held up our heads as +Ski-ers. + +On another occasion a runner made a formal complaint to me about a +lady who joined his party. In this case it was an experienced runner, +who had presumably learnt the Law, and who might have read the notice +on the board. First of all she said, "May I go with you?" and the +somewhat cold answer was that the party was complete. Then she +followed asking questions about the route, etc. at every opportunity. +Of course, she had finally to be adopted and taken along much to the +boredom of the party, which was a private one. + +Where the Ski-ing is organized, tests are run and tours arranged +for the different standards. This does not apply so much to 2nd or +1st-class runners who, of course, prefer to make up their own parties, +but, at any rate, these are protected from having the less experienced +runner with them, except by invitation. By these means the organized +tours only take runners up to the standard advertised, and no one +need feel compunction at leaving members of their party behind in the +village, because they know that the elementary runner will also get a +chance of a run. + +Yet even under these arrangements, I have found a beginner sitting +huddled in a corner of the railway carriage when we have started +before dawn for a big tour. "Where are you off to?" I said, thinking +he was out with a Guide. "With your party," was the reply. What could +I do? It is not easy to turn a person out of a train at 5.45 a.m. on +a cold morning. I said weakly, "Did you not see the notice which said +this was a run for 3rd-class runners only?" He said, "Yes, but I +thought I could keep up." So there he was, and we took him through and +though he was very slow uphill and kept us all back in this case, he +ran down without delaying us. People often put their own capacity +higher than do the people they want to run with and it is very +difficult to be tactful. + +Again most people would not think it necessary to warn runners against +deserting their party. Yet they often do and it is not usually the +beginner who is the culprit here. Perhaps he cannot run quick enough +to get away! I shall always remember a run in charge of a tour when I +was with a lot of novices. Another experienced runner accompanied me +officially to help. I chose what I thought the easiest way to start, +and he wanted to try another route at the top and went off saying he +would join us below a wood. When we reached the part where I thought +we should rejoin, I waited and shouted, but he did not appear. So we +went on to another post where we had lunch, and then I began to get +anxious as this runner never turned up. Anything might have happened +to him. He might have gone over a rock or into a tree or even only +be tied up in one of those tangled falls when it is practically +impossible to extricate oneself. It was no good our trying to look for +him then, so after about two hours' delay, I took my party down to the +valley and the first person who met us in the village was our lost +companion. He chaffed us for being so late as he had run down very +quickly and had had his tea ages ago. + +No party going beyond the Nursery slopes should consist of fewer than +three. One to go for help in case of need, the other to stay with the +third runner, who may need help. Needless to say, people who know the +mountains well, go off alone with impunity. When I asked one of these +lonely runners what would happen if he hurt himself and was benighted, +he told me he always carried sufficient morphia to put him out of his +agony in case of need. This was, no doubt, all right from his point of +view, but what of the people who might go out to look for him among +the infinite possible runs with Ski tracks in every direction. + +No sporting runner would ever refuse help to a lame duck, though +pretty bad cases of selfishness have been recorded. + +There is one point, which does not always strike people, and that is +the danger of cutting a track over a difficult place. Beginners will +usually follow a track instead of working by their map. For instance +on the Muottas Muraigl run at Pontresina, if once a rash runner cuts a +track straight across from the restaurant to the valley, crowds will +probably follow it, though they may be warned against it. This is +a very dangerous slope under certain conditions as was shown this +Winter, when a runner going along its top was carried down to the +bottom of the valley by the avalanche he started. + +I have one track left on my conscience; when a few of us went down +what might have been a dangerous place under different conditions to +those we found. Luckily it was not a way most people would have wished +to follow as it apparently led nowhere and hardly looked attractive. + +The slower mover always has the right of way when Ski-ing, so that no +runner ought to shout to those ahead of him to get out of his way. +Needless to say this does not apply to a runner out of control, who +may be dashing unwillingly into someone in front of him when, for both +their sakes, a friendly warning is advisable! + +It is the business of every Ski-er to avoid obstacles and the slower +mover may be looked on as such in just the same way as a rock or a +tree. I was amused one day at Pontresina when a crowd of us were going +up the village street and met a lady on Skis being held back as she +went downhill by two friends on either side of her. It was the first +time I had ever thought of someone going down hill being the slower +mover in relation to those climbing. + +Nursery slopes are for the practice of turns and the individual who +uses them for straight running while a lot of people are practising is +abhorred. The same applies to jumps on the Nursery slopes. These +are so easily made where other people are not practising that it is +selfish to come plunging down into a crowd of devotees to turns. When +the Nursery slopes are empty, it is great fun to practise straight +running down them and no one will object. + +One jolly thing about Ski runners is that they seldom ridicule one +another or laugh at falls in any but a friendly way. There is great +rivalry and daring to greater effort, but ill-natured ridicule is +seldom heard. Perhaps this is due to the fact that most people who +live in glass houses do not throw stones. Everybody who tries to +improve his Ski-ing is bound to fall and it is better not to set the +fashion of laughing at others in difficulties. + +There will always be some people who like to look on at tests as "Free +entertainment without tax," but if they could hear the comments on +their behaviour and probably on their own lack of prowess they would +soon give up the habit. + +Anyone who is really keen to get on and who will go on practising and +accept advice may be sure of sympathy and help. Ski-ing with all its +dangers and need for combined effort seems to bring out the best of +people and to produce the very best spirit of goodwill and tolerance. + +Going uphill in soft snow, every strong member should take a turn at +cutting the track. It is often heavy work, and an energetic leader may +not like to ask for help. The best plan is to work by time, the leader +falling out at the end of his shift and letting the party pass him +till he takes his position at the rear and the second man becomes the +leader and so on. + +People who are wise, will avoid stepping on the Skis of the man ahead. +This is often difficult as instinct makes one want to go faster than +the person ahead, just as a wheeler in a tandem will usually try to +catch up the leader. The easiest way to avoid overlapping is to keep +step. Push forward the right foot, when the man ahead pushes forward +his right foot and then the left. This gives a rhythm to the uphill +work, which also seems to minimize effort. Anyone who has experienced +the irritation caused by his Skis being constantly touched by the +runner behind while plodding uphill will learn to spare another the +same nuisance. + +When running straight down a steep slope make sure that there is no +one ahead whom you might run into and no one below on either side, +who might traverse across the slope you propose to run down. This is +especially necessary in a gap between trees. Another member of your +party might be among the trees below and suddenly come out into the +open, traversing to the other side. When straight running at any +speed, only the best Ski runners can turn suddenly to avoid a +difficulty, and a nasty collision may occur if care be not exercised. + +When a crowd of people are taking their Skis by train, a great deal of +trouble may be avoided in getting the mass of Skis out of the train if +these are tied neatly together. + +A pair of Skis tied near the tips and behind the bindings is easy to +handle, while a pair of Skis put together by slipping one through the +toe-strap of the other is a great nuisance. + +Skis piled together soon become very like a heap of spillikins if not +carefully handled and a good deal of damage may be done to them as +well as delay to the train if Ski-ers are careless in this small +matter. + +Another good plan is for the Ski-ers to form themselves into a queue +and to hand out all the Skis along the line, till they can be easily +distributed where there is space. The beginner is apt to hunt +anxiously for his own pair, which may be at the bottom of the pile, +and while he pulls and tugs with but little success, other people are +waiting in vain for a chance to get their Skis out. This is especially +the case on funicular railways, where space is very limited in the +stations. Different nationalities travelling together add considerably +to the confusion and the railway officials are usually thankful to +anyone who will take charge and get a line formed and the Skis handed +out tidily. + +These hints may seem unnecessary to a great many people, but no +matter. I have had so much of my own time wasted by this sort of +tiresome lack of sense that I venture to suggest a means of saving +time and temper for others. + +Ski runners should remember that sledges and pedestrians have the +right of way on a road. All the fields are open to the Ski runner and +he should not monopolize a road. In most parts of Switzerland there +is a law by which everyone has right of way everywhere where the snow +lies--so long as it is not enclosed ground. This was brought home +to my family rather vividly, when we lived at Davos, by a shooting +gallery being set up on our land in front of our house. We had no +power to prevent it and there it remained for the winter. At the same +time, Ski runners should respect the property of other people, and +here I would like to make two appeals to British runners. + +Firstly, that we will do our best to avoid damaging young trees. (Old +trees can probably look after themselves where the Ski-er is concerned +as they are usually stronger than he is.) + +Secondly, that we should treat the inhabitants of the country with as +much courtesy as possible. The peasant, over whose land we run, makes +very little out of the tourist business and has other things to think +about rather than sport. He is usually courteous and friendly and +always ready to help us when in difficulties. Let us return his +hospitality be treating him with courtesy. School teachers have told +me that they have great difficulty in persuading the children to greet +foreigners because these so seldom respond. Yet few things are more +pleasant than the friendly "Grüsse," or "Grüss Gott," or "Leb wohl," +with which one is greeted by the people of the country. We can answer +in English if we do not know how to answer in German, but do let us +answer and, thereby, prove ourselves as friendly as our hosts. + +Another matter, which is not always understood by beginners on the +snow fields is that when an Alpine Club or local Ski Club hut is used, +a fee should be paid to the funds which support the Hut. These Huts +are expensive to build and their upkeep is a great tax on the Clubs. +British runners can either join the local Club, when they can use +the Huts by day for nothing, or they can pay the advertised fee for +whatever use they make of them. + +A notice is always posted in the Hut showing the various charges, but +when no one is there to collect the money, it is left to the honour +of the guests to pay it. A money-box can be found in all huts within +Switzerland proper, but as these boxes are not safe from marauders +near the frontier, the Ski runner has to send the money in by post. At +the Boval hut, for instance, above the Morteratsch Glacier, a supply +of money order forms will be found hanging near a door. All the leader +of the party has to do is to collect the money from his members, take +one of the forms and pay the money into any post office, whence it is +sent to the H.Q. of the Club. + +Huts should invariably be left tidy. This also is a matter of honour. +The doors are unlocked always in order that people who may need +hospitality, in case of distress, can find shelter. Blankets can be +borrowed. Wood is usually provided for firing and there may even be a +reserve of food, all of which should be respected. Before the party +leaves, blankets should be folded, shutters should be shut, snow swept +out and debris buried outside, or what can be used as fuel put away +tidily in the kitchen. Then the door should be shut carefully and +the hut left the better, rather than the worse off for having given +hospitality. + + + + +SNOW AND LIGHT + + +Full descriptions of the different types of snow which must be +negotiated by the Ski-runner will be found in Mr. Arnold Lunn's book, +"Alpine Ski-ing." + +It is only necessary for me, therefore, to describe the four main +types, namely, soft, hard, crust and sticky snow. + +Soft snow in winter is the new powder snow, which is to be found after +a fall or on North slopes where sun and wind have not spoilt it. It is +the ideal snow for the luxurious runner, especially two days after it +has fallen, when it has settled down and a hard frost has converted it +into crystal powder. A run through crystallized snow, which tinkles as +the Skis cut through it, is beyond description. + +Even a bad runner will find that he can do marvels as the snow seems +literally to help him in all his experiments. I have known a day when +a blinding blizzard has started blowing the snow into my face and I +have run fast along the bottom of a valley with my eyes shut. The +Skis kept to the lowest line and ran safely and steadily through this +powder snow at a low gradient. It is not suggested that blind running +should be indulged in as a rule and I only quote this case to show how +helpful is good powder snow. + +The Telemark is the usual turn in soft snow. Christiania and jump +turns can also be used by people who are proficient and strong, but +they require both skill and strength. + +Soft snow is usually found on North slopes or at the bottom of shady +valleys or even behind any ridge which protects it from the sun or +wind. Also among trees which shelter it. Tracks ruin it in time so +that it is usually wise to sidle off the track and try new snow beside +it. + +Luckily for the experienced runner, most beginners usually behave +rather like sheep, preferring tracks to exploring on their own. The +result is that perfect snow can often be found alongside the beaten +track, and when this gets spoilt, it is only necessary to go a little +further afield in order to get a good run. Then, as more and more +people beat down the track it becomes hard and very amusing running +can be had there. + +Hard snow is of two types--a beaten track or a hard crust where the +sun has melted the surface and the frost at night has frozen it, so +that it will bear the weight of the Ski-runner. When this is really +solid enough to allow of side-slipping and stem, or Christiania turns, +it is very trustworthy and easy to negotiate. At first, however, it +intimidates the beginner, because it is very fast. As time goes on and +he becomes accustomed to the skid and rattle of hard snow, he will +find that his horror turns into pleasure because he can trust it. The +Nursery slopes become hard after two or three days and will provide +useful experience for coping with such snow on a run. + +The lifted stem and Christiania are the best turns on hard snow. A +Telemark is apt to skid too much. + +Crust is the bugbear of all runners and is out and away the most +difficult to tackle. It may be hard, and then with nothing apparent on +the surface to warn you, the Skis break through and catch in the crust +and down you go. When crust is about, let someone else lead, and then +profit by his experience. + +There are many forms of crust, all of which may be met on the same +run, and when wind has been at work, there may be crust on North +slopes and not on South. After rain too, when the surface has been +soaked and a frost follows, crust will be found everywhere. + +Sticky snow is usually due to the effect of the sun or to Fohn wind +or thaw. It is easily coped with by proper waxing of the running +surfaces, but the sudden sticking of the skis, which have been running +well over wet snow in the open, when they get into cold powder snow +under trees or in shadow, is very disconcerting. + +The same is apt to happen when people have dried their Skis in the sun +by sticking them on end while lunching. The sun not only dries them +but warms them so that if the first run after lunch is in shadow and +the snow is cold, the Skis stick because the warm surfaces melt the +snow, which immediately freezes again and adheres to the Skis, so that +they come to an absolute standstill. + +The only way to avoid sticking is to keep the running surfaces of the +Skis in good condition by oiling them thoroughly and to carry one or +two different types of wax for use according to circumstances. + +The great thing is to get practice on all types of snow and never to +mind it. Look upon crust as a joke, and learn jump turns, which are +the only safe turns for any but the strongest runners. Some of these +can accomplish a Telemark, or stem-turn or even a Christiania on every +sort of snow, but most people are content with the jump turn on crust. +The great trouble of this turn is that it is very tiring when a heavy +Rucksack is carried, but knack and good use of the stick will help it. + +Light is a great factor in Ski-ing. On a fine day when visibility is +good, it is easy to distinguish between the rise and fall of country +ahead and, therefore, to be prepared for decrease or increase in +speed. Some days when the sky is clouded, it is practically impossible +to tell what is coming. This difficulty is increased in a narrow +valley when the reflection of the slopes on either side make the whole +surface look identical. + +Coloured glasses may help a little, but it is better to run slowly and +to take no risks. On these occasions tracks help immensely as they +give the eye something to follow. Rocks and trees also help; anything +that breaks the surface of the snow and shows up the gradient ahead. + + + + +FALLS + + +Falls!--what a word. When I first thought of writing this book, it +struck me that the best selling title would be "Ski-ing without +Falls." But then I remembered that I could never look a beginner in +the face again if, knowing that he had read my book, I saw him fall. + +Besides which, a Ski runner who never falls, is probably but a poor +exponent of the sport. When you begin to run comfortably and can do +the turns at low speeds, falls show that you are still trying to +learn more of the game. It is only by trying new things that a +runner becomes really proficient and you are almost certain to fall +constantly as you learn. There is art in falling on Skis as well as in +running and turning. Fall loose. Let yourself go; never try to save +yourself when once you find the fall is inevitable and get rid of your +sticks. You will have the most amazing falls on Skis and nobody will +listen to your descriptions of them because they are just as eager to +describe their own. The surprising thing is how little people hurt +themselves--knees and ankles go most. The strain on the knee and ankle +is very great in some falls, but if you let yourself go and relax your +muscles as you fall, you will find that even ankles and knees survive +as a rule. + +I once saw a really good runner turn three somersaults while +nose-driving down a steep slope at high speed in soft snow. And all +the damage done was two hat-pins snapped! Moral, don't wear hat-pins. + +People are so tangled up sometimes that they do not know whether the +Ski tip sticking out of the snow belongs to their right or left foot, +and they have to dig with their sticks before they can extricate +themselves. And sometimes the results of a fall are so intricate that +the runner could never extricate himself, but needs the help of a +friend, who will undo a binding so as to free him. The most curious +fall I ever saw was when a man, running down a steep slope among +trees, ran into a fir tree on the upper side where the snow was lying +well up the trunk. He then fell head downwards into the hole below the +tree where the snow had not penetrated and, his Skis being caught in +the branches, there he hung. Had he been alone, I doubt whether he +would ever have succeeded in getting free. As it was, we undid a +binding quickly and no damage was done. + +Not only is there art in falling but there is a technique of getting +up. Before attempting to get up, arrange your Skis so that they are +ready to stand on. Suppose they are crossed below you on a steep +slope, lie on the slope, raise the Skis in the air, uncross them, set +them parallel across the slope below you, facing the way you want to +go, and get up. This fall is sometimes used as a turn and may be +very useful, though not considered the best possible form if done +intentionally. + +Never attempt to get up on to Skis facing downhill. They will only +go off with you the moment you begin to rise, and then down you flop +again. + +If you fall head downwards down a slope, you still have to get your +Skis parallel across the slope below you before you can stand up, and +the only thing to be done is to turn a somersault uncrossing your Skis +in the air if they are crossed and getting them below you and then +standing up. All of which is extremely easy, but it is very necessary +to ensure that clothes are so made that the powder snow cannot slip +into crevices while you are gambolling in this fashion. The first +thing I do before getting up from a fall is to put up my hands and let +the snow shake out of my glove gauntlets. + +If you are so tangled up in a fall that it is almost impossible to get +out, just undo a binding, slip off a Ski and get up easily with a free +foot to stand on. And, if you see anyone else so tangled up that he +does not begin to get up immediately, hurry to his assistance, because +his ankle or knee may be in a very strained position and he may be +thankful to you for undoing a binding and releasing him. It is in +these falls that the leather heel bindings so often prove better than +a rigid toe binding. The leather will ease a little or slip and allow +the foot to turn a fraction of an inch so that the strain is not +maintained long enough to cause real damage. + +Falls are often half the fun of Ski-ing, and every runner who is +trying something new will sometimes fall in the endeavour. So never +lose hope, however much you fall. If you have been running rather +well, and then get a day when you do nothing but only means that you +are stale and that your muscles and nerves need a rest. This is where +the all-round Winter sportsman gains. He can spend a day on the rink +or curling or tobogganing and not feel that he has wasted time. + +Never scoff at people because they fall. A first-class runner is +supposed to be able to run at high speed, using turns without falling. +So he will, probably, if he intends to, but no first-class runner +worth his salt would always run like this. He will always be trying +something more difficult, turns at higher speed or in difficult snow, +and consequently he will often be seen to fall, and the beginner who +scoffs is merely voted an ignoramus. Here again a runner will be +judged by his tracks. Look carefully at the place where he ran and try +to make out what turn he was trying and what the snow was like, and +why he fell. You can learn a great deal from other people's tracks. + +Falls in deep snow are always a little more risky than on hard snow, +because there is greater strain on muscles and ligaments. On hard snow +you get many a bump and scratch, but the results are less lasting than +a torn ligament. + +Having got up safely from your fall, look on the snow and see what you +have dropped before starting off again. Even pockets with flaps may +allow of leakage. + +It is wise to tie your Rucksack firmly with a strap round your waist +because, if it is loose, anything heavy inside may give you a nasty +bump on the head as you fall. + + + + +TESTS + + +There are three British Ski tests under the Federal Council of British +Ski Clubs. In addition to these, different centres and local clubs +often set an elementary test for beginners in order that these may be +sorted into various standards for expeditions. + +Hitherto the Elementary test has usually been a run down a certain +distance within a time set by the judges. This is not an altogether +satisfactory test, as the beginner, who goes straight down sitting on +his Skis may get through, while another, who conscientiously tries to +run standing, falls the whole time and fails. Style might be judged +and the sitting candidate disqualified, but when, as often happens, +some seventy or eighty people enter for an Elementary test, the judges +have their hands full enough with starting and timing, apart from +watching individual running critically as in the 2nd-class test. + +A better way, therefore, is to flag a line, which must be followed, +providing traverses across slopes, which soon catch out the sitting +novice. + +Beginners usually hate traversing because they dislike the look of a +steep slope and do not know how to prevent the instinctive pointing +straight downwards of the Skis. They do not realize yet that if they +would stand upright on their Skis while traversing, and lead with the +upper foot while they put their weight on the lower foot and keep +their whole weight somewhat on their heels, they will traverse quite +easily at a gentle angle. + +The Elementary test ought to be so planned as to force this type of +running. + +Another way of running an Elementary test is for a judge to lead at a +steady easy pace for an hour's cross-country run, including both up +and downhill, as well as level running and obstacles. The test would +be timed, an ample margin being allowed beyond the judge's time. All +those, who finished within the time would pass. + +This would probably not be nearly so popular a Test with the +candidates as the short downhill run, but it would be a far better +test of their capacity for touring. + +The British Ski tests consist of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd-Class Tests, the +Regulations for which will be found in the Ski Year Book, which can +be obtained from the Hon. Secretary, Federal Council of British Ski +Clubs, Essex Court, Temple, London, E.C. They can also be obtained +from any official representative of one of the British Clubs in +Switzerland, and are printed as an Appendix at the end of this book. + +In the 3rd class test, which is the first and which has to be passed +before the runner can go up for his 2nd class, there are three parts. + +Part (a) is a climb of 1,500 feet in not more than 1-1/2 hours and a +run down 1,500 feet in a time set by the judges. The time may not be +less than seven, or more than twenty minutes. It should not be more +than 12 minutes under good conditions. + +Men must carry Rucksacks weighing not less than 6 lbs., and women 3 +lbs. Sealskins may be used for the climb. + +Part (b) consists of four consecutive lifted stem-turns on a slope +of 15° to 20°, and Part (c) four consecutive Telemark turns on a +slope of the same gradient. Parts (b) and (c) are often used as +a qualifying test before Part (a) is run, in order to limit the +entries for Part (a), which may otherwise be a very difficult test +to run when a large field enters for it. + +Candidates who enter for this test should really take pains to ensure +that their bindings fit their boots and that they have everything +necessary for a run as well as being up to the standard. Speaking as +a judge of four years' standing, who has run innumerable tests, I may +say that it is pitiable to see the number of casual people who will +come up for a test without reading the regulations and without being +in any way prepared for a 1,500 ft. climb. Few things are more +disagreeable than having to disqualify a candidate, who turns up +without a Rucksack, or more miserable than having to shepherd down +beginners who are worn out by a run for which they are quite out of +training. The one comfort is that a candidate, who is pertinacious and +courageous enough to face this test five or six times without passing +and goes in again, is almost sure to pass in the end. + +For the judge's sake, however, I strongly urge such a candidate to +time himself over similar runs with his friends and to persist in this +until he proves that he is up to 3rd-class standard, when he will be a +very welcome candidate in the test itself. + +A course is easily found by using an aneroid, or it may also be worked +off the Ordnance Map. Any ordinary watch with a second hand will +suffice for the timing of one's own run. + +Some people may think that I am a little harsh in my reasons for +suggesting that beginners should not enter for the running part of the +3rd-class test so lightheartedly. It is really for their own sakes as +much as for that of the judge's. Failure is very discouraging, and I +have known people's nerve quite upset by one of these runs. They have +tried to race down and have taken really nasty tosses in their rush, +while the fatigue of constant falling and getting up out of deep snow, +becoming more and more out of breath in the anxiety to compete, is +very bad for their running. I have often wanted to hide my head in +shame when coming home after such a test with a lot of worn-out +people, wet through, who have failed. And yet, such is life, that many +with the first breath, after they finish exhausted, will ask when the +next Test takes place in order that they may compete again. Such a +candidate really does one's heart good. + +Tests have probably done more than anything else to improve the +standard of British running. We all have a liking for competition, and +here is our chance. Having succeeded in passing the 3rd-class test, +we can wear a badge and then we have to ski better in order to prove +worthy of it, and presently we see no reason against qualifying for +the 2nd-class test before going home. "After all, the turns only have +to be done on a steeper slope." "The run can be put off till next +Winter, and passed the moment we come out," they say. + +The 1st-class standard is rising higher and higher as British Ski +runners become more proficient. The runner who passed a year or two +ago now hesitates to wear the gold badge, because he often realizes +that his speed and turns are not good enough for what is now required. + +Judges of the British Ski tests may be found in most well-known +centres, but, as there are very few 1st-class people, the tests for +this class are usually run in one or two districts only. + + + + +GUIDES AND SKI INSTRUCTORS + + +Swiss Guides are certificated by the Swiss Alpine Club and are the +only people permitted by law to guide parties among the higher +mountains. A tariff exists in every district showing the fees which +these Guides must charge. In addition to the fee, the client usually +gives a gratuity and also pays for the Guide's accommodation and +provisions on the tour. A percentage may be added for numbers greater +than those provided for in the tariff, while on a really difficult +tour, the Guide will probably refuse to take more than two or three +runners unless a second Guide or porter be engaged. The Certificated +Guides wear a badge issued by the Swiss Alpine Club and any man +wearing this may be depended upon to be a good fellow, a careful +Guide, and a philosopher and friend. Most of them can now ski well, +though a few of the older ones may not be very proficient in technique +and may be stick riders. + +When on tour with a Guide, he is responsible for the safety of the +party, and every member should do his best to help him by carrying out +any instructions he may give for their greater safety. This is not +always appreciated by people who do not know the Alps and their +unwritten laws, and the Guides complain somewhat bitterly that they +are often put in very difficult positions. For instance, on one +occasion, when a party was crossing an avalanche slope, the Guide +asked them to go singly at intervals of 20 metres, so that if anyone +was carried away, the others would not be involved and could go to his +rescue. One of the party was overheard saying: "Oh! he is only trying +to prove how careful he is in order to get a higher tip," and they +were careless in their carrying out of the instructions. + +In any case it is discourteous not to do what the Guide prescribes and +he is put in a very false position as he is held responsible. + +Ski Instructors belong to a different category, unless they are also +Certificated Guides, which is often the case. In some Cantons, such as +Graubünden, the Instructors have to pass an examination showing +their capacity to ski and also to teach. Many of them are perfectly +beautiful runners, but they should not be pressed to conduct tours +where glacier work or rock climbing is involved. They are not examined +for this and they hold no credentials, and if an accident occurs, +everyone is blamed. There are a great many other runs they are allowed +to lead and they will set as good a course as anyone would wish for. + +Before engaging a Guide, or an Instructor on the recommendation of the +concierge, get some expert advice as to who is the best. The Secretary +of the local Ski Club would advise or some good runner in the +neighbourhood. + +In some parts of Switzerland the Guides and Instructors have taken to +touting for clients. They hang about the hotels and try to induce the +unwary to engage them and to go for tours for which they are often +not fit. The better Swiss Guides are the first to want the public to +discourage this type of behaviour, as it is doing a lot of harm to +their good name. + +When a Guide is engaged, treat him as a friend and trust him. They +are usually a most obliging and reliable set of men, who will do +everything in their power for their clients, such as carrying food and +spare clothing, waxing skis, attaching skins and even making terms in +inns, and cooking the food in huts when on tour. Their knowledge of +the mountains and their experiences are well worth probing, and they +will usually talk willingly when kindly dealt with. They are quick +judges of character and if the younger ones are sometimes a little +inclined to take advantage of the people who do not treat them +suitably, only those people themselves can be blamed. The +old-fashioned Guides are never familiar, though they are very friendly +and will always do their best for the entertainment of their party. +They should not be petted and flattered, neither should they be +treated as inferiors. A happy medium is easily found which is what the +Guide will prefer, because in his heart of hearts, he has the whole of +the Swiss characteristics--great dignity, independence and respect for +wise people. + +On a long and dangerous tour the safety of the party may ultimately +depend upon the trust and confidence placed in the Guide in charge, +and by him in his clients, and this should be remembered in all +negotiations. These men often have to risk their lives for the sake of +the people who employ them, and their staunch unselfishness is a fine +example of human endeavour for the benefit of others. Their fees may +appear to be high, but when everything is taken into consideration, +including the shortness of their Winter and Summer Seasons, it is soon +realized that the fees are not exorbitant. + + + + +MAPS AND FINDING THE WAY + + +Every Ski runner going across country should carry a map. Even on a +short run a great deal can be learnt from a map, which will prove +useful later on a longer run. Both time and risk can be saved by +people who run by their map and who know how to avoid dangerous places +and how to take advantage of narrow safe openings. + +There are different types of maps to be had in Switzerland. The +best are the official Ordnance Maps published by the Eidg. +Landestopographie at Bern. The mountain districts are produced at a +scale of 1 centimetre in 50,000 centimetres or 2 centimetres in one +kilometre, and large or small sheets can be bought almost everywhere. +The gradients are clearly shown by contour lines. The equidistance +being 30 metres, or roughly 100 feet, the dotted contour lines when +height is marked some every 8 or 10 ordinary contour lines. This +differs according to the edition. Cliff and rock are shown grey, while +glacier contour lines are blue. + +Some districts, such as the Bernese Oberland, have produced this map +with red lines showing all the Ski runs. In other places they also +provide Ski-ing maps, but on a different scale and not as good as the +Ordnance Map. + +All maps are best when mounted on linen, as the weathering they +receive on a run may reduce a paper map to pulp or rag. + +It is easy to work out the distance of runs or the gradient of slopes +from the large scale Ordnance Map. 1 in 50,000 metres means that 1 +centimetre on the map equals a run of 50,000 metres; 2 centimetres +equal a kilometre or 100,000 metres; 8 kilometres equal five English +miles. Therefore, if a centimetre measure be carried, the distances +are soon ascertained with a minimum of arithmetic. + +Throughout this chapter I have taken the mathematical or map gradient +and not the engineer's gradient. The latter is generally used, I +understand, to measure the gradients of roads, railways, etc. + +To avoid confusion when Ski-ing, the gradient is usually named by the +angle of the slope. + +The gradient of slopes is shown by the contour lines, the drop between +each being 30 metres or approximately 100 feet. The table on p. 92 was +got out by Commander Merriman, R.N., and has proved very useful to +me in setting tests as well as in judging whether slopes are +comparatively safe from avalanche or not. + +A slope showing eight 30-metre contour lines in one centimetre works +out roughly at 27°, which is a steeper slope than most people care to +take straight, running over unknown country. Anything steeper than +this is apt to avalanche in certain conditions, though a 30° slope +should usually be safe. (A 25° slope may be dangerous under some +conditions.) + +A comfortable slope is 5 contour lines in 1 centimetre, or a gradient +of 17°. Taking English measurements as in Commander Merriman's scale, +16 contour lines in one inch on the map. + +The beginner will probably content himself with slopes where 10 +contour lines are shown in one inch, or a gradient of about 13°. + + ROUGH TABLE OF GRADIENTS. + +Assuming 30 metre contours to be equal to 100 feet contours +(actually this is 98.4 feet). Natural Scale 1: 50,000. + +-------------------------------------------- +Drop per inch | Average angle | Gradient + on map. | of slope. | 1 in. +-------------------------------------------- + 100' | 1° 24' | 40.9 + 200' | 2° 45' | 20.8 + 300' | 4° 07' | 13.9 + 400' | 5° 29' | 10.4 + 500' | 6° 50' | 8.3 + 600' | 8° 12' | 6.9 + 700' | 9° 33' | 5.9 + 800' | 10° 52' | 5.2 + 900' | 12° 11' | 4.6 + 1,000' | 13° 30' | 4.2 + 1,100' | 14° 47' | 3.8 + 1,200' | 16° 04' | 3.5 + 1,300' | 17° 20' | 3.2 + 1,400' | 18° 34' | 3.0 + 1,500' | 19° 48' | 2.8 + 1,600' | 21° 00' | 2.6 + 1,700' | 22° 11' | 2.5 + 1,800' | 23° 22' | 2.3 + 1,900' | 24° 30' | 2.2 + 2,000' | 25° 39' | 2.1 + 2,100' | 26° 45' | 2.0 + 2,200' | 27° 50' | 1.9 + 2,300' | 28° 53' | 1.8 + 2,400' | 29° 56' | 1.7 + 2,500' | 30° 58' | 1.6 +-------------------------------------------- + +Up till now I have only been describing the official Ordnance Maps. +There are several other maps which may also be useful. + +The Dufour maps are good for direction and lie of country, but their +scale being 1 in 100,000 they are not much help for actual running. + +The local Ski Tour Map is useful to show where the usual tours go, +but cannot always be trusted for gradients or cliffs and rocks. The +Pontresina map, for instance, though showing an equidistance of 30 +metres as in the Ordnance Maps, really has 50 metres contour lines, +which might be a terrible snare to the unwary, who would confidently +run towards a slope, thinking it was about 20° and find that it was +nearer 35°, or an avalanche slope. In a case like this the Ordnance +Map must be used for actual running, while the Ski Tour Map is used to +show the line to be followed. + +In some districts, such as the Bernese Oberland, the Ordnance map has +been used for the local Ski tour map, and the tours shown on it in +red. This is a great saving of weight and money for the runner, who +then only has one map to carry. + +Most Ski maps show dangerous avalanche slopes. The local Summer map +published in most tourist centres in Switzerland is not much use to +the Ski runner, because it shows walks which may be along slopes or +down cliffs, which are perfectly safe in Summer and very dangerous in +Winter. + +I strongly advise all beginners who are bitten by the joy of Ski-ing +to buy, at any rate, the small local sheet of the Ordnance Map which +usually only costs Frs. 1.30, or roughly 1s., and to study it +carefully, noticing the contour lines on the well-known Nursery +slopes, and gradually realizing the gradient represented by the +different widths between them. + +Let him also notice the difference between a hill and a hole on the +map. This is easily recognized either by the thin blue line of a +stream emerging from a lake, or by comparing the nearest heights shown +on the dotted lines or some marked point. Contours are often puzzling +to a beginner in map reading, but knowledge of what they represent may +save a party from a weary climb back up a place they have gaily ski-ed +down, thinking they could get through but finding an impossible slope +or fall of rock which forced them to retrace their steps. + +Before going on tour even with a Guide, it is wise to study the map +with a view to knowing where an Alpine hut can be found in case of +need, or where a hay châlet could offer shelter. + +When once the Ski runner has begun to appreciate the fun and interest +of running by a map, he will never leave it behind, and he will be +able to enjoy all sorts of runs he would never know of if he were +content with the sheep habit of "following tracks." + +The greatest fun of Ski-ing is in finding one's own way, and this one +can never hope to do without a map. + +The following scale of comparative heights in metres and feet may be +of use in estimating the heights of points which the Ski runner wishes +to reach: + + 10 metres equal 33 feet (approximately). + 50 " " 164 " + 100 " " 328 " + 250 " " 820 " + 500 " " 1,640 " +1,000 " " 3,281 " +2,000 " " 6,562 " +3,000 " " 9,843 " + +A compass is, of course, useful when running by map, but as precipices +are apt to get in the way when running straight for any given point, +a compass cannot be trusted alone. In the case of fog, it is very +difficult to avoid difficulties, and points on the map can only be +identified by the use of an aneroid, as well as a compass. Set the +aneroid at the point you start from and check your heights by this as +you climb or descend, referring constantly to the map to ensure that +you are running on the right line. It is wise to practise this on +clear days in order to get accustomed to running by map, compass +and aneroid. As the weather also affects the aneroid, it should be +constantly reset at known levels. + +All this may sound very confusing, and most beginners will probably +prefer to take a Guide who knows his country well rather than trust to +elementary map-reading knowledge in unknown country. Most runners +who go on tour will find running much more interesting, however, if +instead of following a Guide blindly they also watch the map or get +a knowledge of what is good or bad country to run over. There are +sometimes cases also when the party must necessarily divide, and an +amateur may have to take the lead over unknown country. + + + + +AVALANCHES + + +Much has been written on this subject. Mr. Arnold Lunn, in "The +Alps," tells some extraordinary stories about these monsters of the +mountains. My father, John Addington Symonds, in "Our Life in the +Swiss Highlands," also describes them. + +There was a very interesting article by Monsieur F. Krahnstoever in +the "Swiss Ski Club Year-Book for 1923" on the subject of avalanches +in relation to Ski-ing. They are an everlasting nightmare to Ski +runners in high places, and beginners should at once take care to +learn all they can of snow-craft in order, in so far as possible, to +realize what is safe and what is dangerous. + +The steepness of slopes and the condition of snow, as well as the +direction of wind, are all factors affecting avalanches. + +Any slope whose gradient is more than 15° may be dangerous under +certain conditions, but it may be generally accepted that most long +slopes under 25° are comparatively safe so long as they have not much +steeper slopes immediately above or below them. + +New snow is always apt to slip before it has had time to settle down. +Snow blown by wind into a cornice or overhanging lip at the top of a +slope or on a cliff may topple down and start an avalanche. + +Wet snow, after rain, or a warm Föhn wind, becomes heavy and begins to +slide. + +A very dangerous condition is new soft snow lying on a slope covered +with old hard snow. + +Trees or rocks sticking up through the snow make such slopes safer, as +they tend to prevent the snow from beginning to slip. This is why the +Forestry Laws of Switzerland are so strict. In some districts the +owner of a forest may not cut a tree unless it has been approved +by the Government forester. This is to ensure that the forests are +maintained as a protection for the villages in the valleys below. + +Beginners should never go on a tour without first ascertaining that +the route they propose to follow is a safe one. And if there is the +slightest doubt, owing to weather conditions, they should put it off +for a day or two. Some runs are perfectly safe when the snow has +settled and a sharp frost has bound it, but they may become dangerous +again when a thaw sets in, a Föhn wind is blowing, or rain has fallen. + +The Ski runner himself may start an avalanche on a slope where the +snow would lie safely if he did not pass along it. The cutting of his +track, breaking the continuity of the snow, may set it going either +above or below him and he will be carried away with it. + +Wherever there seems to be the slightest risk of avalanche the party +should separate and proceed in single file at about 20-yard intervals. +Then if a runner is carried away, the others will be able to go to +his assistance. In some cases, however, even this is not sufficient +protection as the whole slope may go at once. In old days before the +railways had tunnelled through the passes we were driving over the +Fluela above Davos on our way to Italy in March. We were in the post +consisting of some 20 one-horse sledges and had just left the Hospiz +when we met the up-coming post, also consisting of a number of +one-horse sledges. It took some time to pass, as the track was narrow +and the horses floundered in the deep snow when passing each other. +After we had got by and were continuing on our way down to Süs, we +turned along an outstanding buttress of cliff and saw that some two +miles of steep slope ahead had avalanched. The whole surface of the +snow had slipped to the bottom of the valley and if either of the +diligences had been on this slope when it happened, horses, sledges +and all would have been carried away. + +This experience fixed avalanche danger very firmly in my mind, and +having also seen several large avalanches falling, as well as the +immense amount of damage done to forests and châlets by these +insuperable monsters, I have never wished to risk getting into a large +one myself. + +Even a small avalanche is very overwhelming and a beginner who has +felt its effects soon realizes what it may mean. Choose a _very_ short +steep slope on a day when the snow is slipping and try to get it +going. Once it moves and entangles your legs and Skis, you will feel +the extraordinary helplessness which results. This was one of our +games when I was a child. Without Skis it is possible to float on top +of a baby avalanche and to enjoy it, but with Skis on, the feet soon +become entangled and helplessness results. + +The first thing to do when an avalanche starts and no escape is +possible is to get the Ski bindings undone and the feet free. Then +"swim" with arms and legs and try to keep on top. If buried, keep one +arm over nose and mouth so as to keep air space and push the other arm +up, pointing the Ski stick through to the open so that it may show +your whereabouts. This is easy to describe, but probably not so easy +to carry out if the occasion arises. + +One of the first books on Ski-running advises people to carry some 60 +metres of red tape and to let this trail behind them when crossing +dangerous ground. Then, if overwhelmed by an avalanche, the red thread +can be picked up by the search party and the victim may quickly be dug +out. I have never met anyone who has carried out this suggestion and +do not want the extra weight of red tape in my Rucksack, but it makes +one think and realize how much other experienced runners have thought +also. + +The following precautions would seem to me to be better: + +Never ski along, or above, or below a dangerous-looking slope under +doubtful conditions. + +Never go for a tour without making sure beforehand that the route you +propose to follow is a safe one. + +Always carry out any instructions your Guide or the experienced leader +of your party may give. If you have any sudden doubt about the safety +of the slope you are on, make quickly for the nearest rocks sticking +up. + +If there are trees near get among them as quickly and quietly as you +can. + +If the snow begins to slip and you see no chance of Ski-ing quickly +away from the dangerous place, get your Skis off. This is where toe +bindings may be safer than heel bindings as they come off quicker. + +Never follow a track across a slope, about which you are doubtful, +thinking hopefully that the runner who cut it knew more than yourself. + +Never cut a track across a dangerous place at your own risk if there +is the slightest chance of misleading another runner into danger +later. + +Remember that though you yourself may be on a safe slope, the slope +above or below you may be so steep that the snow may slip off by +itself and your slope may be involved. This applies equally to running +along the bottom of a valley. The slopes on either side may be +dangerous, and if the snow slips you will be buried. + +There are so many perfectly safe runs that it is folly to risk being +killed by an avalanche, when it can easily be avoided by a little +forethought and common sense. + +Even if you do not mind the risk yourself, think not only of your +people waiting below, but also of the people who have to come and look +for your body. There have been several cases where the search party +have been overwhelmed by a second avalanche while digging for people +carried away by the first. + +January and March are probably the most dangerous months from the +avalanche point of view. In January the fresh snow is apt to slide +before it has settled. A few days after a new snowfall, most of the +avalanches will have come down and the ordinary runs will be safe +again, but every snowfall entails the same risk. There are some slopes +where the snow will never stay in February, but unless a Föhn wind or +rain make the snow heavy, most slopes are pretty safe below a gradient +of 25°. + +In March when the thaw begins more avalanches will fall. These usually +come down well-known tracks and can easily be avoided for this reason. + +This chapter may appear to be somewhat intimidating, but it is better +to be safe than sorry. Very few experienced Ski runners get into +avalanches and if ordinary precautions are taken and the advice of +experts followed beginners need have no fear. + +The Ski-ing maps usually show the more dangerous places, but every +runner should keep his own eyes open and learn all he can of +snow-craft in order to be able to explore new country as he becomes +proficient. + + + + +ACCIDENTS + + +Some people will think that I lay too much stress on the dangers of +Ski-ing. Considering the thousands of people who ski every Winter and +the extraordinarily small number of accidents, I admit that I have +exaggerated the dangers. But I do so quite deliberately because it is +only by realizing risks that they can be avoided, and my experience +proves to me that the average town-bred man and woman, boy and girl +have very little appreciation of life lived up against Nature. They +set out so lightheartedly and often so fool-hardily on an expedition, +without telling anyone where they propose to go, or when they expect +to be home, and without having provided themselves with the extra +equipment which may prove to be very necessary before the day is +finished. + +While writing this book I have constantly had in mind Ski-ing centres +above 5,000 feet, whence tours are made among the glaciers and at high +levels where the cold may be a danger during the months of January and +February. Much of what I have said of the necessity of carrying spare +clothing in good quantity does not apply so much to places below 5,000 +feet unless high tours are undertaken. But wherever people ski there +is a possibility of accidents due to falls, and though these are +seldom serious, they need attention. + +When someone is really lamed by knee or ankle, Ski-ing becomes very +difficult, except to the expert, who can ski mainly on one foot, and +walking through the deep snow, sinking at every step, is an agony, so +that some form of stretcher becomes necessary. + +Two or, better still, four Skis tied together, side by side, form an +excellent sledge, which will travel straight downhill every easily. +It practically refuses to traverse a slope so that the case has to be +slipped straight down to the bottom of the slope and along the valley +or level below. + +Skis usually have holes through the flat part of the tip in front. +A piece of strong wire should be threaded through these, care being +taken that the Skis lie parallel their whole length and that the tips +are not drawn together too much. A stick must be tied to the wire and +the Ski tips to keep them in position and to take the pull when the +sledge is drawn along. If there are trees about, a branch can be cut +to serve this purpose. If not, a Ski stick must be cut in half and +used. It should not project beyond the Skis on either side, or it will +catch in the snow. + +The other half of the Ski stick or another branch must be tied across +the Skis, by the toe irons, to keep the Skis parallel there also, and +to give solidity to the sledge. People sometimes tie a strap or string +round the Skis, including their running surfaces, forgetting that this +will soon cut through with the friction of the snow. + +To finish the sledge, put some fir branches on it, the bushy part of +which will make it more comfortable to lie on. The thick wood of the +branch part should point towards the front of the Skis and be fixed +there. If branches are not available, Rucksacks can be used for the +injured person to lie on. He will probably be more comfortable going +downhill if he can be laid head-first downwards on the sledge. + +To draw the sledge along, join a lap thong or sealskin or rope or +puttee to the outer Ski tips, and also to the ends of the stick across +them. In order to prevent this from pulling these Skis forward too +much it is well to tie a string to the inner Ski tips also and join +them to the pulling rope. + +Another rope or thong should be attached to the stick and centre toe +irons, so that this can be held from behind to prevent the sledge +travelling too fast downhill. Experienced runners will be able to +travel on Skis while getting this sledge down, but beginners will do +well to wade on foot, especially the rear man, who has to control the +speed. Neither the pulling nor control rope should be attached to the +body of the person holding it because a sudden jerk may pull him over +and the sledge be stopped suddenly with a jar to the person hurt. + +Most club huts are provided with excellent ambulance sledges, which +may be used, and which should be conscientiously returned to the +Rettungschef of the locality. + +There is a Rettungschef in every mountainous district whose duty it is +to help with accidents when these are reported to him. He arranges to +send out Guides and porters with an ambulance sledge to the assistance +of any party in trouble. If, therefore, your accident be a serious +one, and you are far from home, the wisest plan may be to send one or +two of the best runners down to the nearest village for help, while +the remainder stay with the injured person. For this reason it is +always unwise to go out with fewer than three in a party. Five or six +are a better number on a long day's run. + +Remember the people waiting at home, and when you have made +arrangements for help to go to your party ring up your friends and +tell them what has happened and what you have arranged. Having often +seen the anxiety of relations and friends when their party comes home +late, I know how important this is. Even if you are only delayed for +some small reason such as a train being late, it is kind to ring up, +and this is easily done, as there are telephones in almost every +village. + +While on this subject I would again like to urge that before going off +on an expedition of any length the Concierge and someone should be +told in writing the destination, the route, and the hour anticipated +for return. Then, if the party does not turn up and no news comes +through, a search party can be sent out with some hope of finding +them within a reasonable time. Time is very important in January +and February, when the weather is cold, as people can be badly +frost-bitten if benighted. + +Search parties are expensive luxuries, as it is risky work for the +Guides, who deserve to be well paid for it. I have only once followed +a Rettungschef with his five assistants and their ambulance sledge, +and shall never forget the pace at which their lantern went ahead of +us, dancing like a will-of-the-wisp. A runner had come home at 5 p.m. +with news that one of the party had hurt his knee some four miles from +home. This runner had already wisely rung up the Rettungschef from the +first house he came to, and a party of Guides was being collected. I +decided to go out with some friends in case the accident was a serious +one and we could bring the remainder of the party home, and so save +the Guides that duty. They were all beginners who were benighted. + +We followed the lantern and saw it stop and knew the Guides had +reached the people in trouble. When we caught up they already had the +patient looking like a mummy, rolled up in blankets in a canvas bag on +the sledge. I could hear him choking over the brandy which was being +poured down his throat. He had only hurt his knee, but his friends, +who were all real novices, had had a wearing time getting him down. + +The way in which the Guides handled the job filled me with admiration +and confidence. When they found we were ready to herd the party home, +they shot off with their sledge and the lantern soon became a speck of +light in the distance again. + +I also had a lantern that night, and found it delightful to ski by, +but doubt whether anyone else profited much by its light except as a +guide to direction. + +When a person is hurt and helpless at a high level, in winter, cold is +the most immediate danger, and all spare clothing should be piled on +him, and his limbs should be rubbed to prevent frost-bite. When he +cannot be moved, a fire might well be lit if below tree level where +wood is available, because, though the lighting of fires is forbidden +in the Swiss forests, a breach of the law would surely be overlooked +in case of danger to life. The heat of the fire would help to keep +the patient warm, while its light would act as a beacon to the search +party. + +The following is the code of signals in use among the Alps: + +_The Alpine Signal of Distress_-- + +(a) By Day.--The waving of anything (a flag or stick with an article +of clothing attached) six times in a minute, repeated after an +interval of one minute without signals. + +(b) By Night.--A light flashed six times a minute, repeated after an +interval of one minute without signals. + +(c) By Sound.--Six sharp calls, or whistles, in the minute, repeated +after an interval of one minute without signals. + +_The Answering Call_-- + +(d) Anything waved, a light flashed, a sharp call, or whistle three +times in the minute, repeated after an interval of one minute without +signals. + +If a Ski runner does not remember the exact signal any regular signal +repeated a definite number of times in a minute, with a minute's +interval, should prove sufficient. Similarly, if you hear a signal +repeated at short regular intervals, you should always suspect a call +for help. + +An ordinary whistle is hardly loud enough for the sound to carry any +distance and a siren might be better. Newspaper could be used for a +flare if the party does not possess a lantern or electric torch, but +it would not last long. + +Finally, may I suggest that everyone who takes up Ski-ing seriously, +and who carries gear to be used in emergency, should be proficient in +the use of such gear and not wait till it is needed to find out how to +fit it. + +To experiment in making an ambulance sledge while an injured person +lies beside you and when your fingers are cold and people are buzzing +round you with suggestions, which may or may not be better than your +own ideas, is a bad plan. It is wiser to have made the experiment at +home and to have got someone to drag you down a hill on the result, +and then you will know something about it. A new game for the Nursery +slopes, and what fun for the spectators who already think all Skiers +mad! + +I would like to add at the end of this chapter on accidents that +during the many years I have enjoyed Ski-ing, and with the hundreds of +beginners I have helped, I have never met with a single really serious +accident. + +One or two knees and ankles twisted and now and then a cut or severe +bruise have been among the worst cases I have come across. + + + + +THE ATTRACTIONS OF SKI-ING + + +Though some runners are content merely to enjoy the actual practice of +Ski-ing with all the difficulties to be overcome and the various turns +to be perfected, the greater proportion probably ski mainly on account +of the exhilaration obtained, the freedom enjoyed, and the wonderful +beauty of the places reached. + +The amazing thing is that Skis were not used sooner among the Alps. +They have already in less than thirty years entirely altered the life +of the young people in far-away villages, who used to be practically +shut up during the winter months, but who can now ski from one place +to another on Sundays and holidays, enjoying the companionship of +their friends and widening their outlook by mixing with strangers. +This will probably have a very good effect on the population of the +High Alps, who will be less inclined to leave their homes in order +to get away from the monotony of the long winters. So much is this +appreciated that Ski-ing is now part of the school curriculum in some +districts, often taking the place of gymnastics during the winter. + +It is amusing to watch the classes of children out on the Nursery +slopes with their teachers. While we foreign women Ski-runners are +provided with elaborate costumes, including breeches or trousers, the +little Swiss girls ski in frocks and cotton pinafores without cap or +hat, and often without gloves. Led by their teacher they wearily climb +up the slopes, and then comes the mad career home to the midday meal. +Twenty or thirty little girls all dashing down together practising +turns as they go, or making as straight down as they dare in their +effort to outpace their rivals. + +The boys carry the sport still further and most local Ski-jumping +competitions start with a demonstration by the boys, who often do not +look more than 10 or 12 years old, and who go over the big jump as +straight as their elders and usually a good deal more gaily, as they +have not begun to appreciate the dangers. The smaller boys line the +sides of the jump and pour out at the word of the judge on to the +steep landing-slope like a lot of little goblins, jumping on their +Skis horizontally to flatten away any track or hole made by a jumper +who has failed to jump perfectly. Little chaps of seven or eight run +through the woods on these occasions, swanking their turns through the +trees and putting most grown-up runners to shame by their nimbleness. +At Pontresina one winter I was much amused by one of these small +children wearing a British third-class test badge which he must have +picked up. I asked him where he got it, but he hurried away for fear +I would claim it, and his Christianias through the big trees made me +very envious. + +Many of the children ski to school and back, getting endless practice +all through the winter months. + +May I here appeal to British runners who may have old Skis, even +broken ones to throw away, to offer them to the local branch of the +Swiss Ski Club as there is an organization which mends them or cuts +them down for lending or giving to the school children, who are too +poor to provide themselves with Skis. + +When the beginner has learnt the elements of straight running and +turns and begins to go off among the mountains the real interest of +Ski-ing is begun, with the slow climb up in single file, first of all +through woods and then out on to the open slopes. This is usually a +silent game as breath is needed for the climb, and it is dull work +keeping up a conversation with the back ahead. Sometimes, as one +inadvertently steps on the Skis ahead, a gruff word is flung back and +the trespasser is wise who stops, pretending to attend to his binding, +or to look at the view--the view is usually worth looking at, too, as +there is usually something to see. If it is not a distant view of the +Great Alps or of the valley below, it is of trees or rocks, which, if +examined carefully, usually show some sign of life. I remember being +snubbed by an ardent Ski-er because I ventured to ask "What are those +black birds?" "Who wants to know about birds when he is ski-ing?" was +the answer. I did want to know, and I found out that they were Alpine +choughs and I still want to know when I see the inhabitants of the +mountains or their tracks. + +Most of the wild animals use old Ski tracks as highways now, even +finding it worth while to follow the zigzag of an uphill traverse. +Foxes, hares and roe deer all use them, the roe deers' feet showing so +much tinier than the chamois, who leaves a deep rough track as they +usually run in each other's footsteps. The hare's track when running +is two holes abreast and then two single ones. The fox runs rather +like a dog. The squirrel hops two feet at a time, often leaving a +slight ruffle on the snow as he swishes his tail. Among the cembra +trees in the Engadine the snow may be sprinkled with the nuts out of +the cones. They are delicious eating, being very like the Italian +stone pine nut, or pinelli, and they attract the squirrels as much as +they do the nutcracker bird. + +Martens and pole cats leave distinct footmarks. Weasels, also, and +these are easily recognized as they usually start from a hole under a +bush or a rock. One day when a party of us were silently traversing a +slope above Mürren a tiny brown ball came rolling down, which, when +picked up, proved to be the warm dead body of a mouse. Looking up we +saw a weasel peering out of his hole anxious as to the fate of his +dinner. A mouse's track also usually starts from a tiny hole and the +two feet go abreast, while the tail leaves a line all the way. + +We nearly always see chamois and roe deer when ski-ing in the woods +at Pontresina as it is a protected area and they are not shot and +therefore become very tame. The chamois are driven down into the woods +in search of the lichen which hangs like a beard from the branches of +the cembra trees. On Muottas Celerina this winter we saw four chamois +below us in the wood. Without a word our guide, Caspar Gras, dashed +down the slope after them and very nearly caught one round the neck, +as they were surprised, and knowing there was a precipice beyond the +scrub below them, they could not make up their minds which way to go. + +The roe deer scrape away the snow below the trees in search of +alpenrose or bear berry leaves or dry blades of grass. They suffer +more than the chamois after a heavy snowfall because they are not so +strong and cannot scamper through it. At the beginning of this season, +Klosters had a snowfall of some two metres and the roe deer were +driven down to the villages where the peasants fed them in stables +till the weather improved. Four were caught on the railway, having got +on to the line at a crossing and being unable to spring out over the +high banks of snow. + +Ibex are being let loose in order to re-establish them where they were +exterminated a few years ago. They can usually be seen through the +telescope at Bernina Hauser above Pontresina, and also opposite +Mürren. The ibex, or steinbock, is used as the Coat of Arms of the +Canton of Graubünden, and is familiar to Ski runners as the badge of +the local Ski Club of Zuoz in the Engadine. + +After some controversy eagles are being encouraged to increase, having +been almost exterminated. We saw a beauty sailing over the Muottas +Muraigl Valley one day. There is even talk of trying to get bear back, +but the peasants obstruct this as they were so destructive to sheep. +As a child at Davos I saw three bears brought in dead by hunters, +and remember with pride, mixed with disgust, tasting a bear's paw. A +peasant told me of how as a boy he looked after the village sheep near +the Silvretta Glacier, and of a bear who used to come and kill a sheep +and then bury it in the ice for future eating. + +Ski runners shudder at the idea of meeting a bear while on a run, but +they need not worry as the bears roll up and sleep through the winter +so that unless the Ski-er took an unusually heavy fall into the bear's +hole, he would be safe enough on the surface. Besides which it is said +that a bear cannot traverse down a slope, so that the Ski-er could +easily get away unless the bear rolled to the bottom, and then ran +along and waited for him. As there are no bears in Switzerland now, +perhaps it is waste of time to start a controversy about the best turn +with which to circumvent a bear. Cows are much more dangerous. I was +pursued down the village street at Pontresina by a playful cow, who +had been taken to the pump to drink. She put down her head and stuck +up her tail and I wasted no time in pushing away from her. + +Another animal which hibernates through the winter is the marmot, and +I often think of them sound asleep under the snow as I pass along the +slopes of some high valley. They are said to have breathing holes, but +I have never seen them, unless this was the explanation of some holes +which puzzled me on the Schiltgrat above Mürren. I was traversing +uphill a long way ahead of my party and noticed some isolated holes in +the snow, very like Ski stick holes, but with no Ski tracks near. As I +passed a grey hen flew out of one of the holes, and, looking back, I +saw several black cocks and grey hens flying away. It is more likely +that they had made their own holes to shelter in rather than that +these were marmot holes. + +Ptarmigan often greet one on the higher ridges and sometimes a +capercailzie will get up with a noise which is very apt to upset one. + +The choughs are persistent followers of a Ski-ing party, flying over +one's head and chirruping for lunch. When at last we stop and take our +nosebags out of our Rucksacks, they perch on a cliff near and wait +till we move on, when they immediately fly down to see what we have +left for them. I have seen a paper lunch-bag, which they were unable +to tear, absolutely surrounded by a circle of their footmarks, some +eight feet in diameter. How they must have worried it and each other +in their endeavour to get at the contents. + +At Mürren a pair of ravens also accompany the Ski-ers. They take their +perch high up and watch the many luncheon parties, croaking now and +then to remind us of their wish to share our slices of beef and +sausage. These "packed lunches" are usually so plentiful that the +choughs and the ravens get a goodly feed. The tidy Ski-er who buries +all his paper and orange peel and other debris will often find next +day that the whole thing has been dug up by a fox. + +At many of the Alpine huts, the snow-finch has adopted the habits of +the sparrow and is often so tame that he will almost take crumbs from +one's hand. + +Another bird I love among the Alps is the dipper or water ouzel. +Ski-ing along the snow banks of the rivers, I have often watched him +hop down into the water and run along the bottom picking up whatever +his food is among the pebbles. + +Surely most Ski runners can spare time to watch all these little +people, whose rights to the snow fields are even greater than their +own. + +Very little vegetation shows in winter, but it is wonderful what a lot +one can find if one looks carefully and it certainly makes Ski-ing +more interesting to me if I can recognize the trees, plants and seeds. + +A very fair estimate can be made of the different heights by noticing +what grows. + +Corn stops at 2,000 to 3,000 feet, though a little rye may be grown +up to 5,000 feet in sunny places. Fruit trees and beech trees stop at +about 4,000 feet. There is one beech tree above Davos about 5,500 feet +above the sea, but it has never succeeded in topping the huge boulder +which shelters it from the North. The silver fir is healthy at 4,000 +feet, but is seldom found much above that level, while the spruce or +fir goes up to 7,000 feet and does best there. Larches seem to thrive +best at about 5,000-6,000 feet, but may be seen almost as high as the +top of the Bernina Pass on the south side facing Italy. The cembra +pine, like a great cedar, is the finest tree in the Alps and does +best at 6,000 feet to 7,000 feet. It is also called the Arolla pine, +because of the forests near that place. In the Upper Engadine almost +all the forests are of cembra and there is one splendid old tree known +as the "Giant Tree" near upper tree level on Muottas Celerina. Another +group of veterans grows just below the Little Scheidegg on the +Grindelwald side. Many of these trees are said to be 600 or 700 years +old and their wood is much used for panelling in Graubünden. It is +recognized by the big dark knots. The panels are usually formed of +boards reversed so that the knots form a symmetrical pattern. Larch is +also used and is very red, while sycamore goes to the making of tables +and chairs in the Bündner Stübli. Good examples of the modern use +of these woods may be seen in the hotels, Vereina and Silvretta, at +Klosters, while the museum at Zurich contains beautiful old panelled +rooms from different districts. + +Creeping down steep avalanche slopes above 5,000 feet we find _Pinus +montana_, whose long branches form a tangle in which to catch one's +Ski tips. Below 5,000 feet this pine will sometimes grow almost +upright but never attains much height. Alder may also be a trap for +Skis on an avalanche slope where it creeps downhill and provides a +very slippery surface for the snow. I remember shooting down such a +slope about 100 feet when the snow slipped with me in a safe place. + +Along the rivers the alder grows into quite a fine tree, and if its +catkins be picked at Christmas and are brought into the warm house, +they soon blossom out and spread their green pollen over everything. +Rather a nice way of bringing a reminder of Spring into one's Winter +holiday. + +Birch and mountain ash grow happily up to 6,000 feet on sheltered +slopes but after 6,000 feet there are no deciduous trees, except the +tiny creeping willows buried deep under the snow. + +Juniper is the most ubiquitous shrub to be found, it seems to me. +You get its various types at sea level in Italy and on the top of +mountains up to 8,000 feet when it pokes up through the snow beside +the Alpine Rose or _Rhododendron ferrugineum_. + +On the top of ridges when the snow is blown away, all sorts of +treasures may be recognized. The creeping azalea with its wee +evergreen leaves, which no one, thinking of the garden azaleas at +home, would recognize as belonging to the same family. Little primulas +and saxifrages sheltering in cracks in the rocks, with nothing but +bunches of brown leaves to show them up. _Polygula Chamaebuxis_ +or Bastard Box almost always in flower on a sunny patch even in +midwinter. On the lower slopes, gentians or anemone plants with their +buds waiting to open when the soft wind or rain of Spring calls to +them. _Erica carnea_ with its whitish buds waiting for Spring to +colour them, one of the earliest of the flowers. Or the seeds of +_Gentiana lutea_ or _asclepedia_ or _purpurea_ and of Aconite or +Monkshood on their strong stems standing high above the snow. + +One winter when at 4,000 feet we had no snow at Christmas, we went +flower hunting instead of Ski-ing, and found thirty different sorts of +flowers out. But this was exceptional and by no means satisfying to +the Ski runner, who has come out for the sport he loves and not on +botany intent. + +Later, when the snow begins to melt on South slopes in March, the mass +of purple and white crocuses open to the sun; nothing in the whole +world can equal the mass of these crocuses. They push up as the +miracle of Spring, impatiently thrusting through the snow, melting +holes for themselves. The soldanellas do the same, but not till late +in March, and with them come gentians and the whole glory of the +Alpine Spring has begun. By this time the Ski-er has to oil and put +away his Skis or climb to the glaciers and higher snow fields. A +wonderful experience alternating between Spring and Winter as he +changes his levels. + + + + +SUMMER SKI-ING + + +The only experience of Summer Ski-ing which I have had is on the +Jungfrau Joch, about 11,900 feet above the sea. + +The Berner Oberland and Jungfrau Railways carry one up from Interlaken +to the Joch where there is an excellent new hotel, offering every +possible comfort. + +Good Ski-ing can be had on the glaciers and I am surprised that more +people do not come out for practice during the Summer. + +The two great draw-backs to this Ski-ing are, firstly, the expense +and, secondly, the difficulty of breathing. The expense is unavoidable +because the carriage of building materials, food, etc. to such a +height must necessarily entail high prices. Glacier Ski-ing, except on +the snow-field near the Joch, also usually necessitates the employment +of Guides. But these snow-fields are so extensive and so safe that a +week could be spent in practising without a Guide. + +After the first night on the Joch the feeling of breathlessness is +reduced, and so long as all climbing is done slowly no bad effects +need be expected by people in good health and condition. The Jungfrau +Joch can be reached from London in twenty-six hours, and keen runners +could enjoy a week or a fortnight of amusing Ski-ing on snow which +lends itself particularly well to the practice of all turns. + +The Jungfrau Joch branch of the Swiss Ski Club holds an annual meet on +the Joch in the month of July, which is well attended by Runners and +Jumpers from all parts of Switzerland. + +First-Class Guides and Ski Instructors can be found at the Joch. + +People who would prefer not to sleep at so great a height could stay +at the Scheidegg or Eiger Gletscher, at both of which places hotels +exist. + +In view of the shortness of Winter holidays, it seems a pity that +more enthusiasts do not profit by the chance of practising which the +Jungfrau Joch Railway offers in Summer time. I have twice spent two +days up there and have enjoyed them immensely. The snow was very +different to anything I ever met in Winter, but also very easy and +filled me with confidence. In July and August the crevasses show +clearly and need not inspire anxiety in anyone, except after a new +fall of snow, which may hide the smaller ones temporarily again. + +There must be several square miles of perfectly safe Ski-ing on the +glaciers behind the Joch, which provide Nursery slopes just as good as +anything found in Winter. The gradients vary, but it is easy to find +stretches of 10° to 30° unbroken by crevasses. + +Anyone coming out to ski on the glaciers in Summer time should bring +with them their own Skis or arrange to hire these at some Winter +Sports centre in the valleys. They should also be provided with all +the Ski-ing equipment they may need. A few pairs of Skis are kept for +hiring purposes on the Jungfrau Joch, but they are not very good ones +and it would be better not to depend on them. + + + + +REGULATIONS OF THE BRITISH SKI TESTS + +AS APPROVED BY + +THE FEDERAL COUNCIL OF BRITISH SKI CLUBS. 1923. + + + + +GENERAL REGULATIONS. + + +1. The British Standard Ski Tests have been drawn up by the Federal +Council of British Ski Clubs, hereinafter referred to as "The +Council." _The Council represents the following clubs, which are named +in the order of their foundation: The Davos Ski Club, the Ski Club of +Great Britain, the Alpine Ski Club, the British Ski Association, and +the Ladies' Ski Club_. + +2. The British Standard Ski Tests are of two kinds: Cross Country +Ski-ing Tests and Jumping Tests. There are three Tests of each kind, a +First Class Test, a Second Class Test, and a Third Class Test. + +3. The Tests are open to all ski-runners without payment, but +successful candidates will only receive a certificate and badge +if they are members or prospective members of one of the Clubs +represented on the Council. A candidate who has been proposed +and seconded for a constituent Club, and who has paid a year's +subscription, and whose election is pending, will be deemed a +prospective member for the purpose of this rule. The following sums +will be payable for the badges. These sums may be paid through the +members' Clubs or direct to the Hon. Secretary of the Council. + + First Class Badge 35s. + Second Class Badge 3s. + Third Class Badge 2s. + +4. In Switzerland francs will be accepted instead of shillings in +payment of badges. + +5. Certificates and badges will be awarded to any person who has +passed the Cross Country Ski-ing Tests: First Class, a gold +badge; Second Class, a silver badge; Third Class, a bronze badge. +Certificates will be issued to those who have passed the corresponding +Jumping Tests, and these certificates will entitle the holder to +receive a Jumping badge when the Council authorizes the issue of new +badges. + +6. Application for the badges, accompanied by a certificate signed by +two judges, shall be made either to the local representative of the +Club or to the Hon. Secretary of the Council, K.R. Swan, Esq., 1 Essex +Court, Temple, within three months of the passing of the Test. + +7. Certificate holders will alone be recognized as having passed the +tests. _No certificate will be recognized as valid unless issued to +a member of one of the constituent clubs of the Council_. A list of +those certified as having passed any of the tests will be issued +periodically by the Council. + +8. _Judges_.--No candidate can be judged for any test nor for any part +of a test unless two qualified Judges are present. No candidate can +be passed for any part of a test except by being judged formally and +knowing that he is being judged. + +9. The Judges are appointed by the Council; the appointment is for +the season only. Judges and Emergency Judges must be of British +nationality. + +10. The Council also appoints an emergency committee, any one of whom +shall have the power to appoint temporary judges for the season only, +to act with a Judge elected by the Council. Such temporary judges +shall only be qualified to judge such tests as they have themselves +passed. The appointment of an Emergency Judge will not be recognized +by the Council unless the appointment is notified to the Secretary of +the Council. + + +CROSS COUNTRY SKI-ING TESTS. + + +GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES. + +The following definitions may be taken as applying to the three tests: + +_Stemming Turns_.--For the purpose of these Tests, Judges must insist +that candidates shall adopt that type of stemming turn known as the +"lifted stemming turn," that is to say, the stemming turn which is +finished by lifting round the inside ski. + +_Telemarks_.--In the Telemark the back ski should drop behind, and the +bend of the back ski should not be ahead of the ankle of the leading +foot and should not be allowed to come forward till the turn is +completed. Candidates who start the turn with a mixture of ordinary +stemming should not be passed. + +_Christianias_.--The Christiania may be done _either_ by separating +the points of the ski and completed by bringing them parallel--the +so-called "open Christiania"; _or_ by keeping the ski parallel +throughout and jerking them round, the "jerked Christiania"; _or_ by a +very slight stem, the ski being immediately brought parallel after the +turn has started, the so-called "Closed or Stem Christiania." + +In every case the essence of the Christiania is that the swing should +be rapid, and that the preliminary stemming or diverging of the skis +should be as slight as possible. + +A turn started by pronounced stemming and completed as a Christiania +should not be passed. + +_Continuous Turns_ are sometimes known as "downhill turns." They are +used to connect one tack with another, and differ from stop or uphill +turns in that the turn is made away from the hill instead of up +towards the hill. Candidates must not stop between two continuous +turns. + +_Hard Snow_.--For the purpose of these tests, any well-beaten down +practice slope from which all traces of soft snow have disappeared may +be considered as hard snow. Hard crust superficially softened by the +sun cannot be considered as hard snow. + +_Soft Snow_.--For the purpose of these tests, a deep layer of powder +snow resting on hard crust, or hard crust superficially softened by +the sun, but not breakable, may be considered as soft snow. + +_Form_.--The Judges must consider the "form" of the runner, as well as +his speed and steadiness. The distinguishing marks of good "form" are +an easy balance without dependence on the sticks (see below), an erect +position, except on steep slopes, and a narrow single spoor in soft +snow. + +_Use of the Sticks_.--Candidates should carry sticks throughout these +tests, but the sticks should not be used to reduce speed nor to help +out a turn. On the other hand, a candidate may be allowed a prod with +a single stick at the end of a turn provided that he is carrying a +stick in each hand, or in the event of the candidate using a single +stick that this stick is only held in one of his hands. _He must not +put both his sticks together, nor hold a single stick in his two +hands, during any of these tests, unless expressly directed to do so +by the Judge_. + + +THE THIRD CLASS TEST (CROSS COUNTRY). + +The Third Class Test consists of three parts, which may be passed on +different days, and before different Judges. + +Part (a).--_The ascent of 1,500 feet in not more than 1 hour 30 +minutes, and the descent of the same distance within a time which +shall be decided by the Judges. This time shall not be less than +7 minutes, nor more than 20 minutes, and shall not exceed 12 +minutes unless sanctioned by a Second Class Judge or member of the +Emergency Committee who is present and judging_. + +Part (b).--_Four continuous Lifted Stemming turns on a slope of hard +snow or hard snow covered by a shallow layer of soft snow. The angle +of the slope to be between 15-20 degrees_. + +Part (c).--_Four continuous Telemarks in soft snow on a slope of +similar gradient_. + + +INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES. + +1. The course selected for Part (a) should include at least 200 feet +of moderately difficult ground. Courses such as the Lauberhorn at +Wengen, which is an unbroken descent of 1,500 feet that a good runner +could take straight, should not be chosen. No part of the course +should be along a road. + +2. Throughout the Test candidates must carry rucksacks, which should +weigh about six lbs. for men, and three lbs. for ladies. The ski must +not be removed during the test, except to clean or repair them. + +3. The Judges should, if possible, appoint two time-keepers. During +the descent not more than six candidates must be judged in one batch. + +4. Not more than three attempts at Part (b), and not more than three +attempts at Part (c) are allowed on the same day. + +5. The attention of the Judges is directed to the General +Instructions. The gradient on which Third Class candidates are +expected to do their turns is gentle, as the intention is to secure +that candidates should master the proper methods, so as to be able +later to make real use of the turns on steep slopes. Judges are +therefore urged to insist that the stemming turns and Telemarks are +done correctly and in good style. Each turn should be short, well +defined, and not a mere change of direction. + + +QUALIFYING TEST FOR THE SECOND CLASS (CROSS COUNTRY). + +No Candidate may enter for Parts (a), (b) and (c) of the Second Class +Test until he has passed the Qualifying Test, and no Candidate may +enter for the Qualifying Test until he has passed the Third Class +Test. + +The Qualifying Test consists of three parts, which may be passed on +different days and before different judges, but which must all be +passed in the same season. + +Part (a).--_Four continuous Lifted Stemming turns on a slope of hard +snow at an angle of 25-30 degrees_. + +Part (b).--_Four continuous Telemark turns on a slope of soft snow at +an angle of 25-30 degrees_. + +Part (c).--_Christiania swings to a standstill (right and left) from a +direct descent at a fair speed_. + + +INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES. + +1. Not more than three attempts at any one part should be allowed on +the same day. + +2. The Christianias should be done on the level or on a gentle slope +after a descent from a steep slope, as a stop Christiania is more +difficult on the level than on the slope. + +3. The Judges must require a considerably higher standard of +steadiness and certainty than in the Third Class Test. The object of +the Third Class Test is to ensure that candidates learn the correct +methods of making the turns. The object of the Second Class Test is +to ensure that candidates can make practical use of these turns on +moderately steep slopes. + + +THE SECOND CLASS TEST (CROSS COUNTRY). + +The Second Class Test consists of three parts, which must all be +passed in the same season, and should, if possible, be judged by the +same Judges. + +Part (a).--_A descent of not less than 2,500 feet, mainly on soft +snow. The course selected should provide opportunities for straight +running on reasonably steep slopes_. + +Part (b).--_A descent of not less than 1,000 feet on hard snow, such +as unbreakable crust or snow which has been thoroughly beaten down_. + +Part (c).--_A descent of at least 500 feet of woodrunning, dense +enough to prevent straight running, but not too dense to prevent +continuous turns_. + +1. A Second Class runner may be defined as a runner who can run at +a good speed on hard or soft snow of unvarying quality, and who +is, above all, thoroughly steady on his turns. A runner who runs +recklessly without judgment, and who shows little power of selecting +a safe line, should not be passed even if he takes slopes straight at +the expense of frequent falls. _The Second Class Test is, in the main, +a test of steady controlled ski-ing at a good, but not at a racing +speed_. + +2. Candidates must not use their sticks to control speed nor to help +out a turn except under very exceptional circumstances and with the +express permission of the Judges. The Judges must, however, satisfy +themselves that the Candidates understand the use of the stick, and +could, in emergencies, where speed is vital, increase their speed and +steadiness on difficult snow by the use of the stick. + + +QUALIFYING TEST FOR THE FIRST CLASS (CROSS COUNTRY). + +No candidate may enter for Parts (a), (b) and (c) of the First Class +Test until he has passed the Qualifying Test that entitles him to be +judged for the First Class Test, and no candidate may enter for this +Qualifying Test until he has passed the Second Class Test. + +The Qualifying Test consists of five parts, which may be judged on +different days and before different Judges, but which must all be +passed in the same season. + +Part (a).--_Four continuous lifted Stemming turns on a slope of hard +snow at an angle of not less than 30 degrees_. + +Part (b).--_Four continuous Telemark turns on a slope of soft snow at +an angle of not less than 30_. + +Part (c).--_Four consecutive jump-turns to connect downhill tacks on a +slope of breakable crust at an angle of about 30 degrees_. + +Part (d).--_Christiania swings to a standstill (right and left) from a +direct descent at a very high speed_. + +Part (e).--_Four continuous Christiania (see General Instructions) on +a slope of about 20 degrees_. + + +INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES. + +1. The turns must be done round sticks or flags placed by the Judges. + +2. Not more than three attempts at any one part are allowed on the +same day. + +3. Soft breakable crust will usually be found on slopes with a +southerly exposure just after the sun has struck them or just before +the sun leaves them. + + +FIRST CLASS TEST (CROSS COUNTRY SKI-ING). + +The First Class Test consists of three parts, which must all be passed +in the same season and should, if possible, be passed by the same +Judges. If this is impracticable, Judges must indicate on the Test +forms which parts they have judged. Not more than two parts shall be +judged on the same day. + +Part (a).--_A descent of not less than 2,500 feet, which should, if +possible, be continuous without any intervening stretches of level or +uphill. The course selected must provide ample opportunity for fast, +straight running, and must also include a fair proportion of steep and +difficult ground_. + +Part (b).--_A descent of not less than 1,000 feet on really +difficult snow, such as hard, wind-swept, unbreakable crust, on which +Lifted Stemming turns are practicable but Telemarks impossible, varied +by breakable crust in which only Jump turns are practicable_. + +Part (c).--_A descent of not less than 500 feet of difficult +woodrunning in which continuous turns are just possible for a +first-class runner._. + +The above represents a minimum, rather than a maximum. If Judges can +devote sufficient time to the Test, each section may well be repeated +on different days in order that the Judges may have ample opportunity +of coming to a decision. + +For a descent of about 500 feet, the candidate should lead in order +to test his capacity for choosing a good line. During the rest of the +Test one of the Judges must lead and must set a first-class speed. The +other Judge must remain behind the candidate in order to compare his +speed and steadiness with that of the leading Judge. + +A First Class runner turns as little as possible and slows up as +little as possible before each turn. His turns are done at a high +speed on all but very steep ground. + +_The candidate must satisfy the Judges that his running combines high +speed, thorough steadiness on difficult ground and difficult snow, and +an easy, effortless control of his ski_. + + +SKI-JUMPING TESTS. + + +GENERAL REGULATIONS. + +1. The length of a jump shall be measured with a taut tape from the +edge of the take-off to that point at which the hindermost ski touches +the alighting track with the part immediately below the binding. + +2. To constitute a standing jump the runner must not fall within +a distance of 40 metres from the edge of the take-off or within a +distance of 60 metres where the jump, as in the First Class Test, +exceeds 30 metres. If the runner comes to a standstill without falling +within this distance he will be held to have stood. + +3. If a runner saves himself from falling by supporting himself with +his hands, he shall be considered to have fallen. + + +THIRD CLASS TEST (JUMPING). + +1. Every Candidate is required to make two standing jumps of not less +than 10 metres. Four attempts are allowed on the same day. + +2. Any two Judges appointed by the Council for the Cross Country +Ski-ing Tests are qualified to judge this Test. + + +SECOND CLASS TEST (JUMPING). + +1. Every Candidate is required to make two standing jumps of not less +than 20 metres. Four attempts are allowed on any one day. + +2. Any two Second Class Judges appointed by the Federal Council for +Cross Country Ski-ing Tests may judge this Test. Any Candidate who has +passed this Test may replace one of the Second Class Judges. + + +FIRST CLASS TEST (JUMPING). + +1. Every Candidate is required to make two standing jumps of not less +than 30 metres. Four attempts are allowed on any one day. + +2. Two Second Class Judges appointed by the Federal Council for Cross +Country Ski-ing may judge this Test. Any Candidate who has passed the +Second Class Jumping Test may act in place of one of the Second Class +Judges. + + + + +INDEX + +Accidents +Adelboden +Alpine Club Huts +Ambulance Sledge +Andermatt +Aneroid +Arosa +Attractions of Ski-ing +Avalanches + +Bergun +Bernese Oberland +Bernina +Bindings +Boots + +Campfer +Cap +Care of Equipment +Celerina +Clothing +Clubs +Coats +Compass +Cost of Ski-ing Holiday +Crampons +Cutting the Track + +Dangerous tracks +Davos +Diablerets +Discarded Skis, disposal of + +Elements of Ski-ing +Engadine +Engelberg +Equipment +Equipment List +Etiquette + +Falls +Fex Thal +Finding the Way +First Aid Equipment +Foot plates + +Gloves +Gradients +Graubunden or Grisons +Grindelwald +Gstaad +Guides + +Hat +Heights +History of Ski-ing + +Inn Valley +Instructors +Iron for waxing + +Julier Pass +Jungfrau Joch + +Kandersteg +Kesch +Klosters +Knife + +Lantern +Lap Thong +Lauterbrunnen +Lenzerheide +Light +Lifting a Ski + +Maloja +Maps +Mending Outfit +Montana +Morgins +Muottas Muraigl +Murren + +Nursery Slopes + +Oiling + Skis + Boots + Bindings + +Para Iron +Parsenn +Pockets +Pontresina +Puttees +Putting on Skis + +Rettungs Chef +Rhone Valley +Right of Way +Rucksack +Runaway Skis + +Saanenmoser +Samaden +Scheidegg +Schuls +Scraper +Search Parties +Side Slipping +Side Stepping +Signals of Distress +Silvaplana +Sils-Maria +Ski-ing Centres +Skins (Seal) +Skis +Snow + Soft + Hard + Crust + Sticky +Socks +Spare Binding +Spare Clothing +Spare Ski Tip +Spectacles +Splugen +Sticks +St. Moritz +Stockings +Straight Running +Summer Ski-ing +Sweaters + +Tests + Elementary + Third Class + Second Class + First Class + Regulations + Jumping +Toe Irons +Traversing + +Uphill Work + +Villars + +Wax +Wengen +Wind Jacket + +Zuoz + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ski-running, by Katharine Symonds Furse + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10969 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c69db6 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #10969 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10969) diff --git a/old/10969-8.txt b/old/10969-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6437aa1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10969-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4559 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ski-running, by Katharine Symonds Furse + +************************************************************** +THERE IS AN IMPROVED ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THIS TITLE WITH A +LINKED TABLE OF CONTENTS WHICH MAY BE VIEWED AS EBOOK (# 55472) +at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55472 +************************************************************** + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Ski-running + +Author: Katharine Symonds Furse + +Release Date: February 7, 2004 [EBook #10969] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SKI-RUNNING *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Greg Chapman and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + +[Transcriber's note: The spelling and punctuation inconsistencies of the +original have been retained in this etext.] + + +SKI-RUNNING + +BY + +KATHARINE FURSE + +G.B.E., R.R.C. + +WITH MAP AND FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS + +1924 + + + + +PREFACE + + +So many excellent books have been written about Ski-ing that it is, +perhaps, presumptuous on my part to think that there is room for +another. + +Mr. Vivien Caulfeild in his "How to Ski" and "Ski-ing Turns," as well +as Mr. Arnold Lunn in his "Ski-ing for Beginners," "Cross Country +Ski-ing" and "Alpine Ski-ing," have covered all the ground of +the technique discovered up to date. What future discoveries and +inventions may be made, requiring new books, no one knows as yet. + +Had it not been for the help and coaching these two exponents of +Ski-ing have given to me personally, I should never have been able to +enjoy the sport to the extent I do now, because I should probably have +been content to continue running across country, falling whenever I +wanted to stop, and using a kick turn at the end of my traverses. +Their enthusiasm and example gave me new ideas of the standard I +wanted to attain, and their unfailing kindness and advice helped me to +get nearer to it than I could otherwise have done. + +The standard still lies away up out of reach, as age undoubtedly tells +against the Ski-runner, and the perfect Christiania in deep, soft snow +round trees growing close together on a steep slope must be done in +heaven rather than on earth by people who are nearer fifty than forty. + +Much experience of coaching beginners convinces me that there is still +room for a book such as I hope to make this--a book containing only +the simple answers to questions put to me during the last three years, +when I have been responsible for running the Ski-ing in various +centres. The object of such coaching is to raise the standard of +British Ski-ing, and it is satisfactory to realize that other nations, +including the Swiss, already marvel at the fair average of our +runners. This is specially remarkable when it is remembered that most +British runners can only afford a bare fortnight or three weeks' +winter holiday in the Alps, and that they are not always in training +when they arrive. Ski-ing is a sport which exercises every nerve and +muscle as well as lungs, as is soon discovered during the first 100 +feet climb or the first fall in deep snow on the Nursery slopes. + +In addition to my conviction that there is room for another book +for beginners, my love of the Alps, which have been my home for the +greater part of my life, also induces me to try to show something of +the real objects of Ski-ing; namely getting to the silent places which +can only be reached on skis, realizing something of the strength +and immensity of Nature at her grimmest, profiting by the wonderful +atmosphere of the mountains, to say nothing of the beauty of an Alpine +view on a fine day. + +The greatest pity is that most British winter holiday-makers can only +go out for Christmas. This is admittedly the worst time from the +point of view of weather. At low altitudes rain often falls early +in January, turning the snow into slush and reducing the Ski-er to +despair. After the 15th January, the weather is usually better, and in +February the days are longer and finer. The best time of all for an +Alpine holiday is usually February and early March. My advice to +novices, who are not tied by Christmas holidays, is to come out about +the 20th January, when the hotels are less crowded, the days longer, +the snow more certain and all the conditions more favourable. Some of +my own best Ski-ing days have been late in March when the crocuses and +gentians were already opening to the sun on the Southern slopes, and a +soldanella might be found along some tiny stream. Few experiences can +equal a Spring day among the Alps when the wealth of flowers begins +to show in the valleys, while masses of good snow still lie on the +Northern slopes or on the ridges above 6,000 feet. + +Early starts are necessary these days as the sun blazes after 11 a.m., +but nothing can equal the bodily comfort and well-being enjoyed at +midday, lunching at the top of some peak or pass, basking in the blaze +and imagining the run down cool slopes. No Ski-runner, who has not +been out in late February or March, realizes the joy and comfort of +late Ski-ing. The hotels will remain open as long as clients stay to +make it worth while, and all the mid-winter amenities will be kept up +if they are wanted. + +In recommending places and equipment, I intend boldly to confine +myself to the places I have been to and to the equipment I have used, +or of which I have had reports from people I trust. This is a somewhat +risky determination as there is great competition among the various +centres and business firms which cater for Ski-runners. My reason is +that the endless advertisements must be extremely confusing to the +novice, who does not know what to believe, and who may sometimes be +let down by a glowing description of some place or gear, which proves +to be quite unsuitable. + +The old hands will find nothing new in this book. Not even controversy +about the nomenclature of turns or as to which foot should carry the +weight in a Christiania. My own view of Ski-ing turns is that they +are a means to an end, and not an end in themselves, and that the +Ski-runner, who is content to spend weeks on the Nursery slopes, +perfecting one turn, has wasted almost weeks, when he might be +enjoying what Skis enable one to reach among the mountains above. At +the same time every beginner should be content to devote two or three +of his first days to the Nursery slopes, learning the elements of good +Ski-ing before dashing off on an excursion. As I know from painful +experience, there is much to unlearn in what one has picked up by the +light of Nature. Scrambling down a run, crashing and sitting on one's +Skis, may be great fun the first day, but is tiring and humiliating +as time goes on. It is infinitely preferable to learn the knack of +Ski-ing tidily, and thereby keeping dry and, in a few days, running +well enough thoroughly to enjoy a day out with its slow climb to the +top of some peak or pass, and then the slide down under control. + +This is where tests are so valuable. Most people undoubtedly enjoy +competition and, if the passing of the turns is made a necessary +qualification for the timed run of the 3rd class test, most beginners +will determine to learn them and then to try the Run and, having +successfully passed that, wear a Badge. Badge-hunting, like +pot-hunting, may not be a very worthy object in itself, but if it +encourages people to become proficient in a beautiful sport, let us +give our weakness of character free play and achieve the results it +leads to. The tests of the Federated Ski Clubs of Great Britain have +done more to raise the standard of our running than anything else +imaginable. + +The beginner is wise, who chooses a centre where the Ski-ing is well +organized, and where he can be certain of getting coaching as well as +excursions suited to his standard, as nothing is lonelier than going +to a place where he is dependent on his own initiative; neither is +anything more irksome to the good runner than to be asked to admit a +stranger to his party, who may keep him back and spoil his run. This +will be further alluded to in the Chapter on Etiquette, and if a +beginner wishes to be popular, I advise him strongly to adhere to +the "Law." A strict code has been adopted, mainly as a result of the +suffering from pertinacious runners, who put their standard higher +than is admitted by others. + +Where the Ski-ing is organized, tests sort different individuals into +their different standards and Runs are planned accordingly, so that +the novice is not over-strained and the experienced runner is not +hindered by too big a party. + +The beginner should also choose a centre where there is a railway to +help him. A great deal of precious time and energy may be wasted in a +short holiday when all climbing has to be done on skis. The first runs +are tiring enough without the additional fatigue of climbing, and +going up in a funicular or railway opens up numbers of runs which +would be far too energetic for most people who are not in training. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +PREFACE + +HISTORY OF SKI-ING + +COST OF A SKI-ING HOLIDAY IN WINTER + +SKI-ING CENTRES + +CLOTHING + +EQUIPMENT + +CARE OF EQUIPMENT + +THE ELEMENTS OF SKI-ING + +ETIQUETTE + +SNOW AND LIGHT + +FALLS + +TESTS + +GUIDES AND SKI INSTRUCTORS + +MAPS AND FINDING THE WAY + +AVALANCHES + +ACCIDENTS + +THE ATTRACTIONS OF SKI-ING + +SUMMER SKI-ING + +APPENDIX: REGULATIONS OF THE BRITISH SKI TESTS + +INDEX + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + +From photographs by E. Gyger, Adelboden, Switzerland + + +ACHIEVEMENT! + +MAP OF SWITZERLAND + +THE UPHILL TRACK + +POWDER SNOW + +SPRING + + + + +SKI-RUNNING + + + + +HISTORY OF SKI-ING + + +Very little is known of the early history of Ski-ing. Doctor Henry +Hoek in his book "Der Schi" gives a very interesting chapter tracing +the use of Skis back to the earliest records. He thinks that Skis were +used by Central Asian races thousands of years B.C. and long before +they were used in Europe. According to his book the word "Schi" is +derived from the Gothic "Skaidan," the German "Scheiden," Latin +"Scindere," and so on. All these words mean split or divide, and might +be used to describe the split wood of which Skis are made or their +action in dividing or separating the snow through which they pass. + +Doctor Hoek further says that early records show how Ski-ing was a +sport practised by knights, and he quotes Rognwald of Orkney (1159 +A.D.) who states that he could run on Skis. + +The Swedish Bishop Magnus writes in 1533 of the way in which the +Norwegians used Skis for traversing country when hunting. + +During the Swedish and Norwegian war in 1808 the Norwegian Army +included 2,000 Ski runners, but the use of Skis does not seem to have +come into warfare again until the Great War of 1914-1918, when the +Swiss, Austrians and Italians all used them on the Alpine frontiers. + +The modern and fully recorded use of Skis began about 1843 when the +sport became really popular in Norway and a Ski race was run at +Tromso. In 1861 a Ski Club was founded, and in 1863 an exhibition was +held there. + +The Swedes also took up Ski-ing as a sport at about this time but Skis +do not seem to have penetrated into Central Europe until after 1870 +when a French doctor tried them at Chamounix in 1871. + +The first introduction of Skis into Switzerland, which I have been +able to trace, was by the monks of St. Bernard, who obtained some +pairs from Norway in 1883, thinking that they might be useful in their +work of mercy, rescuing pedestrians who were in difficulties on the +Pass. About 1887 Colonel Napier came to Davos bringing with him a +Norwegian man-servant and a pair of Skis. Mythical tales were told of +the way this man slid down the slopes from châlet to hotel, carrying a +tea tray on his shoulder. I have only a vague recollection of seeing +him perform, but when Colonel Napier left Davos the same year, he gave +the Skis to me to play with. They were very similar to modern Skis but +had a rigid binding made of sealskin with no means of tightening or +loosening it. Not knowing better, I used to try to run in gouties or +rubber snow-boots which slipped about inside the binding so that I had +absolutely no control. This did not make much difference, as I knew +nothing of the art and only used the Skis as a freak on days off from +tobogganing. I knew nothing of wax, and when the Skis stuck, they +stuck, and I thought it a poor game. When they slid I sat down and +I thought it a poorer game. It never entered my head that I could +traverse across any slope and so I always went straight down and only +by a fluke did I ever stand. Then Tobias Branger, who was a great +sportsman and kept a sports shop at Davos, imported several pairs of +Skis and practised the art himself. + +About this time Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Dobson +took up the game and we spent many hours practising on the slopes +behind Davos Dorf. + +The Richardson brothers, who had been to Norway, came to Davos about +1893 bringing with them knowledge of the sport and soon gathered round +them a keen lot of disciples. The Davos English Ski Club was formed +and from now on Ski-ing spread rapidly throughout Switzerland. + +In the meantime, Ski Clubs were also being formed in the Black Forest +and other parts of Germany, as well as in Austria. + +Doctor Nansen, in his book about Greenland, described the use of Skis +for Arctic exploration and his accounts fired a great many more people +to try the game. + +I advise anyone who wishes to know more of the development of Ski +running to read Doctor Hoek's book "Der Schi," published in 1922, as +he gives a long account of the first forming of Clubs as well as the +gradual adoption of Skis as a means to winter climbing, and, further, +a useful list of the literature on the subject. + +After the first beginnings in 1899, the Swiss became energetic and +enthusiastic runners. The children could be seen on barrel staves with +a pair of old boots nailed to the centre into which they slipped their +feet with their own boots on. It was not a particularly graceful game +in those days. Runners armed themselves with poles some 8 feet long on +which they leant heavily when running downhill. This school soon gave +way to the more modern school, which proved that the carrying of two +sticks was better than one only. A great many books on the technique +of Ski-ing followed each other fast and furiously--Zdarsky and +Lilienfeld, Caulfeild and Lunn, Roget Hoeg and others all contributing +to the controversy on technique. + +Now there are innumerable Ski Clubs with their own year-books, and the +sport is so well launched, not only in Europe, but also in Australia, +New Zealand, East Africa and America and elsewhere, throughout the +world, that there is but little chance of its ever again dying out. + +The British Ski Clubs include the Ski Club of Great Britain, the +British Ski Association, the Alpine Ski Club and the Ladies' Ski Club. +These are federated in one Council and work harmoniously together for +the furtherance of British Ski-ing. + +This is a very incomplete history, but I feel that it is better +to limit it to a few dates and to await the publishing of a more +extensive history of Ski-ing in English than now exists. + + + + +COST OF A SKI-ING HOLIDAY IN WINTER + + +The expenses of a winter holiday differ according to the place chosen, +the hotel and the organization to whose care you commit yourself, if +any. Any figures I quote are approximate and are subject to change +owing to fluctuations in exchanges, etc. + +If you go to a large hotel, with all its luxuries, you will pay +anything from £1 a day upwards, and this may not include sports tax, +etc. The smaller hotels will probably make arrangements for pension at +about 16 francs, or even 14 francs, or less, per day, but may not +be very comfortable, and comfort is important in winter. It is +particularly necessary that the hotel should be well heated, as the +drying of Ski-ing clothes is a very important point. + +As I said in my Preface, the beginner will be wise who chooses a +centre where the sports are highly organized, and where he will be +certain to find coaching and arrangements made for tests and runs, as +well as a railway or funicular to help with uphill work. Only in such +a place can he learn enough Ski-ing in a short time to enable him to +begin to enjoy touring before he returns home, panting to come out +again and continue the experience. One joy of Ski-ing is that you +usually begin again where you left off, and have not to relearn what +you learnt the winter before. + +Having lived in the Alps off and on for forty-six years, and having +seen all sorts of different ways of running things, I realized at +Mürren, where I first learnt to ski properly four years ago, how much +the beginner profits by going to such a centre. Otherwise he may +waste infinite time in Ski-ing without skill and with only half the +enjoyment. It is not only at Mürren that the coaching is given, +though Mr. Arnold Lunn's system of helping everyone originated there. +Pontresina provides it also, and Klosters and other places as well, +but it seems to me that Mürren is the mother of up-to-date British +Ski-ing. + +The cost of a fortnight at a good hotel comes to about £15, including +sports tax, afternoon tea and heating. The journey about £7 return +2nd-class or £9 1st-class, in addition. This can be reduced by +travelling 3rd class in England and Switzerland, where at any rate it +is quite possible to travel 3rd class on any mountain railway. + +In addition to the expense of Pension at an hotel and of the journey, +at least £5 will probably be required for local railway fares, +subscription to entertainment fund, baths, gratuities, hire of Skis, +lessons, guides, etc. £30 ought to cover a fortnight, and £35 three +weeks, and a good deal less can be reckoned if a smaller hotel be +chosen. + +Most of the Sports Hotels will now quote an inclusive price per day, +to which at least 10 per cent. should be added to the estimate +for gratuities to servants. This is the recognized scale at which +gratuities are given by most people, though they might often amount to +more when any special service has been rendered. + +Local railway fares on mountain railways are high, because of the +great expense of keeping them open, but most of these railways offer +special sports tickets, either for a definite period as a season +ticket, or for a certain number of journeys. For instance, on the +Muottas Muraigl Funicular Railway above Pontresina 24 tickets single +journey can be obtained for the sum of Frs. 50, while the ordinary +single fare is Frs. 4.75, or more than twice the reduced fare. + +The cost of equipment must be added to the estimate, but this need not +be very great as Ski-ing boots and gloves are the only items which +cannot usually be used at home by men--trousers or breeches being an +additional cost for women. + +People sometimes complain that a Swiss winter holiday is very costly, +but I believe it can compare favourably with a golfing holiday at +home. Ski-ing is the cheapest possible sport, if runners are content +to foot it uphill instead of using railways or sledges. During the +months of February and March, special low terms can probably be +obtained in the hotels, as they are anxious to prolong their season, +and will do anything they can afford to induce British sportsmen to +come out then. February and the first half of March are the best time +from every point of view, so that no one who can take his holiday +then, and who does not want all the gaiety of the social side, will +regret going during these months. In old days before the war this was +fully appreciated and the season used to last three months, instead of +a short six weeks as it does now. + + + + +SKI-ING CENTRES + + +In this chapter I propose only to describe such of the larger Swiss +places as I know personally, or by reputation. There are a great many +smaller places where equally good, or even better, Ski-ing may be +found, but, as my book is meant mainly for beginners, it seems +preferable to adhere to the advice given in the preface, and for me to +mention only such centres as provide comfort in the hotels and good +coaching and organization of tours, as well as facilities for playing +other games. Most people when they go to the Alps for their first +winter visit wish to try all the different sports in order to see +which they like best, and there seems to me to be no question but that +the all-round sportsman gets the most out of his holiday. + +There may be days when Ski-ing is not possible or when a few hours on +the rink or toboggan run offer a relief to a stale Ski runner. It is +usually only the really keen enthusiast of some years' standing who +can spend the whole day waxing or oiling his Skis, or poring over a +map planning future runs. + +When choosing a place the first objective is a good supply of snow. +This does not seem to depend entirely on height, though there is more +likelihood of finding it above 4,000 feet than below that height. +Above 5,000 feet there is less chance of thaw and rain--the bugbears +of all Winter sportsmen, who can only go out for the Christmas +holidays. + +I have known a Winter when snow has lain in one district at 5,000 feet +and not at 6,000 feet in another, but this was exceptional. The higher +you go, the more hope you have of snow as a rule and also of frost, +which is so necessary to keep the snow in good condition. + +The centres I recommend are mainly arranged in groups geographically, +taking the Canton of Graubunden, or the Grisons first, because it is +the country I love best, having spent most of my early life there. The +heights are taken from Murray's Handbook. + +KLOSTERS, 3,970 feet above the sea. This seems to me to be one of the +very best Winter Sports centres. It is a small village with two large +and a few small hotels. It usually has good snow and is protected from +wind. There is plenty of sun, but North slopes provide good runs near +the village as well as on the Parsenn. + +The Rhaetische Railway helps runners to get the maximum of downhill +running for the minimum of climb, especially opening up the whole +Parsenn district to those who want a long day's tour with only some +1-1/2 hours' climb. + +The Nursery slopes are good, and there is plenty of open ground near +the hotels for practice. The Ski-ing is well organized by the local +club, and there are 1st-class Ski Instructors, as well as Certificated +Guides. + +The rinks are well kept and the Klosters run of old renown is +maintained in good condition for tobogganing or bobbing. + +There is quite a good Ski map to be obtained locally, but the Ordnance +Map should be used as well. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +DAVOS, 5,015 feet above the sea, was one of the first places at which +Winter sports began, and it still offers almost everything desired by +the Ski runner. The fact that Davos is much visited by invalids deters +a great many people from going there, for fear of infection. As a +matter of fact they are probably a good deal safer there than in some +other places where there may be a few invalids, but where the same +precautions regarding disinfection may not be taken. + +Two or three hotels are kept open for sports people only, and at these +the life is just the same as in all the other well-known centres. + +Davos is within very easy reach by the Rhaetische Railway of all the +Parsenn runs. The side valleys, Fluela, Dischma and Sertig, all offer +innumerable good runs to the energetic runner who does not object to +climbing, and there are endless Nursery slopes. It is one of the +few places whence tours can still be planned over almost unlimited +snow-fields when a track is a rare sight except on the few ordinary +short runs or on the Parsenn. + +The local club organizes the Ski-ing, and good Ski Instructors and +Guides are available. + +The rinks are excellent and the Schatzalp and Klosters runs are +maintained for bobbing and tobogganing. + +There is a good Ski map showing all the runs round Davos, but the +Ordnance Map should be used as well. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +AROSA, 5,643 feet above the sea, is said to be excellent for Ski-ing, +but I do not know it well. There is no railway to help runners much. +Invalids go there as well as to Davos, but the same precautions are +taken as at Davos. + +There are rinks and a very good run for bobbing and tobogganing. + +LENZERHEIDE, about 4,500 feet above the sea, has a fine reputation for +easy Ski-ing. There is no railway to help it and all uphill work has +to be done on Skis. I have never been there in Winter-time, but know +that a great many runners speak well of Lenzerheide. The Ski-ing is +organized, and good Instructors and Guides are available. + +There is probably a good rink, but of this I have no personal +knowledge. + +In the Engadine[1] valley, which is also part of Graubunden, the +following centres can be recommended. + +PONTRESINA, 5,916 feet above the sea. The Nursery slopes are very +extensive and offer short runs to the beginner. The Muottas Muraigl +funicular conveys runners up some 2,000 feet, when after an easy climb +of one hour a really good run may be obtained back to Pontresina. + +The Rhaetische and Bernina Railways open up a large number of good +runs in the Engadine valley and also up the Bernina and Morteratsch +districts. + +Open wood-running as well as glacier-running under safe conditions can +be enjoyed near home, and Pontresina is undoubtedly one of the best +places for people who want to perfect their cross-country running +under different conditions. + +There are no short afternoon runs ending in the village, but the +railways enable people to enjoy all the tours of the Upper Engadine. + +The longer tours, such as those over the Kesch Glacier to Bergün or +Davos, are unequalled so far as I know. + +Having spent two Winters at Pontresina, I can recommend it from +intimate knowledge, but only for the real beginner or for the expert +who wants amusing running. It is not the place for Ski-ers who only +want a short run between lunch and tea. + +First-class Guides and good Instructors are available. The Ski-ing is +organized and plenty of coaching is given to members of the Public +Schools Alpine Sports Club. + +Excellent rinks and short bobbing and tobogganing runs are maintained. + +A useful guide describing all the runs in the Upper Engadine can be +obtained locally. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +ST. MORITZ, 6,037 feet above the sea. +CELERINA, 5,750 " " " " +SAMADEN, 5,669 " " " " +are all served by the Rhaetische and Bernina Railway, and have the +same Ski-ing facilities as Pontresina. + +Their rinks and toboggan runs are well maintained, those at St. Moritz +being, of course, among the best in Switzerland. + +Good Guides and Ski Instructors are available, but, so far as I know, +Ski-ing is not in any way organized for beginners in these places. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +ZUOZ, 5,617 feet above the sea, is also a good Ski-ing centre further +down the Inn Valley. There are only two or three hotels, and the +village is quite unspoilt. It provides the most wonderful open South +slopes for Ski-ing and North slopes are also within reach across the +valley. + +Zuoz lies almost at the foot of the climb for the Kesch runs and also +taps the country further down the Inn valley behind Schuls. + +So far as I know the Ski-ing is not organized in any way, but Guides +are available. + +There are rinks, but, Zuoz being still one of the old-fashioned +places, life would be quiet there. + +CAMPFER, about 5,850 feet above the sea, and + +SILS-MARIA and SILVAPLANA, about 5,950 feet above the sea, lie +further up the Inn valley beyond St. Moritz. No railway exists to +help Ski runners, and the slopes are somewhat steep and apt to be +precipitous except in the Fex Thal, south of Sils-Maria, which has +lovely snow-fields. + +Campfer and Silvaplana tap the country lying behind the Julier Pass, +but, as no railway helps here, the tours entail a lot of climbing and +a drive on the way home. + +MALOJA, 5,935 feet above the sea, lies at the upper end of the Inn +valley. + +Never having been there in Winter, I cannot describe it during that +season. + +It is a beautiful place in Summer, and may open up a good deal of +country which is not much tracked, as there is no village and only one +large and two small hotels. + +The post road runs zigzagging down into Italy and is said to provide a +very fine bob or toboggan run. A Rink is kept open. Now that Maloja is +being opened as a Winter centre, every amenity for a Winter holiday +will probably be offered. + +The Bernese Oberland is also one of the best Ski-ing districts in +Switzerland. + +Mr. A. Lunn has produced a very helpful guide to all the Ski-ing tours +and also, with the help of Herr Gurtner, a first-class Ski-ing map, +using the Ordnance Map as its basis, so that only one map need be +carried. + +MÜRREN, 5,368 feet above the sea, seems to me to be one of the very +best centres for beginners as they receive so much help, and there are +numbers of short runs aided by the Allmendhubel funicular which runs +up some 700 feet above the village. From the top of this several short +runs end in the village or on the Berner Oberland Railway, which +brings the tired novice home without much effort. + +The Berner Oberland and the Wengern Alp Railways also enable people to +get the best of the Scheidegg runs down to Wengen or Grindelwald. + +The Ski-ing is very highly organized at Mürren and beginners receive a +great deal of help and encouragement. + +There are Guides and Instructors. + +The Rinks and bob run are admittedly among the best in Switzerland. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +WENGEN, 4,187 feet above the sea, is a lovely place, with the most +beautiful view of the Jungfrau. It faces south, but provides two or +three nice home runs, which remain in good condition except for the +tracks of innumerable runners. + +The Wengern Alp Railway is usually open to the Scheidegg, though after +a very heavy snow-fall it may take a few days to clear. This enables +people to enjoy all the runs down to Grindelwald, returning to Wengen +by train. + +The Ski-ing is organized and there are good Guides and Instructors. +Rinks and a most amusing toboggan run provide for off-days. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +GRINDELWALD, 3,468 feet above the sea, is too well-known as a Summer +resort to need much description here. + +Its main fault in Winter is that the sun disappears behind a mountain +for about an hour and a half in the middle of the day. This ensures +perfect ice on the rinks and does not much affect the Ski runner, who +can climb beyond the shadow for lunch. I cannot resist mentioning my +good friend Frau Wolther's tea-shop as one of the great attractions at +Grindelwald, drawing many a Ski runner over the Scheidegg from Mürren +and Wengen! Frau Wolther's unfailing welcome and hospitality are a +great joy at the end of a hot, wet run, and the fact that a change of +clothes can be sent round by train to her care is a great comfort to +those coming from afar. + +There are plenty of short Ski runs above Grindelwald, and the +Scheidegg railway is kept open as far as Alpiglen to help with the +climb on a long day's tour. + +There are good Guides to be had, some of whom are probably Ski +Instructors. + +The Rinks are first-class and both bob and toboggan runs are kept up. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +LAUTERBRUNNEN, about 3,000 feet above the sea. People who know +Switzerland well may wonder why I include Lauterbrunnen in my list, +but I have often wondered equally why no one makes it a centre for +Ski-ing. Though the sun may not shine there for long hours, the fact +that it lies at the junction of the Berner Oberland Railway, the +Mürren Funicular and the Wengern Alp Railway seems to me to make it a +very possible Ski-ing centre. + +There are good hotels, and the Herr Gurtners, whose home Lauterbrunnen +is, may be depended upon as two of the best Ski runners in Switzerland +and two of the most active pushers of Ski-ing, to do their utmost to +help any British runners who decide to try Lauterbrunnen. + +All the Mürren, Wengen and Grindelwald runs are within easy reach of +Lauterbrunnen, and if the railways will sell special tickets, the cost +of the journeys should not be prohibitive. + +To my mind, the fact that one could stop at Lauterbrunnen after a day +over the Scheidegg would be a great comfort, as the last journey up +to Mürren or Wengen is apt to be tiresome after a long run, if often +repeated. + +In any case it seems to me that runners might do worse than write to +Herr Gurtner at Lauterbrunnen and ask for particulars, at any rate for +the Christmas holidays, when most of the popular villages are very +full and the hotel rates are high. + +Good Guides are available at Lauterbrunnen. + +KANDERSTEG, 3,835 feet above the sea. I have never been there except +in Summer when I know it well. + +One great attraction about Kandersteg is that it can be reached by a +through train from Calais or Boulogne. + +From the Ski-ing point of view, I think Kandersteg might be +disappointing to the runner who hopes for short runs. There are +excellent Nursery slopes, and the Loetschberg Railway probably opens +up quite a lot of country. + +Guides are obtainable. + +Rinks and toboggan runs are maintained. + +ADELBODEN, 4,450 feet above the sea, is said to be an excellent +Ski-ing centre, but I do not know it personally, having only just been +up there in Summer time. + +There is no railway to help, so that all climbing has to be done on +Skis. It is within reach of very good tours throughout the lower +Bernese mountains. + +The British Championship was held there in 1923, which shows that the +Ski-ing is organized, and good Guides are, no doubt, obtainable. + +Adelboden, being a well-known Winter Sports Centre, the rink and +toboggan runs are probably excellent, but, never having seen them, I +cannot vouch for them. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +SAANENMOSER, 4,209 feet above the sea, lies at the top of the low +pass between the Simmen Valley above Zweizimme and the Sarine Valley +running down to Gstaad and Chateau d'Oex. + +There is only the one Sports Hotel and no village. It is a most +charming place within reach of Ski-ing in all directions among the +lower Bernese mountains. + +The Montreux Oberland Railway running down both sides of the +Pass helps a little by carrying Ski runners home after some long +excursions, but all uphill work has to be done on Skis. The slopes +are gradual and the Saanenmoser runs are perfect for people who have +learnt the elements of Ski-ing in some active place, and who then want +to gain confidence by free running over easy country. + +The Ski-ing was not organized when I was at Saanenmoser in 1921, and +neither Guides nor Ski Instructors were obtainable. There was only a +tiny rink and no toboggan or bob runs. + +Skis can be hired at Gstaad. + +GSTAAD, about 3,800 feet above the sea, lies below Saanenmoser, and is +a large village with numbers of hotels. The Ski-ing is very much the +same as at Saanenmoser and the Railway serves the same purpose, only +helping runners a little. + +I have never stayed at Gstaad, but have heard it well spoken of as a +Winter Sports centre offering all the usual attractions. + +Skis can be hired locally, I believe, and Guides are obtainable. + + * * * * * + +The Rhone Valley offers a few centres which I do not know in Winter. +Among those I have heard most about, the following are outstanding. + +VILLARS, 4,000 feet above the sea, is reached by a railway from Bex. +It lies on slopes facing South, and I gather that the Ski-ing there is +somewhat limited. + +The rinks are said to be good and the usual Winter attractions are +offered. + +MONTANA, 5,000 feet above the sea, is reached by a funicular railway +from Sierre. Like Villars it also lies on slopes, facing almost south, +but there seems to be good Ski-ing among the mountains behind. + +MORGINS. In addition to the above, I would mention Morgins, which I do +not know personally, but of which I have heard a good deal. Morgins +is 4,406 feet above the sea, and is particularly well-known for its +rinks, which seem to be first-class. The Ski-ing is said to be good +but not extensive. There is no railway. + +DIABLERETS, 3,849 feet above the sea, in a valley going from Aigle +among the mountains to the East, might be a good centre for Ski-ing, +but I only know it in Summer. So far as I have heard it offers the +usual attractions in Winter, but there is no railway to help much. + +In other districts of Switzerland the following places should be +mentioned, although I have never been to them in Winter time. + +ENGELBERG, 3,343 feet above the sea, in the Stans valley near Luzern, +is often well spoken of as a Winter centre, though it is liable to +thaw and shortage of snow. From what I know of it in Summer time I +should think that most of the surrounding slopes are too steep and +precipitous to allow of much free running, but the Titlis group +probably provides some open country and there is a short funicular +above the village. + +There are excellent hotels, and all the usual attractions are offered. + +ANDERMATT, 4,738 feet above the sea, lies in the Gothard Valley above +the Tunnel, and is easily reached in Winter by express trains stopping +at Goeschinen, whence a short mountain railway runs up to Andermatt. + +I have only been there in Summer, and from what I saw should imagine +that Andermatt was subject to a great deal of wind. The slopes all +look somewhat steep and are bare of forest, so that they might be +somewhat dangerous on account of avalanches. + +There is no railway to help Ski runners, but Andermatt might offer +quite a lot of good runs to experienced people. + +I know nothing of the other attractions for the all-round Winter +sportsman, but have little doubt that Andermatt, which is a go-ahead +place, does all it can to satisfy them. + +There are, of course, innumerable other places which may be good +Ski-ing centres, not only in Switzerland, but also in Germany, +Austria, and the Italian Tyrol. + +The Jura mountains and places, such as Splugen and Schuls in +Graubunden, might open up new districts. There is much new country to +explore, and I have only picked out for notice the few places to which +I have been myself, or of which I have heard from people I trust. + +My description may not always be appreciated by people who have +special affection for any one centre, but I have only tried to put +forward my own impressions for the guidance of any beginner who may +feel in a quandary as to what place to choose. + +So much depends on weather conditions: if there is plenty of snow and +if the sun shines, almost every place is delightful. If, on the +other hand, a thaw settles in or fog descends on the mountains, or +a blizzard blows the snow about, or, worst of all, if rain falls, +reducing the snow to slush, nobody will be satisfied anywhere. Luckily +for Ski runners, even a few inches of wet snow will provide practice, +so that they suffer less than other Winter sportsmen when the weather +is unfavourable. + +One thing can invariably be depended upon in Switzerland, namely a +warm welcome from the hotels, and every endeavour made to ensure the +comfort and enjoyment of their clients. + +No country in the world lays itself out more for the satisfaction of +its visitors, and no holiday can beat a Winter holiday among the Alps +when the conditions are favourable and the sportsmen determined to +enjoy themselves. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: There is apt to be a certain amount of wind in the whole +Engadine but its height counterbalances this by usually ensuring that +there is not a thaw, even at Christmas time.] + + + + +CLOTHING + + +Clothing should be light, smooth, warm, loose and, when buttoned up, +it should leave no gaps. It is better to wear several thin, warm +garments than one thick one, for the simple reason that going uphill +one wants to peel to the minimum; sitting on top of a mountain or +ridge in a wind, one wants to pile on everything one possesses, and +going downhill one wants a medium amount, all of which will button up +so that the snow cannot penetrate inside. Ordinary country clothes +will usually suffice for the first season, especially if they are of +smooth material which will shake off the snow. + +Men usually wear smooth wool or cotton gaberdene coats, and trousers, +and a peaked "Guide's" cap. Their trousers either tuck inside the +uppers of their boots and should be sufficiently long to do so without +pulling out in a strained turn or fall, or they may be buttoned round +outside the boots or folded and tied on with Norwegian puttees or +swanks. Breeches and stockings may be worn, but long puttees should be +avoided as they constrict the muscles and stop the circulation, thus +tending to frost-bite, which is a serious danger at high altitudes. + +Sweaters, unless worn under a coat when practising or running +downhill, are quite unsuitable as the snow gets into the stitches and +then melts, and the sweater becomes a sponge and often stretches till +it is more like a woman's coat-frock than anything it was before! A +Ski-ing suit should be well provided with pockets, all of which should +have flaps to button over and keep the snow out. Also to keep the +contents in. Money and other things carried loose are apt to fall out +in a downhill fall. Once this winter, when getting up from a fall, I +saw what looked like a useful leather boot-lace lying in the snow. +I picked it up and found it was the bootlace attached to two +stop-watches, which I had been using for a test. As one cannot tie +one's money up with a boot-lace, it is wise to carry it safely, and +cheat the goatherds, who may surely make a profitable living out of +the various treasures lost by Ski-ers, which appear on the slopes +after the snow melts. + +Women need very much the same sort of clothing as men. Either trousers +or breeches, whichever they prefer. These should be made to measure in +order to fit well and be worn with braces to pull them up. Thick boys' +stockings should be worn to pull up over the breeches. If women would +only realize how sloppy their nether garments sometimes look and how +really horrid breeches look hanging loose over silk stockings indoors, +they would surely be more careful to study and copy a man's neat legs +before they venture into man's apparel. + +One sometimes sees women's coats made with innumerable fancy buttons +or tabs as decoration. These only add to the weight which no one would +want to carry, and also look out of place. So does fur trimming. +Ski-ing clothes cannot be too simple. Elaboration is easily obtained +by bright-coloured gloves, scarves or swanks. + +Coats should be made with a belt, which can be buckled tight before +the descent. A sitting fall in soft snow is apt to provide the runner +with a good dose of snow inside the coat. For the same reason breeches +and trousers should be cut somewhat high above the waist. + +Women need just as many pockets as men, and I strongly advise two +large side pockets and two smaller breast pockets outside the coat, as +well as two inside breast pockets--all with flaps to button over. + +A felt hat is now usually worn by women Ski runners, who find the brim +a comfort on sunny days, while it also protects the eyes when Ski-ing +through a blizzard. Incidentally it helps to prevent snow from going +down the neck in a head-first fall. A chin-strap may be required for +fast running. + +Boots are, perhaps, the most important part of a Ski runner's outfit. +They must be water-proof and large enough to hold two pairs of socks +in addition to stockings. The soles must be so stout that they will +not buckle or bend under the instep when the Ski binding is tight. +Heels must be low and should be slightly grooved at the back to hold +the binding. I have no hesitation in saying that most of the Ski-ing +boots sold in England prove to be unsatisfactory. Such firms as +Lillywhite and Fortnum & Mason, which make a study of suitable +equipment, may be trusted, and almost every Swiss bootmaker now sells +trustworthy boots for Ski-ing. I always buy my own boots from Och, +who has shops at Geneva, Montreux, Zürich and St. Moritz. They can be +relied on for at least two or three long seasons, if one is careful to +oil the uppers with boot oil occasionally, and never to oil the soles +except with linseed oil, which is said to harden them. On the whole, +however, the soles are safest left untouched. Boots should never be +dried on a radiator or by a fire. Personally I like hooks, rather than +eyelets, and I find that leather boot-laces last longer than others. + +There is much discussion as to whether Ski boots should have nails in +the soles or not. They tend to wear away the aluminium or linoleum +plates fixed to the Skis under the foot, but on the other hand they +are almost indispensable when Skis are carried across a hard, steep +slope, or down an icy path. It seems to me that it is positively +dangerous to go any real Ski tour with unnailed boots unless crampons +or spikes to fit on to the heels be carried. New plates can easily be +fitted to the Skis when nails have worn through them, but nothing can +help the Ski-er down a steep, icy path or across a hard frozen slope +on smooth soles, unless he carries special contrivances to fix to his +boots. + +People are now trying crepe rubber soles, but they are not solid +enough to bear the strain of tight bindings unless fixed to the usual +thick leather sole, when the whole becomes too thick for comfort. My +experience for several winters with beginners is that the soles of +most English boots buckle as soon as they are subjected to the tight +pull of a leather binding. + +Few things are more irritating to a beginner than to find that his +binding will not hold on his boot. Over and over again in a run down +his Ski comes off and he delays his party by having to stop and put +it on again. Still it will not hold even though he ties it on with +string. Then he realizes that his boot is buckling. The sole arches up +under the instep and the binding, becoming loose, slips off the heel. + +There is no cure for this, and the only solution is to use a toe +binding, such as the new B.B., or a solid binding such as the Ellessen +or Lilienfeld, instead of a heel binding. As most hired Skis have the +Huitfeldt heel binding it is essential to ensure that boots are of the +very best. + +Gloves are another very important item of clothing. They should be +waterproof. This is easy to say but very difficult to obtain. The +rub of the stick on the palm of the hand tends to sodden almost any +material. Snow also gets inside during a fall and then, of course, +even the waterproof glove comes home wet. The best gloves are paws +made of thick horse-hide and lined with wool. They should have long +gauntlets wide enough to pull up over the sleeves and they should be +joined by a string going round behind the neck, under the coat collar, +long enough to allow of free use of the hands, and this string should +have another string joining it across the chest. It is often necessary +to slip off a glove and if they are not safely hung round the neck +they fall in the snow, which promptly runs inside, or they may be +dropped and lost. + +Socks are a matter for individual choice. Some people like goat's-hair +socks, which have many of the qualities or disqualities of a hair +shirt. They are prickly and, therefore, perfect as a counter-irritant +under very cold conditions, but far too irritating for ordinary wear. +I was much amused in a London shop last winter when I heard a Ski-ing +expert advising a lady not to buy "those repulsive goat's-hair socks." +When she had bought what he advised I said I had come especially to +buy "a repulsive pair of socks." He immediately explained that he had +advised the lady not to get them because they only had two pairs left, +and he did not want to sell them. He let me have a pair, and the +only time I wore them I thought with amusement of his advice and +explanation. The lady was undoubtedly well out of them, and I hope +never to use them again. Some people swear by them, so all tastes must +be allowed for. + +It seems to me better to wear two thin pairs of socks in addition to +stockings, rather than one pair of thick socks. If these seem to fill +the toes of the boot too much, the toe part of one pair of socks can +be cut off, the remainder being worn as an anklet. + +Swanks, or Norwegian puttees, may be used to tie the socks above +or over the boot so as to prevent the snow from getting inside. Or +shooting anklets may also be used, granted that they are large enough +to go over the wide uppers of a Ski boot as well as the socks. + +Footgear for Ski-ing is not elegant, but as every one wears the same, +nobody need feel shy. It is another reason for buying in Switzerland. +Ski boots of the right size bought in a London shop look so Gargantuan +that people will often insist on having a smaller pair than is really +useful when the time comes to wear them. + +Spare clothing should invariably be carried on any run beyond the +nursery slopes as, in case of an accident and delay in fetching help, +a runner who is hurt may be badly frost-bitten. This, of course, only +applies to high places during the months of December, January and +early February, when the thermometer may often register 32° of frost +or more after the sun goes down. + +When choosing equipment it is wise, therefore, to remember spare +clothing, which should include a Cardigan or Jersey, a dry pair of +woollen gloves, a dry pair of socks or stockings, a warm cap of some +sort to cover the ears and a scarf. All these should be chosen for +a combination of warmth and lightness. A wind-jacket is often +recommended. Some people carry a thin silk, or oil silk, or even +chamois leather, or paper waistcoat, to put on under their coats +when a wind blows. This is not necessary for any but long tours in +midwinter. A very useful "sail-cloth coat" specially made for Ski-ing +can be bought in most Swiss sports-shops and is excellent. + +The great thing to remember about clothing for Ski-ing is that +climbing uphill you will probably get very hot and perspire freely. +To stop in a biting wind in this condition without putting on spare +clothing is obviously risky. It is difficult to ski freely in heavy +thick clothes, so that everything should be warm and loose and made of +wool except, perhaps, the wind-jacket or the Swiss coat, which can be +worn over a sweater. + +Cotton or linen underclothing will probably soon be discarded, but +this is a personal matter, and need not be dealt with here. + + + + +EQUIPMENT + + +The minimum amount of equipment should be purchased before going out. +The Swiss shops are just as well provided with Ski-ing necessities as +the British and it is expensive to take out heavy luggage. Most Swiss +hotels will gladly store Skis or gear of any kind through the Summer, +and these can be posted or forwarded by rail to any place the runner +chooses for the following season. + +Clothing has been dealt with in a former chapter. Here I propose to +describe the equipment which I know, from experience, to be useful. + +Skis can be bought in England or in Switzerland. One or two English +firms, such as Lillywhite, which really take pains to obtain the best +possible quality of goods, may be trusted to provide Norwegian Skis, +but there are also several makers of good Skis in Switzerland. Skis +should be made either of hickory or ash. Other woods such as birch and +walnut have been tried but these do not appear to make as satisfactory +Skis as hickory or ash. Hickory is heavy so that the beginner will +do well to get ash Skis in the first instance. Their average length +should be the height of the Runner with his arm extended above his +head, the tip of the Ski when standing upright being in the palm of +his hand and his fingers just able to bend over it. When the novice +becomes more proficient, he may like to try longer or shorter Skis, +but the average length is best to begin with. + +Good makers, such as Bjornsted in Bern or Staub at Zurich, may be +trusted to make their Skis right proportionately, and the buyer need +not worry about their width or depth so long as the length is right. +There is a great deal of difference in the line of a Ski, as there is +in a boat. Flat ones are ugly compared with those which hump along +the centre, but they are also lighter. It seems to me wise for the +beginner to hire his first Skis, rather than to buy them. Most of the +sports shops in the different centres are very obliging and will allow +their clients to try two or three pairs of Skis in order to experience +the difference between them. + +They should not curve up too abruptly in front and they should be +about one inch apart in the centre when laid flat one against the +other. This spring adds greatly to the comfort of running and should +be maintained by the Ski having a block of wood between them when put +away for the Summer or even when laid by for two or three days. + +The question of binding is a very serious one. Broadly there are three +different types: + + (1) Toe bindings, by which only the toe of the + boot is attached to the Ski. + + (2) Solid binding with a sole attached to the + Ski. + + (3) Leather heel bindings. + +(1) I have tried two forms of toe bindings--the B.B. and the B.B.B. +and gave them up for the following reasons. Firstly, I think it a +dangerous binding. There is practically no give at all so that in a +bad fall when the foot is twisted under one, if the Ski does not move +the leg has to give way and may be broken. I think surgeons agree that +there are more accidents as a result of wearing a B.B. binding than +any other--so that it seems to me much better to start with another +type of binding and then go into the B.B. later if preferred. Another +drawback is that as the whole pivotal pressure in a turn is borne by +the toe iron, when a B.B. binding is worn, the toe irons are always +being forced open. Not only that, but the spring on the Ski which +holds the hook on the boot is so strong that it tends to pull the boot +through the toe irons, so that gradually the boot gets longer and more +pointed and the spring no longer holds. + +All this criticism may be due to prejudice on my part, but I have +tried the B.B. with enthusiasm and only gave it up because I was +convinced that a heel binding was more satisfactory. Since I tried it, +two or three new forms of toe binding have been put on the market, the +simplest of which seems to me to be the Davos form, which is merely a +strap fixed to the Ski with an iron loop at the end to fit into the +hook on the boot and an ordinary Huitfeldt spring buckle to fix it +firmly. + +(2) Solid bindings. The commonest forms of these are the Ellesen, +Lilienfeld and Bilgeri, but as I have never tried any of them, I can +say nothing about them. + +(3) Heel bindings. There are two main forms of these--the Lap thong +and the Huitfeldt. The Lap thong is merely a long strap of raw hide or +leather. A loop is drawn through the hole under the toe iron, the long +end is taken round the heel and through the loop, then back round the +heel and through a slit in the other or short end. The long end is +then carried under the foot and round the instep and finally tied off +with a knot. This has been improved upon by a ring and buckle being +added to save slitting the leather or knotting the ends. + +The Huitfeldt binding is a thick double-leather strap, which buckles +round the whole foot and has a strong spring to pull it taut when the +binding has been slipped on to the heel. This is the usual binding on +hired Skis. + +I have tried both these bindings, and now wear a Scheer binding, which +is a combination of the two--the long Lap thong with buckles and also +a spring similar to the one tightening a Huitfeldt binding. The chief +drawback to a Lap binding was that it took time to put on so that +fingers got very cold and clumsy when fitting it before a run down +from a height. The trouble about a Huitfeldt binding is that it is +thick and clumsy and the buckles stick out so that they catch in the +snow when running. + +The Scheer binding avoids these drawbacks. It is put on just as easily +as a Huitfeldt and the thin thong lies so closely along the boot that +there is nothing to catch in the snow. It is very easily lengthened or +shortened when the leather contracts or stretches and this is also +a great comfort. This binding being new, may not yet be obtainable +everywhere, but it is well worth trying to get. The Huitfeldt and +Scheer bindings both tend to give a little in a strained fall, so that +the foot slips round and the leg is usually saved. + +Toe irons pass through the Ski under the toes and come up either side +to hold the foot in place. They should be carefully fitted and, with a +view to this, the boots should be left overnight with the sports shop +and the Skis fetched next day. The boot should lie quite straight +along the Ski. If the toe irons do not fit properly, the boot will be +cock-eye on the Ski, and too much free play may take place. I have +often seen beginners take advantage of this to stick their heels out +and off the Ski into the snow to help them uphill, or to act as a +brake downhill. They will rue it downhill, however, as the foot should +be firmly held on the Ski or control will be impossible. + +Toe irons are sometimes made of very soft metal. These are usually +attached to Skis hired out by the sports shops in order that they may +be easily fitted to the many different shaped feet of the hirers. When +getting toe irons fitted to one's own Skis, it is wise to ask for +strong ones, as the soft irons give too freely to the pivotal action +of the feet in turns and tend to be constantly opening and becoming +loose. + +Cast-iron toe irons are often used in conjunction with toe bindings in +order to avoid the difficulty of the irons being forced open by the +boot being pulled through by the spring. These irons have one great +fault. They have to be screwed on to the Ski and are very cold under +the foot. This may be considered imagination, but I believe it to be +true, in which case it may be prejudice. + +The toe irons are joined over the toes by a leather toe-strap pulled +through and buckled. The irons should be so high that this strap does +not press at all on the boot, or restrict the free play of the toes. +The whole binding should be so fitted that it is possible to kneel +down on one's Skis. + +Foot plates are nailed on the Ski under the foot. These are usually +made of linoleum or aluminium. I prefer a thick plain aluminium plate, +and find that the snow does not stick to it. + +When the Skis have been chosen, sticks have to be provided. A pair +of sticks should be used, one being carried in each hand. They are +usually made of hazel or bamboo. The latter are light, but tend to +split. I always use hazel, which are cheaper and very satisfactory. + +Sticks should be so long that they reach to just above the waist and +should not be very heavy though strong sticks are necessary for all +real touring. They should have padded leather knobs at the tops, +as these prevent the stick from slipping out of the hand and being +dropped during a run, as well as saving the hand from blisters when +the stick is much used in practising lifted stem or jump turns. Wooden +knobs are often used but these tend to get coated with ice, which wets +the glove and is uncomfortable. + +A leather or webbing thong is passed through the stick or nailed under +the knob as a loop to hang them up by, but should never be put round +the wrist except for uphill work as the wrist might easily be broken +in a bad fall, if the stick be attached to it. My great idea is to get +rid of my sticks in a fall, as I once impaled my leg on the spike of +my stick in a somersault. I was thankful that the spike was a short +one and not one of the newfangled aluminium spikes which would have +penetrated much further and might easily have done damage to the bone. +Only a short spike is necessary--just long enough to go into crusted +snow and hold. + +The discs round the bottom of sticks should be large, about seven +inches in diameter, and they should be loose so that they will lie +flat with the Ski when packed. I prefer them put on with a thong which +passes through the stick and is crossed backwards and forwards across +the disc, allowing of plenty of free play in the disc. By this means, +the thong does not cut where it passes through the stick. Discs are +often made almost solid and then fixed to the stick with an iron hasp, +which is apt to snap or to split the stick. + +Sticks hired out with Skis usually have small discs and no knobs, and +most beginners will soon wish to possess their own pair, which only +cost about twelve francs. A word of advice here. Keep your sticks +in your bedroom. Even in the best Ski-ing circles sticks sometimes +disappear--and once your own sticks go, you are tempted to take +anybody else's and so the mischief goes on! + +The Rucksack is a very important item of equipment It should be +waterproof and large, even if you do not intend to carry much. Nothing +is more uncomfortable than a small full Rucksack, perching like a +football on one's back. By the time a packed lunch and a cardigan +as well as some spare gear is stuffed into the sack, it swells. Two +outside pockets and one large inside division are indispensable. Keep +wax, scraper, string, etc., in one outside pocket ready to hand. Map +in the other. + +Leather shoulder straps are the best as they do not cut the shoulder +in the same way as webbing. I once hunted a great many London shops in +vain for a Rucksack with leather shoulder straps. They all had thin +webbing, which soon turns into a wisp and hurts the muscles of the +shoulder. The leather straps should finish on a ring at the top which +should be attached to the top of the Rucksack by a leather tab firmly +sewn on. This is a much safer system than running the string, which +pulls up the top of the sack, through the shoulder straps at the back, +because the pull on the string chafes it and gradually cuts through +it. Some experienced runners prefer the Bergans Rucksack on an +aluminium frame. It is unquestionably heavier than the ordinary sack, +but the frame resting on the hips helps to distribute the weight and +it is said to be less tiring to carry. Another joy about it is that +the frame keeps the sack off the back, so that there is an air space, +and the usual poultice effect of an ordinary Rucksack is avoided. + +There are many different types of Rucksack to be had in Switzerland. +They should be waterproof and as the waterproof material is very +expensive now, a good serviceable sack costs at least Frs. 17.00 to +25.00. The better Rucksacks have straps fixed outside for carrying +one's coat or possibly sealskins. (Sohms skins should be carried +inside the sack.) I advise people to carry the various contents of +their sacks in different bags, or tied up in handkerchiefs. This may +sound old-maidish, but it is a trick I learnt from Swiss climbers and +I am very thankful. Anyone who has hurriedly searched his sack for +some particular bit of gear knows the sort of haystack which results, +while if first-aid equipment, sealskins, spare bindings, emergency +rations, mending outfit, etc., are all carried in separate, +differently coloured bundles inside the sack, endless time is saved. +This is particularly worth considering in a blizzard, when fingers are +cold and nothing can be found. + +Skins are used for climbing uphill on tour. They consist of long +strips of sealskin, which are attached to the running surface of the +Skis. The hairs lying towards the back of the Ski catch in the snow +and prevent the Skis from slipping backwards, which is a great help +and saving of energy. The Skis can be kept in good slipping condition +with oil or wax, and when the skins are taken off at the top of a run, +very little further preparation is necessary. + +There are two forms of sealskins: + +(1) Sohms skins, which are attached to the Skis with wax. + +(2) Those made up on canvas with straps to fix them to the Skis. + +The latter can usually be hired by the day for about Frs. 3.00 from +the local sports shop, and cost about Frs. 20.00 to buy. Most runners +now use the Sohms skins, the great gain being that one can run +downhill almost as well when they are still on, so that on a tour with +one or two short descents _en route_, the Skis may be left on. + +Waxes are of many kinds, and some runners, not content with what they +buy, prefer to mix their own. + +The waxes most used in Switzerland are Skiolin, both hard and soft, +Sohms' with red, yellow or green label, and Parafine. + +I have found that hard Skiolin ironed into the running surface of +the Ski with a hot iron, provides a good surface. Sohms' wax being a +climbing wax is apt to stick to some kinds of snow and if Sohms' skins +have been used, it is wise to scrape all this wax off before the run +down and to polish the Ski with Parafine wax if it needs a finish. On +hard snow this is not necessary. + +Some waxes are used as climbing wax instead of skins, but as different +sorts are needed for different types of snow, they complicate life +almost more than is worth while. + +A very good permanent surface on Skis is obtained by oiling them +repeatedly with linseed oil, allowing them to dry thoroughly between +each coat of oil. This is a somewhat lengthy process and an impossible +one if the Skis are in daily use, but it is much the best method at +the beginning or end of the season. + +The best Sohms' skins are dark grey or black and they cost about Frs. +25. The leather surface should be carefully waxed with green label +Sohms' wax before starting on an expedition. The wax should be +very thinly spread, and it is wise to get this job done at leisure +overnight and to lay the skins together with their waxed surfaces +touching, and to keep them in a warm room, but not near a heater or +stove. + +When starting on an excursion wear the skins wound round your body +under your coat so that they remain warm and supple until required. +Then wax the running surfaces of the Skis with yellow label Sohms' wax +as sparingly as possible. It should be spread smoothly and without +lumps. When putting on the skins lay them along the Skis from the tip +towards the back and run your thumb down the line of the centre groove +in the Ski, while you press the skin on evenly over the whole Ski. + +New skins are apt to shrink after use, so it is better not to cut the +strap, which slips over the tip of the Ski. The best plan is to make +a second slit in this strap and slip it on, and then if the skin is +still too long turn the end part up over the Ski at the back, sticking +it on with wax. Then, when the skins have been used for two or three +days, it is easier to decide what length the strap should be. + +Having put your skins on, lay the Skis flat on the snow so that the +skins will freeze on. + +Sealskins must never be dried by a heater or stove as the heat +shrivels them and they are ruined. + +When not in use, they can be kept rolled up in a bag and should be +carried in the Rucksack rather than hanging on outside. Frozen skins +are very difficult to attach. + +A scraper should invariably be carried when Ski-ing, even on the +Nursery slopes. These are made of aluminium and the best type has a +groove which will fit into the groove of the Ski and scrape this as +well as the flat surface, as ice is apt to adhere there also. Some +runners carry, attached to their belt, a Norwegian hunting knife in +its case. This is excellent for scraping the Skis and for any purpose +for which a strong knife may be wanted, but it always seems to me that +it would be a nasty thing to fall on. + +A strong ordinary knife should invariably be carried. The Swiss +military knife is the best possible as it seems to include practically +everything necessary. A really good one costs about Frs. 12.00 or Frs. +14.00, though inferior steel may be had for a great deal less. It +should have a ring and be attached to the belt. + +Dark spectacles or goggles should be included in equipment. + +A mending outfit is often needed, and at least one member of every +party going on tour should carry something with which to mend broken +Skis. There are many patterns of spare Ski tip on the market, all of +which may be useful in certain circumstances, but I have no doubt that +the wooden Ski tip is the best. It is just an ordinary front part of a +Ski, about two feet long and planed off, so that it will lie close to +the broken Ski. This is fixed on by metal clamps, which are made on +purpose and can be bought in most winter sports shops. Holes, at +different intervals fitting the clamps which should be put on +lengthwise, may be bored beforehand in the Ski tip, in order to save +time when the tip may be needed on tour. The gimlet supplied with the +clamps is usually a poor one, and I always carry a spare gimlet, a +little larger than is necessary, as it is difficult to make the holes +in exactly the right place in a broken Ski. Cold and clumsy hands have +always to be reckoned with when Ski-ing. + +The clamps being somewhat roughly made are apt to break so that one +should carry at least five pairs. In putting them on, take care not to +drop the little square nut off the bolt into powder snow as it sinks +at once and may be irretrievably lost. + +Other makes of spare Ski tips include one made of cast aluminium +produced by Lillywhite, who will probably improve upon it, as at +present it seems to me to be too flat. The method of fixing it is, +however, a good one. + +The Swiss sports shops also keep light tips made of tin and copper, +which are affixed by various methods, but they are usually too short +and thin to be more than a makeshift. + +If a Ski is broken near the front, the wooden Ski tip, when properly +adjusted enables one to run any distance quite comfortably and even +permits of turns. It is clumsy to carry except in a Bergans Rucksack. +A long, narrow pocket might be sewn diagonally across the back of an +ordinary Rucksack in which to carry it, but I am afraid it would be +uncomfortable. I tried such a pocket vertically and found it quite +intolerable and even dangerous in some falls. + +Mending outfit must also include a spare binding and a toe strap, +as well as some string and cord, wire, and two or three leather +boot-laces. The best spare binding to carry is a Lap thong, as it is +easier to push through than a Huitfeldt, unless a thin single strap is +carried for the front part of the latter. In any case a bit of wire +facilitates the pulling through of the thong or strap. + +An inexperienced runner, who has not used a Lap thong, should try +fitting one at home before depending on it in emergency, as it is a +little tricky to put on at first. + +Runners going any distance on tour should carry some sort of first-aid +equipment. It need not be elaborate, but should include bandages, a +clean dressing (a first field dressing is the best and most compact), +iodine and adhesive plaster, and some vaseline or boracic ointment. +Even a scratch will go on bleeding on a cold day and be very tiresome. +Accidents are miraculously few and far between in Ski-ing, considering +the falls and the large number of people who ski. But they happen +occasionally, and it is as well to be prepared. + +The list of gear could be prolonged to any extent, as "What to carry +in my Rucksack" becomes an enthralling hobby. Everyone will eventually +decide what he thinks he ought to have, in order to come home with a +free conscience after any eventuality. Another runner has suggested +my adding a pair of small pincers, a pocket tool outfit, matches or +fusees, an electric torch, scissors. + +Weight has to be considered, as the more the Ski runner carries the +greater the effort, but there is undoubtedly great satisfaction +in feeling that one has everything which might be helpful in any +emergency. If three or four runners are going together the whole gear +can be distributed among them, but this makes it more necessary than +ever for the party to keep together as a spare Ski tip or similar +luxury is no use at the bottom of a run when the accident is near the +top. + +Even if one does not need all the gear oneself, it seems better to be +prepared to help other people who are in difficulties. + +The following lists show firstly what I think every runner going +several miles beyond home ought to carry; and secondly what a great +many runners carry in addition: + +(1) A strong knife with corkscrew, leather punch, tin opener, etc. + +(2) A Ski tip, gimlet and mending outfit. + +(3) Wire. + +(4) String and cord. + +(5) Spare binding and toe strap. + +(6) Dark yellow glasses (Triplex are safest). + +(7) Siren or strong whistle. + +(8) Emergency ration of some sort, such as chocolate, raisins, dates. + +(9) Spare clothing including cardigan or sweater, dry gloves, dry +socks, scarf, cap to cover ears. + +(10) First-aid equipment. + +(11) Map. + +(12) Wax and scraper. + +Some runners carry all these things and the following besides: + +Matches, lantern (folding), or electric torch, aneroid, compass, +pincers, hammer, brandy, thermos with some hot drink. + +A great many people will laugh at me for suggesting all this gear, but +I do so out of experience. When one has ski-ed some years with a good +many people, one looks back with amusement to the number of times when +one has been asked to provide any of the above. + +People go out without spare clothing, food, first-aid equipment, +repair outfit. Something happens, and they at once look round to see +where they can borrow. Now borrowing is not part of the game and every +runner should be independent. It is easy when going on tour, to divide +up the gear so that every member of the party carries his share; it is +not necessary for each member to carry the whole of what I have shown. +Let each carry enough to feel self-reliant, and let the party carry +enough not only for their own needs, but also for any other runner in +distress whom they may come across. Ski-ing should be an unselfish +sport. + +At a certain centre one Winter, word was brought in at about 3.30 p.m. +by a member of a party of three that one of his companions was lying +in the forest about a mile away with a badly broken leg. Three runners +dashed off from the Nursery slopes with the man who brought the news, +to show them the way. I posted a friend to watch where they entered +the wood, while two other strong runners fetched clothing and hot +drinks in a thermos. Somebody else called up the Rettung chef and the +doctor. All this help was mobilized within an hour. + +Meanwhile the man was lying in the snow in the wood with a badly +broken lower leg. The sun had set and the temperature very low. +Not one of the party had any spare clothing or gear of any sort. A +sensible man, who had been one of the first three to go off from the +slopes told me afterwards that if hot drink and clothing had not come +soon, he was convinced that the man would have died. As it was he was +nearly unconscious and his pulse had nearly stopped. + +Dark came on and the doctor and the ambulance sledge did not arrive. +Instead of going the way the others had disappeared, they tried a +route they thought easier and took too high a line in the forest. +The trees muffled sound, and though both parties were shouting and +whistling, they heard nothing till at about 6.30 p.m. one of the +watchers heard a runner near and went off after him in the dark and +luckily found him. This man was scouting for the doctor and sledge and +finally brought them to the scene of the accident at 7 p.m. + +By this time some one or two of the watchers had gone home nearly +frozen, leaving all possible clothing on the injured man. Three others +stayed and rubbed him without intermission, which probably saved his +life and limbs. The doctor had brought a splint which he put on by +light of an electric torch and the man was taken to the station and +sent off at once to the hospital. + +Now, all this happened within a mile of home where help was handy. +Such accidents happening several miles from home may have far more +serious consequences, and every Ski runner, who scoffs at the +precautions of people more fussy than themselves, may very likely have +the life or limb of someone else on their mind when, had they been a +little more fussy, they might have saved it. + +Not only that, the selfish runner, who travels light, may well be a +serious burden to others and risk their safety and comfort through his +own foolhardiness. + +Ski-ing is a game which sorts people out, and where the character of +people like sailors, who know what it is to face the elements, shows +up well against the civilian, whose greatest risk in life at home is +crossing a street at a busy hour. + +People may ski for years without getting hurt, and the experienced +runner probably hurts himself less than the beginner. Yet it is the +experienced runner who carries the gear, the beginner it is who +usually scoffs and takes risks, not only to himself, but to the people +who have to go out to look for him when he is benighted or hurt. + + + + +CARE OF EQUIPMENT + + +Skis call for a good deal of attention if one takes the game +seriously. People who only come out for a fortnight and who hire any +pair of Skis, which they treat as they would the floor of an omnibus, +have no appreciation of how much attention Skis need, if they are to +be really dependable in all sorts of snow. + +New Skis should be well-oiled with two or three coats of Linseed oil, +which should dry between each coat. I think hickory needs the oil just +as much as ash, but some people disagree with this. The oil hardly +goes beyond the surface of the wood and soon rubs off on hard snow, +but it preserves the wood as well as giving a slipping surface so +long as it lasts. Newly oiled Skis when dry need very little further +attention for a few days, as they will run well over all sorts of +snow. + +When there is no time to oil, because the Skis are in daily use, wax +can be ironed in. Most good sports hotels now provide a bench with +an electric iron in a special heated and lighted room where the +Ski-runner can work happily after tea, or on a snowy day. If no such +room be provided, it should be clamoured for, because the waxing of +Skis is a much more difficult job without it. The patent iron "Para" +is helpful where no electric iron is provided. "Para" is an oblong +perforated metal box with a handle which screws in. A lump of Meta +(solid spirit fuel) is lighted and put inside and the iron becomes hot +and is rubbed up and down the Ski, while wax is pressed against it and +dribbled on to the wood. + +Almost any wax can be ironed in, but I think the hard black "Skiolin" +is best for the purpose. Be careful to wax the groove as well as the +flat surface of the Ski. + +When Skis are put away for the summer, the upper as well as the +running surfaces should be oiled or re-varnished in order to preserve +the wood. + +Leather bindings may be well oiled with special boot oil to keep them +supple. + +Skis should never be kept in a hot place, as they are apt to warp, but +they should be kept dry when put away. + +Boots should never be dried by a fire or on a heater, but should be +stored in a cool place. They need occasional oiling of the uppers with +some sort of boot oil. Dubbin may also be used and is good for filling +places, such as between the sole and the upper. The soles should never +be oiled, except perhaps with Linseed oil, which hardens the leather. +I think the wisest plan is to leave the soles dry, but if snow balls +on them they can be waxed with Ski wax. This is often specially +necessary on the heel. If boots be put outside the bedroom every +night, the porter will oil them automatically, in most good hotels. + +Sealskins should be wrapped up in newspaper and stored in a cool place +when put away. Moth will ruin them if left open and heat crumples +them, making them useless. A friend told me that when her seal Skis +(webbing ones) were ruined by being put near a fire, she recovered +them by soaking them in salad oil. She was certainly using them quite +happily afterwards. + + + + +THE ELEMENTS OF SKI-ING + + +This book does not profess to be in any way a textbook of the +technique of Ski-ing. As stated in the preface, my only idea in +writing it is to provide an answer to a good many questions which have +been asked me every year. Anyone who deals with a great many people +knows that there are always some fifty stock questions, which can +quite easily be answered by fifty stock answers. What I say in this +chapter about the first run will be the barest elements of Ski +running. + +Beginners should obtain either Arnold Lunn's books, or those of Vivien +Caulfield, and concentrate on the theory of turns. I have known two +or three novices who, though they had never even seen Skis before, by +dint of studying the technique in theory before they came out, were +able immediately to apply it in practice. Most beginners find, +however, that the moment the Skis start sliding, all theory is thrown +to the winds. Instinct of self-preservation prevails and they sit +down. Kind friends looking on say, "That was because you were leaning +backwards. You must lean forwards." Off they start again, carry out +the advice, their Skis stick for some reason and down they go head +foremost--the most difficult fall of all to get up from, and the most +aggravating. + +The great thing is not to do too much the first two days after coming +out. The height affects people more than they realize at first, and +great energy, due to the bracing air, is often followed by great +lassitude. Most people are not in training, and Ski-ing tries the +lungs, nerves, and muscles of the fittest as the whole system seems to +be brought into play. + +A few hours' practice on the Nursery slopes is usually enough for the +first two or three days, and if, at the end of the week, the beginner +seems to be falling more than when he first began, half or even a +whole day off Skis will produce wonderful results in better balance +and general fitness. + +Having chosen Skis, and ensured that the toe irons and binding fit +you, go out to some gentle slope of about 10° with soft snow, if +possible. + +Set your Skis at right angles to, or across, the fall of the slope +before putting them on, because Skis are quite apt to go off alone if +pointing down, hill. It is as well to realize this from the first and +to adopt the habit of preventing it in the way I suggest, because many +a run has been ruined by a Ski descending alone to the valley below, +leaving its owner to get home as best he can on one leg. Even if it +only goes down some 100 or 200 feet, the friend who goes after it and +brings it back often has a good deal to say, and you are lucky if the +Ski has not struck a rock or tree and got broken in its independent +run. It is no good getting angry on these occasions. I once watched a +boy on a distant slope, who had been obliged to descend some hundreds +of feet after one of his Skis. When he got hold of it in a temper he +started beating it with his stick, and continued doing so till the +stick nearly broke. + +While on the subject of runaway Skis, I may as well warn you also +against a runaway Rucksack. I put mine down at my feet on a steep +hard-crusted slope while I took off my coat one day, and the Rucksack +started sliding slowly down below us. The party was made up of +beginners and we had ropes on our Skis instead of skins so that no +one could catch it up till it stopped about 200 feet below us. To add +insult to injury at the same time, somebody dropped a 50-ct. bit at +the same moment and this danced off down into the valley, racing the +Rucksack and beating it hollow. + +But to return to the start. The Skis are safely lying across the +slope, and you are going to put them on. Put on the lower one first. +Never forget this, because it will often prevent a runaway Ski. If the +slope is very steep and hard, you should stick the other Ski upright +in the snow above you, in order that it may remain well in hand while +you put on the first. You will probably find it impossible to put on +your Skis with gloves on. If you lay these on the snow, they will +undoubtedly get snow inside them. The safest place to put them is one +on each stick, stuck upright on either side of you, or tuck them into +your belt or pockets. + +When you have your Skis and gloves on and everything else is +hermetically sealed, you are ready to start sliding or traversing +slowly across the slope, before going straight down it. This will give +you time to get the feeling of Skis, which are clumsy at first. Slide +one foot forward, then the other, but do not lift them. Now try a kick +turn and come back across the slopes to the top and face straight +downhill. Keep your Skis closely side by side, one foot leading by +about twelve inches and push yourself off with your sticks. Try to +imagine that the Skis are only a moving staircase and that all you +have to do is to stand upright on them and let them do the rest. If +your slope is only 10° and there is nothing steeper below you, the +Skis won't do much. Indeed in deep snow they may refuse to move at +all, in which case try pushing yourself along with your sticks. The +great thing is always to want to run faster than you are going and, +therefore, only to choose slopes where you feel that you can keep up +as fast as the Skis go. It is a mistake to start immediately down such +a steep slope that the Skis run away with you. At the same time it is +also a mistake not to increase the angle of your slope as soon as you +can compete with it. + +Stand upright, press the knees together and try to feel that there is +a spring in your knees. Let one or other foot lead so that, if the +Skis stop, the front foot takes your weight and prevents you plunging +forwards and if the Skis suddenly plunge forward, the back foot is +equally ready to take the weight and prevents you from sitting down. + +Whatever you do, avoid the hideous doubled-up position of a runner, +who bends at waist and knees, with feet parallel and far apart, +looking like a note of interrogation and leaving what we call +tram-line tracks. By his tracks shall a Ski-er be judged! + +Look back and see the line you have left. If your two feet have left +two tracks with more than six inches apart in soft snow, you must not +be contented. In a good track, the two feet should leave one track, +but some bindings make this impossible, so that unless you are wearing +a toe binding you need not worry about a gap of two or three inches +between your feet. This only applies to soft snow running. On hard or +crusty snow, it is almost impossible and also dangerous to keep the +feet together. + +When you have begun to feel at home on Skis, go off to a much steeper +slope and try traversing. Choose a slope which has flattish ground +below so that you have an easy out-run and nothing to make you +nervous. + +Remember for your comfort that if you go across a slope leading +with the upper foot and with most of your weight on the lower +foot--standing upright and, if anything, leaning a little outwards +away from the slope, you can traverse across almost any slope without +difficulty, so long as it is not too steep for the snow to bear your +weight without slipping itself. Nothing is more comforting to a +beginner than to realize this. It takes away the feeling of giddiness +and gives confidence, but it needs learning and should be practised at +once. + +The first tendency of Skis on a steepish slope is to point more and +more downhill till, finally having intimidated the beginner into +allowing them to go their own way, they plunge straight down, and the +beginner collapses. To counteract this put more weight on the heel and +less on the toes while traversing. + +This will push the back part of the Skis down and the front part +uphill across the slope and, if done sufficiently, the Skis will stop +and you have begun to get some feeling of control when traversing. + +Standing upright the inner edge of your Skis will bite into the snow. +Try leaning inwards, as you will do by instinct, and you will find +your feet slipping away down the slope and you will gracefully recline +full length against it. It is exactly the same when walking across +a steep grass slope in Summer. Most of the slips are due to leaning +towards instead of away from the slopes. + +As you get more confidence in your running, try lifting one Ski off +the ground as you slide along. Or even take off one Ski and try +running on the other; lifting a Ski will often save a fall. For +instance if the Skis get crossed, just lift the upper one and put it +down beside the other again while running. It is perfectly easy and +yet I have known people who, after weeks of practice, dared not lift a +Ski off the ground while moving, only because they had never tried it +as routine practice. + +Whatever you do by way of practice do it first on one foot and then +on the other, or you will become a right or left-footed Ski-er and it +will take ages for you to feel equal confidence in either foot. This +applies especially to turns. Beginners will often go on practising a +turn on the right foot, till they can do it and then have to re-learn +it completely on the left foot. + +Straight running downhill is mainly a question of confidence and +balance. As said before, it is better at first to avoid straight +running down a steep slope, because the Skis may go so fast that the +beginner is quite incapable of keeping up with them and a fall at very +high speed is somewhat upsetting and may temporarily shake your nerve. + +Choose a low gradient of about 12° or 15° where you can see the +out-run which should be on to level ground or even a gentle rise so +that the Skis gradually pull up of their own accord. Soft snow is the +easiest and confidence may soon be won in this. + +Stand upright or bend the knees, but do not bend at the waist. You +should feel as though on springs and you want your weight should be +well forward over your feet so that you can keep up with the Skis. +Standing in tube or bus, facing the way you are going and not holding +on to anything is very good practice at home. You will notice that a +bus conductor usually gives with the movement of the bus, so that he +is prepared for whatever it does. So with Ski-ing. Look ahead and see +what the ground is like, and then suit your balance to what is likely +to occur as the ground rises or falls. This soon becomes automatic but +it needs thinking out at first. + +When the snow is hard, practise side slipping, because it will help +you out of many difficulties and once you know the feeling of it, you +will find that it replaces the downhill side-stepping, which is so +slow. + +On hard snow, it is possible to go down broadside on by merely +standing on one's Skis and turning one's outer or lower ankle outwards +and one's inner or upper ankle towards the other, so that the Skis are +lying flat on the snow, instead of the edges biting into it. Push off +with your stick from the slope above you and weight your heels or your +toes according to whether the Skis are sinking in front or behind. +Have confidence, keep upright, lean away from the slopes and let your +Skis slide and don't blame me if you suddenly slide into a soft patch +of snow, which stops the Skis dead and you fall head downwards. This +is all in the day's work. If the surface of the snow is uniformly hard +you will slip down without difficulty. + +Seriously, side slipping is a huge help and should be learned at once. +Mr. Caulfield gives first-class instructions, which are easy to follow +in detail. + +When going uphill never try to climb steeper than is easy. If the Skis +are slipping back, you are going too steep and should turn off and +traverse instead. No time is saved by too steep a climb; the man who +goes easily gets to the top first, while the other clambers up almost +on all fours, gets hot and exhausted and has gained nothing. If I am +leading an elementary run uphill, I can soon pick out the experienced +runners by the line they take and the pace at which they climb. The +puffing, panting, stumbling people, who forge ahead, herring-boning or +turning their ankles over their Skis so as to get a grip with their +boots, are not included in my "experienced runners." + +Another hint for uphill work is that when traversing a slope, the +Skis should be edged so that the inner edge of the Ski bites into the +slope. A Ski with its whole surface flattened to the slope is bound to +slip especially on hard snow. By standing upright as you go uphill and +keeping the ankles straight, the Skis will be edged in the right way. + +A quick way of getting up a steep slope is side-stepping. As you stand +with your Skis horizontal across the slope, lift the upper foot and +place it on the slope a few inches higher. Then lift the lower foot +and place it beside the upper. You will soon be able to do this while +advancing across your traverse at the same time, but it is hard work +and should only be used for short climbs. + +Side-stepping is a very good way of climbing, but should be avoided +when descending, except when approaching a narrow gap in a fence or +crossing a stream where the approach is steep. + +I have known a party almost benighted by a beginner, who had +discovered the joys of side-stepping and proposed to descend some +1,000 feet by this safe method, instead of sliding in the proper way. +Allowing eight inches to each side-step, how many hours would it take +to descend 1,000 feet? + +A further hint, which may be useful for uphill work. If the Skis are +slightly lifted at every push forward, they tend to stick instead of +sliding back. + +Always stand upright when climbing and keep the weight well on the +heels. People tend to bend forward and this adds greatly to the effort +and the Skis are more likely to slip back. + +On long climbs sealskins are usually used on the Skis. The hairs lying +towards the rear stick into the snow and prevent the back slip, while +when the Ski pushes forward, they lie flat and offer no resistance. + +The best uphill track is the one which keeps going at the same angle. +Every good walker knows how tiring it is to go up and down across +country when gullies have to be crossed. It is disappointing, having +got up a certain height, to lose all that is gained by going down +again. So it is even more with Ski-ing, when uphill work is really +more arduous than walking. Mr. Caulfield gives a very helpful +description of a good uphill track, and Skis tend to teach the +beginner how to keep the angle as they slip so easily downwards the +moment the uphill direction is altered. + +When going uphill make up your mind what point you want to reach in +the distance and what line will take you to it most easily and then +go for it steadily, keeping the same angle all the way so far as is +possible and choosing your places for turns very carefully before you +reach them. + +Following an experienced leader teaches a great deal about the art of +setting an uphill track, and the criticisms of the rest of the party +following, when the leader loses height soon make one want to avoid +comment. + + + + +ETIQUETTE + + +In organized Ski-ing centres a perfectly good code of etiquette is +growing up as the result of experience. + +So many novices pour out on to the slopes with no knowledge of the +game that notices are even posted on the boards in the hotels giving a +few of the main points of the Law. + +One such notice runs as follows: + +(1) Ensure that you take your own Skis, sticks, etc. when you start +out. It is wise to mark sticks, and they are safest kept in bedrooms. + +(2) Never join a private party unless invited. + +(3) Only join the advertised tours, the test for which you have +passed. + +(4) The slower mover has the right of way. The faster mover must avoid +him. Never call "Fore," "Achtung," etc. + +(5) Always offer help to anyone in difficulties. + +(6) Keep with your party. They might waste a lot of time looking for +you while you run home because you thought their pace too slow. + +(7) Never desert a runner who, for any reason, is unable to keep up +with a party. + +(8) Carry your own gear including spare clothing, Ski-ing necessaries, +etc. + +(9) Avoid stepping on the Skis of another runner. This caution is +especially necessary for uphill work. + +(10) Remember that wherever you leave a track others may follow. +Therefore only choose safe slopes. The snow is liable to slip on +slopes of 25° or more, so that these are dangerous. + +Ski-ing is a sport which can be made dangerous for others if +individuals do not carry out the usual etiquette. It may seem +extraordinary that people should need warning not to join a private +party unless invited, but it is sadly true. + +One day as I was starting off on a long run a stranger came up to me +and asked if she might join us. I consulted the Guide, and he said he +already had as many in the party as he could take charge of. I told +the lady this, and said I was sorry that we could not accept her +companionship. She at once replied cheerily, "Oh, then I will follow +you." Nothing could prevent her from doing this. Switzerland is a free +country, and there is a right of way anywhere over the mountains in +winter. We started off and she followed. From that moment, of course, +we automatically became responsible for her because one of the Laws +is that you never desert a runner who is alone. She was a very poor +performer and fell a great deal, so that for the whole six or seven +miles' run, we were kept waiting for her. Of course, we were under no +real obligation to look after her, but had we left her and anything +had happened to her, we could never again have held up our heads as +Ski-ers. + +On another occasion a runner made a formal complaint to me about a +lady who joined his party. In this case it was an experienced runner, +who had presumably learnt the Law, and who might have read the notice +on the board. First of all she said, "May I go with you?" and the +somewhat cold answer was that the party was complete. Then she +followed asking questions about the route, etc. at every opportunity. +Of course, she had finally to be adopted and taken along much to the +boredom of the party, which was a private one. + +Where the Ski-ing is organized, tests are run and tours arranged +for the different standards. This does not apply so much to 2nd or +1st-class runners who, of course, prefer to make up their own parties, +but, at any rate, these are protected from having the less experienced +runner with them, except by invitation. By these means the organized +tours only take runners up to the standard advertised, and no one +need feel compunction at leaving members of their party behind in the +village, because they know that the elementary runner will also get a +chance of a run. + +Yet even under these arrangements, I have found a beginner sitting +huddled in a corner of the railway carriage when we have started +before dawn for a big tour. "Where are you off to?" I said, thinking +he was out with a Guide. "With your party," was the reply. What could +I do? It is not easy to turn a person out of a train at 5.45 a.m. on +a cold morning. I said weakly, "Did you not see the notice which said +this was a run for 3rd-class runners only?" He said, "Yes, but I +thought I could keep up." So there he was, and we took him through and +though he was very slow uphill and kept us all back in this case, he +ran down without delaying us. People often put their own capacity +higher than do the people they want to run with and it is very +difficult to be tactful. + +Again most people would not think it necessary to warn runners against +deserting their party. Yet they often do and it is not usually the +beginner who is the culprit here. Perhaps he cannot run quick enough +to get away! I shall always remember a run in charge of a tour when I +was with a lot of novices. Another experienced runner accompanied me +officially to help. I chose what I thought the easiest way to start, +and he wanted to try another route at the top and went off saying he +would join us below a wood. When we reached the part where I thought +we should rejoin, I waited and shouted, but he did not appear. So we +went on to another post where we had lunch, and then I began to get +anxious as this runner never turned up. Anything might have happened +to him. He might have gone over a rock or into a tree or even only +be tied up in one of those tangled falls when it is practically +impossible to extricate oneself. It was no good our trying to look for +him then, so after about two hours' delay, I took my party down to the +valley and the first person who met us in the village was our lost +companion. He chaffed us for being so late as he had run down very +quickly and had had his tea ages ago. + +No party going beyond the Nursery slopes should consist of fewer than +three. One to go for help in case of need, the other to stay with the +third runner, who may need help. Needless to say, people who know the +mountains well, go off alone with impunity. When I asked one of these +lonely runners what would happen if he hurt himself and was benighted, +he told me he always carried sufficient morphia to put him out of his +agony in case of need. This was, no doubt, all right from his point of +view, but what of the people who might go out to look for him among +the infinite possible runs with Ski tracks in every direction. + +No sporting runner would ever refuse help to a lame duck, though +pretty bad cases of selfishness have been recorded. + +There is one point, which does not always strike people, and that is +the danger of cutting a track over a difficult place. Beginners will +usually follow a track instead of working by their map. For instance +on the Muottas Muraigl run at Pontresina, if once a rash runner cuts a +track straight across from the restaurant to the valley, crowds will +probably follow it, though they may be warned against it. This is +a very dangerous slope under certain conditions as was shown this +Winter, when a runner going along its top was carried down to the +bottom of the valley by the avalanche he started. + +I have one track left on my conscience; when a few of us went down +what might have been a dangerous place under different conditions to +those we found. Luckily it was not a way most people would have wished +to follow as it apparently led nowhere and hardly looked attractive. + +The slower mover always has the right of way when Ski-ing, so that no +runner ought to shout to those ahead of him to get out of his way. +Needless to say this does not apply to a runner out of control, who +may be dashing unwillingly into someone in front of him when, for both +their sakes, a friendly warning is advisable! + +It is the business of every Ski-er to avoid obstacles and the slower +mover may be looked on as such in just the same way as a rock or a +tree. I was amused one day at Pontresina when a crowd of us were going +up the village street and met a lady on Skis being held back as she +went downhill by two friends on either side of her. It was the first +time I had ever thought of someone going down hill being the slower +mover in relation to those climbing. + +Nursery slopes are for the practice of turns and the individual who +uses them for straight running while a lot of people are practising is +abhorred. The same applies to jumps on the Nursery slopes. These +are so easily made where other people are not practising that it is +selfish to come plunging down into a crowd of devotees to turns. When +the Nursery slopes are empty, it is great fun to practise straight +running down them and no one will object. + +One jolly thing about Ski runners is that they seldom ridicule one +another or laugh at falls in any but a friendly way. There is great +rivalry and daring to greater effort, but ill-natured ridicule is +seldom heard. Perhaps this is due to the fact that most people who +live in glass houses do not throw stones. Everybody who tries to +improve his Ski-ing is bound to fall and it is better not to set the +fashion of laughing at others in difficulties. + +There will always be some people who like to look on at tests as "Free +entertainment without tax," but if they could hear the comments on +their behaviour and probably on their own lack of prowess they would +soon give up the habit. + +Anyone who is really keen to get on and who will go on practising and +accept advice may be sure of sympathy and help. Ski-ing with all its +dangers and need for combined effort seems to bring out the best of +people and to produce the very best spirit of goodwill and tolerance. + +Going uphill in soft snow, every strong member should take a turn at +cutting the track. It is often heavy work, and an energetic leader may +not like to ask for help. The best plan is to work by time, the leader +falling out at the end of his shift and letting the party pass him +till he takes his position at the rear and the second man becomes the +leader and so on. + +People who are wise, will avoid stepping on the Skis of the man ahead. +This is often difficult as instinct makes one want to go faster than +the person ahead, just as a wheeler in a tandem will usually try to +catch up the leader. The easiest way to avoid overlapping is to keep +step. Push forward the right foot, when the man ahead pushes forward +his right foot and then the left. This gives a rhythm to the uphill +work, which also seems to minimize effort. Anyone who has experienced +the irritation caused by his Skis being constantly touched by the +runner behind while plodding uphill will learn to spare another the +same nuisance. + +When running straight down a steep slope make sure that there is no +one ahead whom you might run into and no one below on either side, +who might traverse across the slope you propose to run down. This is +especially necessary in a gap between trees. Another member of your +party might be among the trees below and suddenly come out into the +open, traversing to the other side. When straight running at any +speed, only the best Ski runners can turn suddenly to avoid a +difficulty, and a nasty collision may occur if care be not exercised. + +When a crowd of people are taking their Skis by train, a great deal of +trouble may be avoided in getting the mass of Skis out of the train if +these are tied neatly together. + +A pair of Skis tied near the tips and behind the bindings is easy to +handle, while a pair of Skis put together by slipping one through the +toe-strap of the other is a great nuisance. + +Skis piled together soon become very like a heap of spillikins if not +carefully handled and a good deal of damage may be done to them as +well as delay to the train if Ski-ers are careless in this small +matter. + +Another good plan is for the Ski-ers to form themselves into a queue +and to hand out all the Skis along the line, till they can be easily +distributed where there is space. The beginner is apt to hunt +anxiously for his own pair, which may be at the bottom of the pile, +and while he pulls and tugs with but little success, other people are +waiting in vain for a chance to get their Skis out. This is especially +the case on funicular railways, where space is very limited in the +stations. Different nationalities travelling together add considerably +to the confusion and the railway officials are usually thankful to +anyone who will take charge and get a line formed and the Skis handed +out tidily. + +These hints may seem unnecessary to a great many people, but no +matter. I have had so much of my own time wasted by this sort of +tiresome lack of sense that I venture to suggest a means of saving +time and temper for others. + +Ski runners should remember that sledges and pedestrians have the +right of way on a road. All the fields are open to the Ski runner and +he should not monopolize a road. In most parts of Switzerland there +is a law by which everyone has right of way everywhere where the snow +lies--so long as it is not enclosed ground. This was brought home +to my family rather vividly, when we lived at Davos, by a shooting +gallery being set up on our land in front of our house. We had no +power to prevent it and there it remained for the winter. At the same +time, Ski runners should respect the property of other people, and +here I would like to make two appeals to British runners. + +Firstly, that we will do our best to avoid damaging young trees. (Old +trees can probably look after themselves where the Ski-er is concerned +as they are usually stronger than he is.) + +Secondly, that we should treat the inhabitants of the country with as +much courtesy as possible. The peasant, over whose land we run, makes +very little out of the tourist business and has other things to think +about rather than sport. He is usually courteous and friendly and +always ready to help us when in difficulties. Let us return his +hospitality be treating him with courtesy. School teachers have told +me that they have great difficulty in persuading the children to greet +foreigners because these so seldom respond. Yet few things are more +pleasant than the friendly "Grüsse," or "Grüss Gott," or "Leb wohl," +with which one is greeted by the people of the country. We can answer +in English if we do not know how to answer in German, but do let us +answer and, thereby, prove ourselves as friendly as our hosts. + +Another matter, which is not always understood by beginners on the +snow fields is that when an Alpine Club or local Ski Club hut is used, +a fee should be paid to the funds which support the Hut. These Huts +are expensive to build and their upkeep is a great tax on the Clubs. +British runners can either join the local Club, when they can use +the Huts by day for nothing, or they can pay the advertised fee for +whatever use they make of them. + +A notice is always posted in the Hut showing the various charges, but +when no one is there to collect the money, it is left to the honour +of the guests to pay it. A money-box can be found in all huts within +Switzerland proper, but as these boxes are not safe from marauders +near the frontier, the Ski runner has to send the money in by post. At +the Boval hut, for instance, above the Morteratsch Glacier, a supply +of money order forms will be found hanging near a door. All the leader +of the party has to do is to collect the money from his members, take +one of the forms and pay the money into any post office, whence it is +sent to the H.Q. of the Club. + +Huts should invariably be left tidy. This also is a matter of honour. +The doors are unlocked always in order that people who may need +hospitality, in case of distress, can find shelter. Blankets can be +borrowed. Wood is usually provided for firing and there may even be a +reserve of food, all of which should be respected. Before the party +leaves, blankets should be folded, shutters should be shut, snow swept +out and debris buried outside, or what can be used as fuel put away +tidily in the kitchen. Then the door should be shut carefully and +the hut left the better, rather than the worse off for having given +hospitality. + + + + +SNOW AND LIGHT + + +Full descriptions of the different types of snow which must be +negotiated by the Ski-runner will be found in Mr. Arnold Lunn's book, +"Alpine Ski-ing." + +It is only necessary for me, therefore, to describe the four main +types, namely, soft, hard, crust and sticky snow. + +Soft snow in winter is the new powder snow, which is to be found after +a fall or on North slopes where sun and wind have not spoilt it. It is +the ideal snow for the luxurious runner, especially two days after it +has fallen, when it has settled down and a hard frost has converted it +into crystal powder. A run through crystallized snow, which tinkles as +the Skis cut through it, is beyond description. + +Even a bad runner will find that he can do marvels as the snow seems +literally to help him in all his experiments. I have known a day when +a blinding blizzard has started blowing the snow into my face and I +have run fast along the bottom of a valley with my eyes shut. The +Skis kept to the lowest line and ran safely and steadily through this +powder snow at a low gradient. It is not suggested that blind running +should be indulged in as a rule and I only quote this case to show how +helpful is good powder snow. + +The Telemark is the usual turn in soft snow. Christiania and jump +turns can also be used by people who are proficient and strong, but +they require both skill and strength. + +Soft snow is usually found on North slopes or at the bottom of shady +valleys or even behind any ridge which protects it from the sun or +wind. Also among trees which shelter it. Tracks ruin it in time so +that it is usually wise to sidle off the track and try new snow beside +it. + +Luckily for the experienced runner, most beginners usually behave +rather like sheep, preferring tracks to exploring on their own. The +result is that perfect snow can often be found alongside the beaten +track, and when this gets spoilt, it is only necessary to go a little +further afield in order to get a good run. Then, as more and more +people beat down the track it becomes hard and very amusing running +can be had there. + +Hard snow is of two types--a beaten track or a hard crust where the +sun has melted the surface and the frost at night has frozen it, so +that it will bear the weight of the Ski-runner. When this is really +solid enough to allow of side-slipping and stem, or Christiania turns, +it is very trustworthy and easy to negotiate. At first, however, it +intimidates the beginner, because it is very fast. As time goes on and +he becomes accustomed to the skid and rattle of hard snow, he will +find that his horror turns into pleasure because he can trust it. The +Nursery slopes become hard after two or three days and will provide +useful experience for coping with such snow on a run. + +The lifted stem and Christiania are the best turns on hard snow. A +Telemark is apt to skid too much. + +Crust is the bugbear of all runners and is out and away the most +difficult to tackle. It may be hard, and then with nothing apparent on +the surface to warn you, the Skis break through and catch in the crust +and down you go. When crust is about, let someone else lead, and then +profit by his experience. + +There are many forms of crust, all of which may be met on the same +run, and when wind has been at work, there may be crust on North +slopes and not on South. After rain too, when the surface has been +soaked and a frost follows, crust will be found everywhere. + +Sticky snow is usually due to the effect of the sun or to Fohn wind +or thaw. It is easily coped with by proper waxing of the running +surfaces, but the sudden sticking of the skis, which have been running +well over wet snow in the open, when they get into cold powder snow +under trees or in shadow, is very disconcerting. + +The same is apt to happen when people have dried their Skis in the sun +by sticking them on end while lunching. The sun not only dries them +but warms them so that if the first run after lunch is in shadow and +the snow is cold, the Skis stick because the warm surfaces melt the +snow, which immediately freezes again and adheres to the Skis, so that +they come to an absolute standstill. + +The only way to avoid sticking is to keep the running surfaces of the +Skis in good condition by oiling them thoroughly and to carry one or +two different types of wax for use according to circumstances. + +The great thing is to get practice on all types of snow and never to +mind it. Look upon crust as a joke, and learn jump turns, which are +the only safe turns for any but the strongest runners. Some of these +can accomplish a Telemark, or stem-turn or even a Christiania on every +sort of snow, but most people are content with the jump turn on crust. +The great trouble of this turn is that it is very tiring when a heavy +Rucksack is carried, but knack and good use of the stick will help it. + +Light is a great factor in Ski-ing. On a fine day when visibility is +good, it is easy to distinguish between the rise and fall of country +ahead and, therefore, to be prepared for decrease or increase in +speed. Some days when the sky is clouded, it is practically impossible +to tell what is coming. This difficulty is increased in a narrow +valley when the reflection of the slopes on either side make the whole +surface look identical. + +Coloured glasses may help a little, but it is better to run slowly and +to take no risks. On these occasions tracks help immensely as they +give the eye something to follow. Rocks and trees also help; anything +that breaks the surface of the snow and shows up the gradient ahead. + + + + +FALLS + + +Falls!--what a word. When I first thought of writing this book, it +struck me that the best selling title would be "Ski-ing without +Falls." But then I remembered that I could never look a beginner in +the face again if, knowing that he had read my book, I saw him fall. + +Besides which, a Ski runner who never falls, is probably but a poor +exponent of the sport. When you begin to run comfortably and can do +the turns at low speeds, falls show that you are still trying to +learn more of the game. It is only by trying new things that a +runner becomes really proficient and you are almost certain to fall +constantly as you learn. There is art in falling on Skis as well as in +running and turning. Fall loose. Let yourself go; never try to save +yourself when once you find the fall is inevitable and get rid of your +sticks. You will have the most amazing falls on Skis and nobody will +listen to your descriptions of them because they are just as eager to +describe their own. The surprising thing is how little people hurt +themselves--knees and ankles go most. The strain on the knee and ankle +is very great in some falls, but if you let yourself go and relax your +muscles as you fall, you will find that even ankles and knees survive +as a rule. + +I once saw a really good runner turn three somersaults while +nose-driving down a steep slope at high speed in soft snow. And all +the damage done was two hat-pins snapped! Moral, don't wear hat-pins. + +People are so tangled up sometimes that they do not know whether the +Ski tip sticking out of the snow belongs to their right or left foot, +and they have to dig with their sticks before they can extricate +themselves. And sometimes the results of a fall are so intricate that +the runner could never extricate himself, but needs the help of a +friend, who will undo a binding so as to free him. The most curious +fall I ever saw was when a man, running down a steep slope among +trees, ran into a fir tree on the upper side where the snow was lying +well up the trunk. He then fell head downwards into the hole below the +tree where the snow had not penetrated and, his Skis being caught in +the branches, there he hung. Had he been alone, I doubt whether he +would ever have succeeded in getting free. As it was, we undid a +binding quickly and no damage was done. + +Not only is there art in falling but there is a technique of getting +up. Before attempting to get up, arrange your Skis so that they are +ready to stand on. Suppose they are crossed below you on a steep +slope, lie on the slope, raise the Skis in the air, uncross them, set +them parallel across the slope below you, facing the way you want to +go, and get up. This fall is sometimes used as a turn and may be +very useful, though not considered the best possible form if done +intentionally. + +Never attempt to get up on to Skis facing downhill. They will only +go off with you the moment you begin to rise, and then down you flop +again. + +If you fall head downwards down a slope, you still have to get your +Skis parallel across the slope below you before you can stand up, and +the only thing to be done is to turn a somersault uncrossing your Skis +in the air if they are crossed and getting them below you and then +standing up. All of which is extremely easy, but it is very necessary +to ensure that clothes are so made that the powder snow cannot slip +into crevices while you are gambolling in this fashion. The first +thing I do before getting up from a fall is to put up my hands and let +the snow shake out of my glove gauntlets. + +If you are so tangled up in a fall that it is almost impossible to get +out, just undo a binding, slip off a Ski and get up easily with a free +foot to stand on. And, if you see anyone else so tangled up that he +does not begin to get up immediately, hurry to his assistance, because +his ankle or knee may be in a very strained position and he may be +thankful to you for undoing a binding and releasing him. It is in +these falls that the leather heel bindings so often prove better than +a rigid toe binding. The leather will ease a little or slip and allow +the foot to turn a fraction of an inch so that the strain is not +maintained long enough to cause real damage. + +Falls are often half the fun of Ski-ing, and every runner who is +trying something new will sometimes fall in the endeavour. So never +lose hope, however much you fall. If you have been running rather +well, and then get a day when you do nothing but only means that you +are stale and that your muscles and nerves need a rest. This is where +the all-round Winter sportsman gains. He can spend a day on the rink +or curling or tobogganing and not feel that he has wasted time. + +Never scoff at people because they fall. A first-class runner is +supposed to be able to run at high speed, using turns without falling. +So he will, probably, if he intends to, but no first-class runner +worth his salt would always run like this. He will always be trying +something more difficult, turns at higher speed or in difficult snow, +and consequently he will often be seen to fall, and the beginner who +scoffs is merely voted an ignoramus. Here again a runner will be +judged by his tracks. Look carefully at the place where he ran and try +to make out what turn he was trying and what the snow was like, and +why he fell. You can learn a great deal from other people's tracks. + +Falls in deep snow are always a little more risky than on hard snow, +because there is greater strain on muscles and ligaments. On hard snow +you get many a bump and scratch, but the results are less lasting than +a torn ligament. + +Having got up safely from your fall, look on the snow and see what you +have dropped before starting off again. Even pockets with flaps may +allow of leakage. + +It is wise to tie your Rucksack firmly with a strap round your waist +because, if it is loose, anything heavy inside may give you a nasty +bump on the head as you fall. + + + + +TESTS + + +There are three British Ski tests under the Federal Council of British +Ski Clubs. In addition to these, different centres and local clubs +often set an elementary test for beginners in order that these may be +sorted into various standards for expeditions. + +Hitherto the Elementary test has usually been a run down a certain +distance within a time set by the judges. This is not an altogether +satisfactory test, as the beginner, who goes straight down sitting on +his Skis may get through, while another, who conscientiously tries to +run standing, falls the whole time and fails. Style might be judged +and the sitting candidate disqualified, but when, as often happens, +some seventy or eighty people enter for an Elementary test, the judges +have their hands full enough with starting and timing, apart from +watching individual running critically as in the 2nd-class test. + +A better way, therefore, is to flag a line, which must be followed, +providing traverses across slopes, which soon catch out the sitting +novice. + +Beginners usually hate traversing because they dislike the look of a +steep slope and do not know how to prevent the instinctive pointing +straight downwards of the Skis. They do not realize yet that if they +would stand upright on their Skis while traversing, and lead with the +upper foot while they put their weight on the lower foot and keep +their whole weight somewhat on their heels, they will traverse quite +easily at a gentle angle. + +The Elementary test ought to be so planned as to force this type of +running. + +Another way of running an Elementary test is for a judge to lead at a +steady easy pace for an hour's cross-country run, including both up +and downhill, as well as level running and obstacles. The test would +be timed, an ample margin being allowed beyond the judge's time. All +those, who finished within the time would pass. + +This would probably not be nearly so popular a Test with the +candidates as the short downhill run, but it would be a far better +test of their capacity for touring. + +The British Ski tests consist of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd-Class Tests, the +Regulations for which will be found in the Ski Year Book, which can +be obtained from the Hon. Secretary, Federal Council of British Ski +Clubs, Essex Court, Temple, London, E.C. They can also be obtained +from any official representative of one of the British Clubs in +Switzerland, and are printed as an Appendix at the end of this book. + +In the 3rd class test, which is the first and which has to be passed +before the runner can go up for his 2nd class, there are three parts. + +Part (a) is a climb of 1,500 feet in not more than 1-1/2 hours and a +run down 1,500 feet in a time set by the judges. The time may not be +less than seven, or more than twenty minutes. It should not be more +than 12 minutes under good conditions. + +Men must carry Rucksacks weighing not less than 6 lbs., and women 3 +lbs. Sealskins may be used for the climb. + +Part (b) consists of four consecutive lifted stem-turns on a slope +of 15° to 20°, and Part (c) four consecutive Telemark turns on a +slope of the same gradient. Parts (b) and (c) are often used as +a qualifying test before Part (a) is run, in order to limit the +entries for Part (a), which may otherwise be a very difficult test +to run when a large field enters for it. + +Candidates who enter for this test should really take pains to ensure +that their bindings fit their boots and that they have everything +necessary for a run as well as being up to the standard. Speaking as +a judge of four years' standing, who has run innumerable tests, I may +say that it is pitiable to see the number of casual people who will +come up for a test without reading the regulations and without being +in any way prepared for a 1,500 ft. climb. Few things are more +disagreeable than having to disqualify a candidate, who turns up +without a Rucksack, or more miserable than having to shepherd down +beginners who are worn out by a run for which they are quite out of +training. The one comfort is that a candidate, who is pertinacious and +courageous enough to face this test five or six times without passing +and goes in again, is almost sure to pass in the end. + +For the judge's sake, however, I strongly urge such a candidate to +time himself over similar runs with his friends and to persist in this +until he proves that he is up to 3rd-class standard, when he will be a +very welcome candidate in the test itself. + +A course is easily found by using an aneroid, or it may also be worked +off the Ordnance Map. Any ordinary watch with a second hand will +suffice for the timing of one's own run. + +Some people may think that I am a little harsh in my reasons for +suggesting that beginners should not enter for the running part of the +3rd-class test so lightheartedly. It is really for their own sakes as +much as for that of the judge's. Failure is very discouraging, and I +have known people's nerve quite upset by one of these runs. They have +tried to race down and have taken really nasty tosses in their rush, +while the fatigue of constant falling and getting up out of deep snow, +becoming more and more out of breath in the anxiety to compete, is +very bad for their running. I have often wanted to hide my head in +shame when coming home after such a test with a lot of worn-out +people, wet through, who have failed. And yet, such is life, that many +with the first breath, after they finish exhausted, will ask when the +next Test takes place in order that they may compete again. Such a +candidate really does one's heart good. + +Tests have probably done more than anything else to improve the +standard of British running. We all have a liking for competition, and +here is our chance. Having succeeded in passing the 3rd-class test, +we can wear a badge and then we have to ski better in order to prove +worthy of it, and presently we see no reason against qualifying for +the 2nd-class test before going home. "After all, the turns only have +to be done on a steeper slope." "The run can be put off till next +Winter, and passed the moment we come out," they say. + +The 1st-class standard is rising higher and higher as British Ski +runners become more proficient. The runner who passed a year or two +ago now hesitates to wear the gold badge, because he often realizes +that his speed and turns are not good enough for what is now required. + +Judges of the British Ski tests may be found in most well-known +centres, but, as there are very few 1st-class people, the tests for +this class are usually run in one or two districts only. + + + + +GUIDES AND SKI INSTRUCTORS + + +Swiss Guides are certificated by the Swiss Alpine Club and are the +only people permitted by law to guide parties among the higher +mountains. A tariff exists in every district showing the fees which +these Guides must charge. In addition to the fee, the client usually +gives a gratuity and also pays for the Guide's accommodation and +provisions on the tour. A percentage may be added for numbers greater +than those provided for in the tariff, while on a really difficult +tour, the Guide will probably refuse to take more than two or three +runners unless a second Guide or porter be engaged. The Certificated +Guides wear a badge issued by the Swiss Alpine Club and any man +wearing this may be depended upon to be a good fellow, a careful +Guide, and a philosopher and friend. Most of them can now ski well, +though a few of the older ones may not be very proficient in technique +and may be stick riders. + +When on tour with a Guide, he is responsible for the safety of the +party, and every member should do his best to help him by carrying out +any instructions he may give for their greater safety. This is not +always appreciated by people who do not know the Alps and their +unwritten laws, and the Guides complain somewhat bitterly that they +are often put in very difficult positions. For instance, on one +occasion, when a party was crossing an avalanche slope, the Guide +asked them to go singly at intervals of 20 metres, so that if anyone +was carried away, the others would not be involved and could go to his +rescue. One of the party was overheard saying: "Oh! he is only trying +to prove how careful he is in order to get a higher tip," and they +were careless in their carrying out of the instructions. + +In any case it is discourteous not to do what the Guide prescribes and +he is put in a very false position as he is held responsible. + +Ski Instructors belong to a different category, unless they are also +Certificated Guides, which is often the case. In some Cantons, such as +Graubünden, the Instructors have to pass an examination showing +their capacity to ski and also to teach. Many of them are perfectly +beautiful runners, but they should not be pressed to conduct tours +where glacier work or rock climbing is involved. They are not examined +for this and they hold no credentials, and if an accident occurs, +everyone is blamed. There are a great many other runs they are allowed +to lead and they will set as good a course as anyone would wish for. + +Before engaging a Guide, or an Instructor on the recommendation of the +concierge, get some expert advice as to who is the best. The Secretary +of the local Ski Club would advise or some good runner in the +neighbourhood. + +In some parts of Switzerland the Guides and Instructors have taken to +touting for clients. They hang about the hotels and try to induce the +unwary to engage them and to go for tours for which they are often +not fit. The better Swiss Guides are the first to want the public to +discourage this type of behaviour, as it is doing a lot of harm to +their good name. + +When a Guide is engaged, treat him as a friend and trust him. They +are usually a most obliging and reliable set of men, who will do +everything in their power for their clients, such as carrying food and +spare clothing, waxing skis, attaching skins and even making terms in +inns, and cooking the food in huts when on tour. Their knowledge of +the mountains and their experiences are well worth probing, and they +will usually talk willingly when kindly dealt with. They are quick +judges of character and if the younger ones are sometimes a little +inclined to take advantage of the people who do not treat them +suitably, only those people themselves can be blamed. The +old-fashioned Guides are never familiar, though they are very friendly +and will always do their best for the entertainment of their party. +They should not be petted and flattered, neither should they be +treated as inferiors. A happy medium is easily found which is what the +Guide will prefer, because in his heart of hearts, he has the whole of +the Swiss characteristics--great dignity, independence and respect for +wise people. + +On a long and dangerous tour the safety of the party may ultimately +depend upon the trust and confidence placed in the Guide in charge, +and by him in his clients, and this should be remembered in all +negotiations. These men often have to risk their lives for the sake of +the people who employ them, and their staunch unselfishness is a fine +example of human endeavour for the benefit of others. Their fees may +appear to be high, but when everything is taken into consideration, +including the shortness of their Winter and Summer Seasons, it is soon +realized that the fees are not exorbitant. + + + + +MAPS AND FINDING THE WAY + + +Every Ski runner going across country should carry a map. Even on a +short run a great deal can be learnt from a map, which will prove +useful later on a longer run. Both time and risk can be saved by +people who run by their map and who know how to avoid dangerous places +and how to take advantage of narrow safe openings. + +There are different types of maps to be had in Switzerland. The +best are the official Ordnance Maps published by the Eidg. +Landestopographie at Bern. The mountain districts are produced at a +scale of 1 centimetre in 50,000 centimetres or 2 centimetres in one +kilometre, and large or small sheets can be bought almost everywhere. +The gradients are clearly shown by contour lines. The equidistance +being 30 metres, or roughly 100 feet, the dotted contour lines when +height is marked some every 8 or 10 ordinary contour lines. This +differs according to the edition. Cliff and rock are shown grey, while +glacier contour lines are blue. + +Some districts, such as the Bernese Oberland, have produced this map +with red lines showing all the Ski runs. In other places they also +provide Ski-ing maps, but on a different scale and not as good as the +Ordnance Map. + +All maps are best when mounted on linen, as the weathering they +receive on a run may reduce a paper map to pulp or rag. + +It is easy to work out the distance of runs or the gradient of slopes +from the large scale Ordnance Map. 1 in 50,000 metres means that 1 +centimetre on the map equals a run of 50,000 metres; 2 centimetres +equal a kilometre or 100,000 metres; 8 kilometres equal five English +miles. Therefore, if a centimetre measure be carried, the distances +are soon ascertained with a minimum of arithmetic. + +Throughout this chapter I have taken the mathematical or map gradient +and not the engineer's gradient. The latter is generally used, I +understand, to measure the gradients of roads, railways, etc. + +To avoid confusion when Ski-ing, the gradient is usually named by the +angle of the slope. + +The gradient of slopes is shown by the contour lines, the drop between +each being 30 metres or approximately 100 feet. The table on p. 92 was +got out by Commander Merriman, R.N., and has proved very useful to +me in setting tests as well as in judging whether slopes are +comparatively safe from avalanche or not. + +A slope showing eight 30-metre contour lines in one centimetre works +out roughly at 27°, which is a steeper slope than most people care to +take straight, running over unknown country. Anything steeper than +this is apt to avalanche in certain conditions, though a 30° slope +should usually be safe. (A 25° slope may be dangerous under some +conditions.) + +A comfortable slope is 5 contour lines in 1 centimetre, or a gradient +of 17°. Taking English measurements as in Commander Merriman's scale, +16 contour lines in one inch on the map. + +The beginner will probably content himself with slopes where 10 +contour lines are shown in one inch, or a gradient of about 13°. + + ROUGH TABLE OF GRADIENTS. + +Assuming 30 metre contours to be equal to 100 feet contours +(actually this is 98.4 feet). Natural Scale 1: 50,000. + +-------------------------------------------- +Drop per inch | Average angle | Gradient + on map. | of slope. | 1 in. +-------------------------------------------- + 100' | 1° 24' | 40.9 + 200' | 2° 45' | 20.8 + 300' | 4° 07' | 13.9 + 400' | 5° 29' | 10.4 + 500' | 6° 50' | 8.3 + 600' | 8° 12' | 6.9 + 700' | 9° 33' | 5.9 + 800' | 10° 52' | 5.2 + 900' | 12° 11' | 4.6 + 1,000' | 13° 30' | 4.2 + 1,100' | 14° 47' | 3.8 + 1,200' | 16° 04' | 3.5 + 1,300' | 17° 20' | 3.2 + 1,400' | 18° 34' | 3.0 + 1,500' | 19° 48' | 2.8 + 1,600' | 21° 00' | 2.6 + 1,700' | 22° 11' | 2.5 + 1,800' | 23° 22' | 2.3 + 1,900' | 24° 30' | 2.2 + 2,000' | 25° 39' | 2.1 + 2,100' | 26° 45' | 2.0 + 2,200' | 27° 50' | 1.9 + 2,300' | 28° 53' | 1.8 + 2,400' | 29° 56' | 1.7 + 2,500' | 30° 58' | 1.6 +-------------------------------------------- + +Up till now I have only been describing the official Ordnance Maps. +There are several other maps which may also be useful. + +The Dufour maps are good for direction and lie of country, but their +scale being 1 in 100,000 they are not much help for actual running. + +The local Ski Tour Map is useful to show where the usual tours go, +but cannot always be trusted for gradients or cliffs and rocks. The +Pontresina map, for instance, though showing an equidistance of 30 +metres as in the Ordnance Maps, really has 50 metres contour lines, +which might be a terrible snare to the unwary, who would confidently +run towards a slope, thinking it was about 20° and find that it was +nearer 35°, or an avalanche slope. In a case like this the Ordnance +Map must be used for actual running, while the Ski Tour Map is used to +show the line to be followed. + +In some districts, such as the Bernese Oberland, the Ordnance map has +been used for the local Ski tour map, and the tours shown on it in +red. This is a great saving of weight and money for the runner, who +then only has one map to carry. + +Most Ski maps show dangerous avalanche slopes. The local Summer map +published in most tourist centres in Switzerland is not much use to +the Ski runner, because it shows walks which may be along slopes or +down cliffs, which are perfectly safe in Summer and very dangerous in +Winter. + +I strongly advise all beginners who are bitten by the joy of Ski-ing +to buy, at any rate, the small local sheet of the Ordnance Map which +usually only costs Frs. 1.30, or roughly 1s., and to study it +carefully, noticing the contour lines on the well-known Nursery +slopes, and gradually realizing the gradient represented by the +different widths between them. + +Let him also notice the difference between a hill and a hole on the +map. This is easily recognized either by the thin blue line of a +stream emerging from a lake, or by comparing the nearest heights shown +on the dotted lines or some marked point. Contours are often puzzling +to a beginner in map reading, but knowledge of what they represent may +save a party from a weary climb back up a place they have gaily ski-ed +down, thinking they could get through but finding an impossible slope +or fall of rock which forced them to retrace their steps. + +Before going on tour even with a Guide, it is wise to study the map +with a view to knowing where an Alpine hut can be found in case of +need, or where a hay châlet could offer shelter. + +When once the Ski runner has begun to appreciate the fun and interest +of running by a map, he will never leave it behind, and he will be +able to enjoy all sorts of runs he would never know of if he were +content with the sheep habit of "following tracks." + +The greatest fun of Ski-ing is in finding one's own way, and this one +can never hope to do without a map. + +The following scale of comparative heights in metres and feet may be +of use in estimating the heights of points which the Ski runner wishes +to reach: + + 10 metres equal 33 feet (approximately). + 50 " " 164 " + 100 " " 328 " + 250 " " 820 " + 500 " " 1,640 " +1,000 " " 3,281 " +2,000 " " 6,562 " +3,000 " " 9,843 " + +A compass is, of course, useful when running by map, but as precipices +are apt to get in the way when running straight for any given point, +a compass cannot be trusted alone. In the case of fog, it is very +difficult to avoid difficulties, and points on the map can only be +identified by the use of an aneroid, as well as a compass. Set the +aneroid at the point you start from and check your heights by this as +you climb or descend, referring constantly to the map to ensure that +you are running on the right line. It is wise to practise this on +clear days in order to get accustomed to running by map, compass +and aneroid. As the weather also affects the aneroid, it should be +constantly reset at known levels. + +All this may sound very confusing, and most beginners will probably +prefer to take a Guide who knows his country well rather than trust to +elementary map-reading knowledge in unknown country. Most runners +who go on tour will find running much more interesting, however, if +instead of following a Guide blindly they also watch the map or get +a knowledge of what is good or bad country to run over. There are +sometimes cases also when the party must necessarily divide, and an +amateur may have to take the lead over unknown country. + + + + +AVALANCHES + + +Much has been written on this subject. Mr. Arnold Lunn, in "The +Alps," tells some extraordinary stories about these monsters of the +mountains. My father, John Addington Symonds, in "Our Life in the +Swiss Highlands," also describes them. + +There was a very interesting article by Monsieur F. Krahnstoever in +the "Swiss Ski Club Year-Book for 1923" on the subject of avalanches +in relation to Ski-ing. They are an everlasting nightmare to Ski +runners in high places, and beginners should at once take care to +learn all they can of snow-craft in order, in so far as possible, to +realize what is safe and what is dangerous. + +The steepness of slopes and the condition of snow, as well as the +direction of wind, are all factors affecting avalanches. + +Any slope whose gradient is more than 15° may be dangerous under +certain conditions, but it may be generally accepted that most long +slopes under 25° are comparatively safe so long as they have not much +steeper slopes immediately above or below them. + +New snow is always apt to slip before it has had time to settle down. +Snow blown by wind into a cornice or overhanging lip at the top of a +slope or on a cliff may topple down and start an avalanche. + +Wet snow, after rain, or a warm Föhn wind, becomes heavy and begins to +slide. + +A very dangerous condition is new soft snow lying on a slope covered +with old hard snow. + +Trees or rocks sticking up through the snow make such slopes safer, as +they tend to prevent the snow from beginning to slip. This is why the +Forestry Laws of Switzerland are so strict. In some districts the +owner of a forest may not cut a tree unless it has been approved +by the Government forester. This is to ensure that the forests are +maintained as a protection for the villages in the valleys below. + +Beginners should never go on a tour without first ascertaining that +the route they propose to follow is a safe one. And if there is the +slightest doubt, owing to weather conditions, they should put it off +for a day or two. Some runs are perfectly safe when the snow has +settled and a sharp frost has bound it, but they may become dangerous +again when a thaw sets in, a Föhn wind is blowing, or rain has fallen. + +The Ski runner himself may start an avalanche on a slope where the +snow would lie safely if he did not pass along it. The cutting of his +track, breaking the continuity of the snow, may set it going either +above or below him and he will be carried away with it. + +Wherever there seems to be the slightest risk of avalanche the party +should separate and proceed in single file at about 20-yard intervals. +Then if a runner is carried away, the others will be able to go to +his assistance. In some cases, however, even this is not sufficient +protection as the whole slope may go at once. In old days before the +railways had tunnelled through the passes we were driving over the +Fluela above Davos on our way to Italy in March. We were in the post +consisting of some 20 one-horse sledges and had just left the Hospiz +when we met the up-coming post, also consisting of a number of +one-horse sledges. It took some time to pass, as the track was narrow +and the horses floundered in the deep snow when passing each other. +After we had got by and were continuing on our way down to Süs, we +turned along an outstanding buttress of cliff and saw that some two +miles of steep slope ahead had avalanched. The whole surface of the +snow had slipped to the bottom of the valley and if either of the +diligences had been on this slope when it happened, horses, sledges +and all would have been carried away. + +This experience fixed avalanche danger very firmly in my mind, and +having also seen several large avalanches falling, as well as the +immense amount of damage done to forests and châlets by these +insuperable monsters, I have never wished to risk getting into a large +one myself. + +Even a small avalanche is very overwhelming and a beginner who has +felt its effects soon realizes what it may mean. Choose a _very_ short +steep slope on a day when the snow is slipping and try to get it +going. Once it moves and entangles your legs and Skis, you will feel +the extraordinary helplessness which results. This was one of our +games when I was a child. Without Skis it is possible to float on top +of a baby avalanche and to enjoy it, but with Skis on, the feet soon +become entangled and helplessness results. + +The first thing to do when an avalanche starts and no escape is +possible is to get the Ski bindings undone and the feet free. Then +"swim" with arms and legs and try to keep on top. If buried, keep one +arm over nose and mouth so as to keep air space and push the other arm +up, pointing the Ski stick through to the open so that it may show +your whereabouts. This is easy to describe, but probably not so easy +to carry out if the occasion arises. + +One of the first books on Ski-running advises people to carry some 60 +metres of red tape and to let this trail behind them when crossing +dangerous ground. Then, if overwhelmed by an avalanche, the red thread +can be picked up by the search party and the victim may quickly be dug +out. I have never met anyone who has carried out this suggestion and +do not want the extra weight of red tape in my Rucksack, but it makes +one think and realize how much other experienced runners have thought +also. + +The following precautions would seem to me to be better: + +Never ski along, or above, or below a dangerous-looking slope under +doubtful conditions. + +Never go for a tour without making sure beforehand that the route you +propose to follow is a safe one. + +Always carry out any instructions your Guide or the experienced leader +of your party may give. If you have any sudden doubt about the safety +of the slope you are on, make quickly for the nearest rocks sticking +up. + +If there are trees near get among them as quickly and quietly as you +can. + +If the snow begins to slip and you see no chance of Ski-ing quickly +away from the dangerous place, get your Skis off. This is where toe +bindings may be safer than heel bindings as they come off quicker. + +Never follow a track across a slope, about which you are doubtful, +thinking hopefully that the runner who cut it knew more than yourself. + +Never cut a track across a dangerous place at your own risk if there +is the slightest chance of misleading another runner into danger +later. + +Remember that though you yourself may be on a safe slope, the slope +above or below you may be so steep that the snow may slip off by +itself and your slope may be involved. This applies equally to running +along the bottom of a valley. The slopes on either side may be +dangerous, and if the snow slips you will be buried. + +There are so many perfectly safe runs that it is folly to risk being +killed by an avalanche, when it can easily be avoided by a little +forethought and common sense. + +Even if you do not mind the risk yourself, think not only of your +people waiting below, but also of the people who have to come and look +for your body. There have been several cases where the search party +have been overwhelmed by a second avalanche while digging for people +carried away by the first. + +January and March are probably the most dangerous months from the +avalanche point of view. In January the fresh snow is apt to slide +before it has settled. A few days after a new snowfall, most of the +avalanches will have come down and the ordinary runs will be safe +again, but every snowfall entails the same risk. There are some slopes +where the snow will never stay in February, but unless a Föhn wind or +rain make the snow heavy, most slopes are pretty safe below a gradient +of 25°. + +In March when the thaw begins more avalanches will fall. These usually +come down well-known tracks and can easily be avoided for this reason. + +This chapter may appear to be somewhat intimidating, but it is better +to be safe than sorry. Very few experienced Ski runners get into +avalanches and if ordinary precautions are taken and the advice of +experts followed beginners need have no fear. + +The Ski-ing maps usually show the more dangerous places, but every +runner should keep his own eyes open and learn all he can of +snow-craft in order to be able to explore new country as he becomes +proficient. + + + + +ACCIDENTS + + +Some people will think that I lay too much stress on the dangers of +Ski-ing. Considering the thousands of people who ski every Winter and +the extraordinarily small number of accidents, I admit that I have +exaggerated the dangers. But I do so quite deliberately because it is +only by realizing risks that they can be avoided, and my experience +proves to me that the average town-bred man and woman, boy and girl +have very little appreciation of life lived up against Nature. They +set out so lightheartedly and often so fool-hardily on an expedition, +without telling anyone where they propose to go, or when they expect +to be home, and without having provided themselves with the extra +equipment which may prove to be very necessary before the day is +finished. + +While writing this book I have constantly had in mind Ski-ing centres +above 5,000 feet, whence tours are made among the glaciers and at high +levels where the cold may be a danger during the months of January and +February. Much of what I have said of the necessity of carrying spare +clothing in good quantity does not apply so much to places below 5,000 +feet unless high tours are undertaken. But wherever people ski there +is a possibility of accidents due to falls, and though these are +seldom serious, they need attention. + +When someone is really lamed by knee or ankle, Ski-ing becomes very +difficult, except to the expert, who can ski mainly on one foot, and +walking through the deep snow, sinking at every step, is an agony, so +that some form of stretcher becomes necessary. + +Two or, better still, four Skis tied together, side by side, form an +excellent sledge, which will travel straight downhill every easily. +It practically refuses to traverse a slope so that the case has to be +slipped straight down to the bottom of the slope and along the valley +or level below. + +Skis usually have holes through the flat part of the tip in front. +A piece of strong wire should be threaded through these, care being +taken that the Skis lie parallel their whole length and that the tips +are not drawn together too much. A stick must be tied to the wire and +the Ski tips to keep them in position and to take the pull when the +sledge is drawn along. If there are trees about, a branch can be cut +to serve this purpose. If not, a Ski stick must be cut in half and +used. It should not project beyond the Skis on either side, or it will +catch in the snow. + +The other half of the Ski stick or another branch must be tied across +the Skis, by the toe irons, to keep the Skis parallel there also, and +to give solidity to the sledge. People sometimes tie a strap or string +round the Skis, including their running surfaces, forgetting that this +will soon cut through with the friction of the snow. + +To finish the sledge, put some fir branches on it, the bushy part of +which will make it more comfortable to lie on. The thick wood of the +branch part should point towards the front of the Skis and be fixed +there. If branches are not available, Rucksacks can be used for the +injured person to lie on. He will probably be more comfortable going +downhill if he can be laid head-first downwards on the sledge. + +To draw the sledge along, join a lap thong or sealskin or rope or +puttee to the outer Ski tips, and also to the ends of the stick across +them. In order to prevent this from pulling these Skis forward too +much it is well to tie a string to the inner Ski tips also and join +them to the pulling rope. + +Another rope or thong should be attached to the stick and centre toe +irons, so that this can be held from behind to prevent the sledge +travelling too fast downhill. Experienced runners will be able to +travel on Skis while getting this sledge down, but beginners will do +well to wade on foot, especially the rear man, who has to control the +speed. Neither the pulling nor control rope should be attached to the +body of the person holding it because a sudden jerk may pull him over +and the sledge be stopped suddenly with a jar to the person hurt. + +Most club huts are provided with excellent ambulance sledges, which +may be used, and which should be conscientiously returned to the +Rettungschef of the locality. + +There is a Rettungschef in every mountainous district whose duty it is +to help with accidents when these are reported to him. He arranges to +send out Guides and porters with an ambulance sledge to the assistance +of any party in trouble. If, therefore, your accident be a serious +one, and you are far from home, the wisest plan may be to send one or +two of the best runners down to the nearest village for help, while +the remainder stay with the injured person. For this reason it is +always unwise to go out with fewer than three in a party. Five or six +are a better number on a long day's run. + +Remember the people waiting at home, and when you have made +arrangements for help to go to your party ring up your friends and +tell them what has happened and what you have arranged. Having often +seen the anxiety of relations and friends when their party comes home +late, I know how important this is. Even if you are only delayed for +some small reason such as a train being late, it is kind to ring up, +and this is easily done, as there are telephones in almost every +village. + +While on this subject I would again like to urge that before going off +on an expedition of any length the Concierge and someone should be +told in writing the destination, the route, and the hour anticipated +for return. Then, if the party does not turn up and no news comes +through, a search party can be sent out with some hope of finding +them within a reasonable time. Time is very important in January +and February, when the weather is cold, as people can be badly +frost-bitten if benighted. + +Search parties are expensive luxuries, as it is risky work for the +Guides, who deserve to be well paid for it. I have only once followed +a Rettungschef with his five assistants and their ambulance sledge, +and shall never forget the pace at which their lantern went ahead of +us, dancing like a will-of-the-wisp. A runner had come home at 5 p.m. +with news that one of the party had hurt his knee some four miles from +home. This runner had already wisely rung up the Rettungschef from the +first house he came to, and a party of Guides was being collected. I +decided to go out with some friends in case the accident was a serious +one and we could bring the remainder of the party home, and so save +the Guides that duty. They were all beginners who were benighted. + +We followed the lantern and saw it stop and knew the Guides had +reached the people in trouble. When we caught up they already had the +patient looking like a mummy, rolled up in blankets in a canvas bag on +the sledge. I could hear him choking over the brandy which was being +poured down his throat. He had only hurt his knee, but his friends, +who were all real novices, had had a wearing time getting him down. + +The way in which the Guides handled the job filled me with admiration +and confidence. When they found we were ready to herd the party home, +they shot off with their sledge and the lantern soon became a speck of +light in the distance again. + +I also had a lantern that night, and found it delightful to ski by, +but doubt whether anyone else profited much by its light except as a +guide to direction. + +When a person is hurt and helpless at a high level, in winter, cold is +the most immediate danger, and all spare clothing should be piled on +him, and his limbs should be rubbed to prevent frost-bite. When he +cannot be moved, a fire might well be lit if below tree level where +wood is available, because, though the lighting of fires is forbidden +in the Swiss forests, a breach of the law would surely be overlooked +in case of danger to life. The heat of the fire would help to keep +the patient warm, while its light would act as a beacon to the search +party. + +The following is the code of signals in use among the Alps: + +_The Alpine Signal of Distress_-- + +(a) By Day.--The waving of anything (a flag or stick with an article +of clothing attached) six times in a minute, repeated after an +interval of one minute without signals. + +(b) By Night.--A light flashed six times a minute, repeated after an +interval of one minute without signals. + +(c) By Sound.--Six sharp calls, or whistles, in the minute, repeated +after an interval of one minute without signals. + +_The Answering Call_-- + +(d) Anything waved, a light flashed, a sharp call, or whistle three +times in the minute, repeated after an interval of one minute without +signals. + +If a Ski runner does not remember the exact signal any regular signal +repeated a definite number of times in a minute, with a minute's +interval, should prove sufficient. Similarly, if you hear a signal +repeated at short regular intervals, you should always suspect a call +for help. + +An ordinary whistle is hardly loud enough for the sound to carry any +distance and a siren might be better. Newspaper could be used for a +flare if the party does not possess a lantern or electric torch, but +it would not last long. + +Finally, may I suggest that everyone who takes up Ski-ing seriously, +and who carries gear to be used in emergency, should be proficient in +the use of such gear and not wait till it is needed to find out how to +fit it. + +To experiment in making an ambulance sledge while an injured person +lies beside you and when your fingers are cold and people are buzzing +round you with suggestions, which may or may not be better than your +own ideas, is a bad plan. It is wiser to have made the experiment at +home and to have got someone to drag you down a hill on the result, +and then you will know something about it. A new game for the Nursery +slopes, and what fun for the spectators who already think all Skiers +mad! + +I would like to add at the end of this chapter on accidents that +during the many years I have enjoyed Ski-ing, and with the hundreds of +beginners I have helped, I have never met with a single really serious +accident. + +One or two knees and ankles twisted and now and then a cut or severe +bruise have been among the worst cases I have come across. + + + + +THE ATTRACTIONS OF SKI-ING + + +Though some runners are content merely to enjoy the actual practice of +Ski-ing with all the difficulties to be overcome and the various turns +to be perfected, the greater proportion probably ski mainly on account +of the exhilaration obtained, the freedom enjoyed, and the wonderful +beauty of the places reached. + +The amazing thing is that Skis were not used sooner among the Alps. +They have already in less than thirty years entirely altered the life +of the young people in far-away villages, who used to be practically +shut up during the winter months, but who can now ski from one place +to another on Sundays and holidays, enjoying the companionship of +their friends and widening their outlook by mixing with strangers. +This will probably have a very good effect on the population of the +High Alps, who will be less inclined to leave their homes in order +to get away from the monotony of the long winters. So much is this +appreciated that Ski-ing is now part of the school curriculum in some +districts, often taking the place of gymnastics during the winter. + +It is amusing to watch the classes of children out on the Nursery +slopes with their teachers. While we foreign women Ski-runners are +provided with elaborate costumes, including breeches or trousers, the +little Swiss girls ski in frocks and cotton pinafores without cap or +hat, and often without gloves. Led by their teacher they wearily climb +up the slopes, and then comes the mad career home to the midday meal. +Twenty or thirty little girls all dashing down together practising +turns as they go, or making as straight down as they dare in their +effort to outpace their rivals. + +The boys carry the sport still further and most local Ski-jumping +competitions start with a demonstration by the boys, who often do not +look more than 10 or 12 years old, and who go over the big jump as +straight as their elders and usually a good deal more gaily, as they +have not begun to appreciate the dangers. The smaller boys line the +sides of the jump and pour out at the word of the judge on to the +steep landing-slope like a lot of little goblins, jumping on their +Skis horizontally to flatten away any track or hole made by a jumper +who has failed to jump perfectly. Little chaps of seven or eight run +through the woods on these occasions, swanking their turns through the +trees and putting most grown-up runners to shame by their nimbleness. +At Pontresina one winter I was much amused by one of these small +children wearing a British third-class test badge which he must have +picked up. I asked him where he got it, but he hurried away for fear +I would claim it, and his Christianias through the big trees made me +very envious. + +Many of the children ski to school and back, getting endless practice +all through the winter months. + +May I here appeal to British runners who may have old Skis, even +broken ones to throw away, to offer them to the local branch of the +Swiss Ski Club as there is an organization which mends them or cuts +them down for lending or giving to the school children, who are too +poor to provide themselves with Skis. + +When the beginner has learnt the elements of straight running and +turns and begins to go off among the mountains the real interest of +Ski-ing is begun, with the slow climb up in single file, first of all +through woods and then out on to the open slopes. This is usually a +silent game as breath is needed for the climb, and it is dull work +keeping up a conversation with the back ahead. Sometimes, as one +inadvertently steps on the Skis ahead, a gruff word is flung back and +the trespasser is wise who stops, pretending to attend to his binding, +or to look at the view--the view is usually worth looking at, too, as +there is usually something to see. If it is not a distant view of the +Great Alps or of the valley below, it is of trees or rocks, which, if +examined carefully, usually show some sign of life. I remember being +snubbed by an ardent Ski-er because I ventured to ask "What are those +black birds?" "Who wants to know about birds when he is ski-ing?" was +the answer. I did want to know, and I found out that they were Alpine +choughs and I still want to know when I see the inhabitants of the +mountains or their tracks. + +Most of the wild animals use old Ski tracks as highways now, even +finding it worth while to follow the zigzag of an uphill traverse. +Foxes, hares and roe deer all use them, the roe deers' feet showing so +much tinier than the chamois, who leaves a deep rough track as they +usually run in each other's footsteps. The hare's track when running +is two holes abreast and then two single ones. The fox runs rather +like a dog. The squirrel hops two feet at a time, often leaving a +slight ruffle on the snow as he swishes his tail. Among the cembra +trees in the Engadine the snow may be sprinkled with the nuts out of +the cones. They are delicious eating, being very like the Italian +stone pine nut, or pinelli, and they attract the squirrels as much as +they do the nutcracker bird. + +Martens and pole cats leave distinct footmarks. Weasels, also, and +these are easily recognized as they usually start from a hole under a +bush or a rock. One day when a party of us were silently traversing a +slope above Mürren a tiny brown ball came rolling down, which, when +picked up, proved to be the warm dead body of a mouse. Looking up we +saw a weasel peering out of his hole anxious as to the fate of his +dinner. A mouse's track also usually starts from a tiny hole and the +two feet go abreast, while the tail leaves a line all the way. + +We nearly always see chamois and roe deer when ski-ing in the woods +at Pontresina as it is a protected area and they are not shot and +therefore become very tame. The chamois are driven down into the woods +in search of the lichen which hangs like a beard from the branches of +the cembra trees. On Muottas Celerina this winter we saw four chamois +below us in the wood. Without a word our guide, Caspar Gras, dashed +down the slope after them and very nearly caught one round the neck, +as they were surprised, and knowing there was a precipice beyond the +scrub below them, they could not make up their minds which way to go. + +The roe deer scrape away the snow below the trees in search of +alpenrose or bear berry leaves or dry blades of grass. They suffer +more than the chamois after a heavy snowfall because they are not so +strong and cannot scamper through it. At the beginning of this season, +Klosters had a snowfall of some two metres and the roe deer were +driven down to the villages where the peasants fed them in stables +till the weather improved. Four were caught on the railway, having got +on to the line at a crossing and being unable to spring out over the +high banks of snow. + +Ibex are being let loose in order to re-establish them where they were +exterminated a few years ago. They can usually be seen through the +telescope at Bernina Hauser above Pontresina, and also opposite +Mürren. The ibex, or steinbock, is used as the Coat of Arms of the +Canton of Graubünden, and is familiar to Ski runners as the badge of +the local Ski Club of Zuoz in the Engadine. + +After some controversy eagles are being encouraged to increase, having +been almost exterminated. We saw a beauty sailing over the Muottas +Muraigl Valley one day. There is even talk of trying to get bear back, +but the peasants obstruct this as they were so destructive to sheep. +As a child at Davos I saw three bears brought in dead by hunters, +and remember with pride, mixed with disgust, tasting a bear's paw. A +peasant told me of how as a boy he looked after the village sheep near +the Silvretta Glacier, and of a bear who used to come and kill a sheep +and then bury it in the ice for future eating. + +Ski runners shudder at the idea of meeting a bear while on a run, but +they need not worry as the bears roll up and sleep through the winter +so that unless the Ski-er took an unusually heavy fall into the bear's +hole, he would be safe enough on the surface. Besides which it is said +that a bear cannot traverse down a slope, so that the Ski-er could +easily get away unless the bear rolled to the bottom, and then ran +along and waited for him. As there are no bears in Switzerland now, +perhaps it is waste of time to start a controversy about the best turn +with which to circumvent a bear. Cows are much more dangerous. I was +pursued down the village street at Pontresina by a playful cow, who +had been taken to the pump to drink. She put down her head and stuck +up her tail and I wasted no time in pushing away from her. + +Another animal which hibernates through the winter is the marmot, and +I often think of them sound asleep under the snow as I pass along the +slopes of some high valley. They are said to have breathing holes, but +I have never seen them, unless this was the explanation of some holes +which puzzled me on the Schiltgrat above Mürren. I was traversing +uphill a long way ahead of my party and noticed some isolated holes in +the snow, very like Ski stick holes, but with no Ski tracks near. As I +passed a grey hen flew out of one of the holes, and, looking back, I +saw several black cocks and grey hens flying away. It is more likely +that they had made their own holes to shelter in rather than that +these were marmot holes. + +Ptarmigan often greet one on the higher ridges and sometimes a +capercailzie will get up with a noise which is very apt to upset one. + +The choughs are persistent followers of a Ski-ing party, flying over +one's head and chirruping for lunch. When at last we stop and take our +nosebags out of our Rucksacks, they perch on a cliff near and wait +till we move on, when they immediately fly down to see what we have +left for them. I have seen a paper lunch-bag, which they were unable +to tear, absolutely surrounded by a circle of their footmarks, some +eight feet in diameter. How they must have worried it and each other +in their endeavour to get at the contents. + +At Mürren a pair of ravens also accompany the Ski-ers. They take their +perch high up and watch the many luncheon parties, croaking now and +then to remind us of their wish to share our slices of beef and +sausage. These "packed lunches" are usually so plentiful that the +choughs and the ravens get a goodly feed. The tidy Ski-er who buries +all his paper and orange peel and other debris will often find next +day that the whole thing has been dug up by a fox. + +At many of the Alpine huts, the snow-finch has adopted the habits of +the sparrow and is often so tame that he will almost take crumbs from +one's hand. + +Another bird I love among the Alps is the dipper or water ouzel. +Ski-ing along the snow banks of the rivers, I have often watched him +hop down into the water and run along the bottom picking up whatever +his food is among the pebbles. + +Surely most Ski runners can spare time to watch all these little +people, whose rights to the snow fields are even greater than their +own. + +Very little vegetation shows in winter, but it is wonderful what a lot +one can find if one looks carefully and it certainly makes Ski-ing +more interesting to me if I can recognize the trees, plants and seeds. + +A very fair estimate can be made of the different heights by noticing +what grows. + +Corn stops at 2,000 to 3,000 feet, though a little rye may be grown +up to 5,000 feet in sunny places. Fruit trees and beech trees stop at +about 4,000 feet. There is one beech tree above Davos about 5,500 feet +above the sea, but it has never succeeded in topping the huge boulder +which shelters it from the North. The silver fir is healthy at 4,000 +feet, but is seldom found much above that level, while the spruce or +fir goes up to 7,000 feet and does best there. Larches seem to thrive +best at about 5,000-6,000 feet, but may be seen almost as high as the +top of the Bernina Pass on the south side facing Italy. The cembra +pine, like a great cedar, is the finest tree in the Alps and does +best at 6,000 feet to 7,000 feet. It is also called the Arolla pine, +because of the forests near that place. In the Upper Engadine almost +all the forests are of cembra and there is one splendid old tree known +as the "Giant Tree" near upper tree level on Muottas Celerina. Another +group of veterans grows just below the Little Scheidegg on the +Grindelwald side. Many of these trees are said to be 600 or 700 years +old and their wood is much used for panelling in Graubünden. It is +recognized by the big dark knots. The panels are usually formed of +boards reversed so that the knots form a symmetrical pattern. Larch is +also used and is very red, while sycamore goes to the making of tables +and chairs in the Bündner Stübli. Good examples of the modern use +of these woods may be seen in the hotels, Vereina and Silvretta, at +Klosters, while the museum at Zurich contains beautiful old panelled +rooms from different districts. + +Creeping down steep avalanche slopes above 5,000 feet we find _Pinus +montana_, whose long branches form a tangle in which to catch one's +Ski tips. Below 5,000 feet this pine will sometimes grow almost +upright but never attains much height. Alder may also be a trap for +Skis on an avalanche slope where it creeps downhill and provides a +very slippery surface for the snow. I remember shooting down such a +slope about 100 feet when the snow slipped with me in a safe place. + +Along the rivers the alder grows into quite a fine tree, and if its +catkins be picked at Christmas and are brought into the warm house, +they soon blossom out and spread their green pollen over everything. +Rather a nice way of bringing a reminder of Spring into one's Winter +holiday. + +Birch and mountain ash grow happily up to 6,000 feet on sheltered +slopes but after 6,000 feet there are no deciduous trees, except the +tiny creeping willows buried deep under the snow. + +Juniper is the most ubiquitous shrub to be found, it seems to me. +You get its various types at sea level in Italy and on the top of +mountains up to 8,000 feet when it pokes up through the snow beside +the Alpine Rose or _Rhododendron ferrugineum_. + +On the top of ridges when the snow is blown away, all sorts of +treasures may be recognized. The creeping azalea with its wee +evergreen leaves, which no one, thinking of the garden azaleas at +home, would recognize as belonging to the same family. Little primulas +and saxifrages sheltering in cracks in the rocks, with nothing but +bunches of brown leaves to show them up. _Polygula Chamaebuxis_ +or Bastard Box almost always in flower on a sunny patch even in +midwinter. On the lower slopes, gentians or anemone plants with their +buds waiting to open when the soft wind or rain of Spring calls to +them. _Erica carnea_ with its whitish buds waiting for Spring to +colour them, one of the earliest of the flowers. Or the seeds of +_Gentiana lutea_ or _asclepedia_ or _purpurea_ and of Aconite or +Monkshood on their strong stems standing high above the snow. + +One winter when at 4,000 feet we had no snow at Christmas, we went +flower hunting instead of Ski-ing, and found thirty different sorts of +flowers out. But this was exceptional and by no means satisfying to +the Ski runner, who has come out for the sport he loves and not on +botany intent. + +Later, when the snow begins to melt on South slopes in March, the mass +of purple and white crocuses open to the sun; nothing in the whole +world can equal the mass of these crocuses. They push up as the +miracle of Spring, impatiently thrusting through the snow, melting +holes for themselves. The soldanellas do the same, but not till late +in March, and with them come gentians and the whole glory of the +Alpine Spring has begun. By this time the Ski-er has to oil and put +away his Skis or climb to the glaciers and higher snow fields. A +wonderful experience alternating between Spring and Winter as he +changes his levels. + + + + +SUMMER SKI-ING + + +The only experience of Summer Ski-ing which I have had is on the +Jungfrau Joch, about 11,900 feet above the sea. + +The Berner Oberland and Jungfrau Railways carry one up from Interlaken +to the Joch where there is an excellent new hotel, offering every +possible comfort. + +Good Ski-ing can be had on the glaciers and I am surprised that more +people do not come out for practice during the Summer. + +The two great draw-backs to this Ski-ing are, firstly, the expense +and, secondly, the difficulty of breathing. The expense is unavoidable +because the carriage of building materials, food, etc. to such a +height must necessarily entail high prices. Glacier Ski-ing, except on +the snow-field near the Joch, also usually necessitates the employment +of Guides. But these snow-fields are so extensive and so safe that a +week could be spent in practising without a Guide. + +After the first night on the Joch the feeling of breathlessness is +reduced, and so long as all climbing is done slowly no bad effects +need be expected by people in good health and condition. The Jungfrau +Joch can be reached from London in twenty-six hours, and keen runners +could enjoy a week or a fortnight of amusing Ski-ing on snow which +lends itself particularly well to the practice of all turns. + +The Jungfrau Joch branch of the Swiss Ski Club holds an annual meet on +the Joch in the month of July, which is well attended by Runners and +Jumpers from all parts of Switzerland. + +First-Class Guides and Ski Instructors can be found at the Joch. + +People who would prefer not to sleep at so great a height could stay +at the Scheidegg or Eiger Gletscher, at both of which places hotels +exist. + +In view of the shortness of Winter holidays, it seems a pity that +more enthusiasts do not profit by the chance of practising which the +Jungfrau Joch Railway offers in Summer time. I have twice spent two +days up there and have enjoyed them immensely. The snow was very +different to anything I ever met in Winter, but also very easy and +filled me with confidence. In July and August the crevasses show +clearly and need not inspire anxiety in anyone, except after a new +fall of snow, which may hide the smaller ones temporarily again. + +There must be several square miles of perfectly safe Ski-ing on the +glaciers behind the Joch, which provide Nursery slopes just as good as +anything found in Winter. The gradients vary, but it is easy to find +stretches of 10° to 30° unbroken by crevasses. + +Anyone coming out to ski on the glaciers in Summer time should bring +with them their own Skis or arrange to hire these at some Winter +Sports centre in the valleys. They should also be provided with all +the Ski-ing equipment they may need. A few pairs of Skis are kept for +hiring purposes on the Jungfrau Joch, but they are not very good ones +and it would be better not to depend on them. + + + + +REGULATIONS OF THE BRITISH SKI TESTS + +AS APPROVED BY + +THE FEDERAL COUNCIL OF BRITISH SKI CLUBS. 1923. + + + + +GENERAL REGULATIONS. + + +1. The British Standard Ski Tests have been drawn up by the Federal +Council of British Ski Clubs, hereinafter referred to as "The +Council." _The Council represents the following clubs, which are named +in the order of their foundation: The Davos Ski Club, the Ski Club of +Great Britain, the Alpine Ski Club, the British Ski Association, and +the Ladies' Ski Club_. + +2. The British Standard Ski Tests are of two kinds: Cross Country +Ski-ing Tests and Jumping Tests. There are three Tests of each kind, a +First Class Test, a Second Class Test, and a Third Class Test. + +3. The Tests are open to all ski-runners without payment, but +successful candidates will only receive a certificate and badge +if they are members or prospective members of one of the Clubs +represented on the Council. A candidate who has been proposed +and seconded for a constituent Club, and who has paid a year's +subscription, and whose election is pending, will be deemed a +prospective member for the purpose of this rule. The following sums +will be payable for the badges. These sums may be paid through the +members' Clubs or direct to the Hon. Secretary of the Council. + + First Class Badge 35s. + Second Class Badge 3s. + Third Class Badge 2s. + +4. In Switzerland francs will be accepted instead of shillings in +payment of badges. + +5. Certificates and badges will be awarded to any person who has +passed the Cross Country Ski-ing Tests: First Class, a gold +badge; Second Class, a silver badge; Third Class, a bronze badge. +Certificates will be issued to those who have passed the corresponding +Jumping Tests, and these certificates will entitle the holder to +receive a Jumping badge when the Council authorizes the issue of new +badges. + +6. Application for the badges, accompanied by a certificate signed by +two judges, shall be made either to the local representative of the +Club or to the Hon. Secretary of the Council, K.R. Swan, Esq., 1 Essex +Court, Temple, within three months of the passing of the Test. + +7. Certificate holders will alone be recognized as having passed the +tests. _No certificate will be recognized as valid unless issued to +a member of one of the constituent clubs of the Council_. A list of +those certified as having passed any of the tests will be issued +periodically by the Council. + +8. _Judges_.--No candidate can be judged for any test nor for any part +of a test unless two qualified Judges are present. No candidate can +be passed for any part of a test except by being judged formally and +knowing that he is being judged. + +9. The Judges are appointed by the Council; the appointment is for +the season only. Judges and Emergency Judges must be of British +nationality. + +10. The Council also appoints an emergency committee, any one of whom +shall have the power to appoint temporary judges for the season only, +to act with a Judge elected by the Council. Such temporary judges +shall only be qualified to judge such tests as they have themselves +passed. The appointment of an Emergency Judge will not be recognized +by the Council unless the appointment is notified to the Secretary of +the Council. + + +CROSS COUNTRY SKI-ING TESTS. + + +GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES. + +The following definitions may be taken as applying to the three tests: + +_Stemming Turns_.--For the purpose of these Tests, Judges must insist +that candidates shall adopt that type of stemming turn known as the +"lifted stemming turn," that is to say, the stemming turn which is +finished by lifting round the inside ski. + +_Telemarks_.--In the Telemark the back ski should drop behind, and the +bend of the back ski should not be ahead of the ankle of the leading +foot and should not be allowed to come forward till the turn is +completed. Candidates who start the turn with a mixture of ordinary +stemming should not be passed. + +_Christianias_.--The Christiania may be done _either_ by separating +the points of the ski and completed by bringing them parallel--the +so-called "open Christiania"; _or_ by keeping the ski parallel +throughout and jerking them round, the "jerked Christiania"; _or_ by a +very slight stem, the ski being immediately brought parallel after the +turn has started, the so-called "Closed or Stem Christiania." + +In every case the essence of the Christiania is that the swing should +be rapid, and that the preliminary stemming or diverging of the skis +should be as slight as possible. + +A turn started by pronounced stemming and completed as a Christiania +should not be passed. + +_Continuous Turns_ are sometimes known as "downhill turns." They are +used to connect one tack with another, and differ from stop or uphill +turns in that the turn is made away from the hill instead of up +towards the hill. Candidates must not stop between two continuous +turns. + +_Hard Snow_.--For the purpose of these tests, any well-beaten down +practice slope from which all traces of soft snow have disappeared may +be considered as hard snow. Hard crust superficially softened by the +sun cannot be considered as hard snow. + +_Soft Snow_.--For the purpose of these tests, a deep layer of powder +snow resting on hard crust, or hard crust superficially softened by +the sun, but not breakable, may be considered as soft snow. + +_Form_.--The Judges must consider the "form" of the runner, as well as +his speed and steadiness. The distinguishing marks of good "form" are +an easy balance without dependence on the sticks (see below), an erect +position, except on steep slopes, and a narrow single spoor in soft +snow. + +_Use of the Sticks_.--Candidates should carry sticks throughout these +tests, but the sticks should not be used to reduce speed nor to help +out a turn. On the other hand, a candidate may be allowed a prod with +a single stick at the end of a turn provided that he is carrying a +stick in each hand, or in the event of the candidate using a single +stick that this stick is only held in one of his hands. _He must not +put both his sticks together, nor hold a single stick in his two +hands, during any of these tests, unless expressly directed to do so +by the Judge_. + + +THE THIRD CLASS TEST (CROSS COUNTRY). + +The Third Class Test consists of three parts, which may be passed on +different days, and before different Judges. + +Part (a).--_The ascent of 1,500 feet in not more than 1 hour 30 +minutes, and the descent of the same distance within a time which +shall be decided by the Judges. This time shall not be less than +7 minutes, nor more than 20 minutes, and shall not exceed 12 +minutes unless sanctioned by a Second Class Judge or member of the +Emergency Committee who is present and judging_. + +Part (b).--_Four continuous Lifted Stemming turns on a slope of hard +snow or hard snow covered by a shallow layer of soft snow. The angle +of the slope to be between 15-20 degrees_. + +Part (c).--_Four continuous Telemarks in soft snow on a slope of +similar gradient_. + + +INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES. + +1. The course selected for Part (a) should include at least 200 feet +of moderately difficult ground. Courses such as the Lauberhorn at +Wengen, which is an unbroken descent of 1,500 feet that a good runner +could take straight, should not be chosen. No part of the course +should be along a road. + +2. Throughout the Test candidates must carry rucksacks, which should +weigh about six lbs. for men, and three lbs. for ladies. The ski must +not be removed during the test, except to clean or repair them. + +3. The Judges should, if possible, appoint two time-keepers. During +the descent not more than six candidates must be judged in one batch. + +4. Not more than three attempts at Part (b), and not more than three +attempts at Part (c) are allowed on the same day. + +5. The attention of the Judges is directed to the General +Instructions. The gradient on which Third Class candidates are +expected to do their turns is gentle, as the intention is to secure +that candidates should master the proper methods, so as to be able +later to make real use of the turns on steep slopes. Judges are +therefore urged to insist that the stemming turns and Telemarks are +done correctly and in good style. Each turn should be short, well +defined, and not a mere change of direction. + + +QUALIFYING TEST FOR THE SECOND CLASS (CROSS COUNTRY). + +No Candidate may enter for Parts (a), (b) and (c) of the Second Class +Test until he has passed the Qualifying Test, and no Candidate may +enter for the Qualifying Test until he has passed the Third Class +Test. + +The Qualifying Test consists of three parts, which may be passed on +different days and before different judges, but which must all be +passed in the same season. + +Part (a).--_Four continuous Lifted Stemming turns on a slope of hard +snow at an angle of 25-30 degrees_. + +Part (b).--_Four continuous Telemark turns on a slope of soft snow at +an angle of 25-30 degrees_. + +Part (c).--_Christiania swings to a standstill (right and left) from a +direct descent at a fair speed_. + + +INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES. + +1. Not more than three attempts at any one part should be allowed on +the same day. + +2. The Christianias should be done on the level or on a gentle slope +after a descent from a steep slope, as a stop Christiania is more +difficult on the level than on the slope. + +3. The Judges must require a considerably higher standard of +steadiness and certainty than in the Third Class Test. The object of +the Third Class Test is to ensure that candidates learn the correct +methods of making the turns. The object of the Second Class Test is +to ensure that candidates can make practical use of these turns on +moderately steep slopes. + + +THE SECOND CLASS TEST (CROSS COUNTRY). + +The Second Class Test consists of three parts, which must all be +passed in the same season, and should, if possible, be judged by the +same Judges. + +Part (a).--_A descent of not less than 2,500 feet, mainly on soft +snow. The course selected should provide opportunities for straight +running on reasonably steep slopes_. + +Part (b).--_A descent of not less than 1,000 feet on hard snow, such +as unbreakable crust or snow which has been thoroughly beaten down_. + +Part (c).--_A descent of at least 500 feet of woodrunning, dense +enough to prevent straight running, but not too dense to prevent +continuous turns_. + +1. A Second Class runner may be defined as a runner who can run at +a good speed on hard or soft snow of unvarying quality, and who +is, above all, thoroughly steady on his turns. A runner who runs +recklessly without judgment, and who shows little power of selecting +a safe line, should not be passed even if he takes slopes straight at +the expense of frequent falls. _The Second Class Test is, in the main, +a test of steady controlled ski-ing at a good, but not at a racing +speed_. + +2. Candidates must not use their sticks to control speed nor to help +out a turn except under very exceptional circumstances and with the +express permission of the Judges. The Judges must, however, satisfy +themselves that the Candidates understand the use of the stick, and +could, in emergencies, where speed is vital, increase their speed and +steadiness on difficult snow by the use of the stick. + + +QUALIFYING TEST FOR THE FIRST CLASS (CROSS COUNTRY). + +No candidate may enter for Parts (a), (b) and (c) of the First Class +Test until he has passed the Qualifying Test that entitles him to be +judged for the First Class Test, and no candidate may enter for this +Qualifying Test until he has passed the Second Class Test. + +The Qualifying Test consists of five parts, which may be judged on +different days and before different Judges, but which must all be +passed in the same season. + +Part (a).--_Four continuous lifted Stemming turns on a slope of hard +snow at an angle of not less than 30 degrees_. + +Part (b).--_Four continuous Telemark turns on a slope of soft snow at +an angle of not less than 30_. + +Part (c).--_Four consecutive jump-turns to connect downhill tacks on a +slope of breakable crust at an angle of about 30 degrees_. + +Part (d).--_Christiania swings to a standstill (right and left) from a +direct descent at a very high speed_. + +Part (e).--_Four continuous Christiania (see General Instructions) on +a slope of about 20 degrees_. + + +INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES. + +1. The turns must be done round sticks or flags placed by the Judges. + +2. Not more than three attempts at any one part are allowed on the +same day. + +3. Soft breakable crust will usually be found on slopes with a +southerly exposure just after the sun has struck them or just before +the sun leaves them. + + +FIRST CLASS TEST (CROSS COUNTRY SKI-ING). + +The First Class Test consists of three parts, which must all be passed +in the same season and should, if possible, be passed by the same +Judges. If this is impracticable, Judges must indicate on the Test +forms which parts they have judged. Not more than two parts shall be +judged on the same day. + +Part (a).--_A descent of not less than 2,500 feet, which should, if +possible, be continuous without any intervening stretches of level or +uphill. The course selected must provide ample opportunity for fast, +straight running, and must also include a fair proportion of steep and +difficult ground_. + +Part (b).--_A descent of not less than 1,000 feet on really +difficult snow, such as hard, wind-swept, unbreakable crust, on which +Lifted Stemming turns are practicable but Telemarks impossible, varied +by breakable crust in which only Jump turns are practicable_. + +Part (c).--_A descent of not less than 500 feet of difficult +woodrunning in which continuous turns are just possible for a +first-class runner._. + +The above represents a minimum, rather than a maximum. If Judges can +devote sufficient time to the Test, each section may well be repeated +on different days in order that the Judges may have ample opportunity +of coming to a decision. + +For a descent of about 500 feet, the candidate should lead in order +to test his capacity for choosing a good line. During the rest of the +Test one of the Judges must lead and must set a first-class speed. The +other Judge must remain behind the candidate in order to compare his +speed and steadiness with that of the leading Judge. + +A First Class runner turns as little as possible and slows up as +little as possible before each turn. His turns are done at a high +speed on all but very steep ground. + +_The candidate must satisfy the Judges that his running combines high +speed, thorough steadiness on difficult ground and difficult snow, and +an easy, effortless control of his ski_. + + +SKI-JUMPING TESTS. + + +GENERAL REGULATIONS. + +1. The length of a jump shall be measured with a taut tape from the +edge of the take-off to that point at which the hindermost ski touches +the alighting track with the part immediately below the binding. + +2. To constitute a standing jump the runner must not fall within +a distance of 40 metres from the edge of the take-off or within a +distance of 60 metres where the jump, as in the First Class Test, +exceeds 30 metres. If the runner comes to a standstill without falling +within this distance he will be held to have stood. + +3. If a runner saves himself from falling by supporting himself with +his hands, he shall be considered to have fallen. + + +THIRD CLASS TEST (JUMPING). + +1. Every Candidate is required to make two standing jumps of not less +than 10 metres. Four attempts are allowed on the same day. + +2. Any two Judges appointed by the Council for the Cross Country +Ski-ing Tests are qualified to judge this Test. + + +SECOND CLASS TEST (JUMPING). + +1. Every Candidate is required to make two standing jumps of not less +than 20 metres. Four attempts are allowed on any one day. + +2. Any two Second Class Judges appointed by the Federal Council for +Cross Country Ski-ing Tests may judge this Test. Any Candidate who has +passed this Test may replace one of the Second Class Judges. + + +FIRST CLASS TEST (JUMPING). + +1. Every Candidate is required to make two standing jumps of not less +than 30 metres. Four attempts are allowed on any one day. + +2. Two Second Class Judges appointed by the Federal Council for Cross +Country Ski-ing may judge this Test. Any Candidate who has passed the +Second Class Jumping Test may act in place of one of the Second Class +Judges. + + + + +INDEX + +Accidents +Adelboden +Alpine Club Huts +Ambulance Sledge +Andermatt +Aneroid +Arosa +Attractions of Ski-ing +Avalanches + +Bergun +Bernese Oberland +Bernina +Bindings +Boots + +Campfer +Cap +Care of Equipment +Celerina +Clothing +Clubs +Coats +Compass +Cost of Ski-ing Holiday +Crampons +Cutting the Track + +Dangerous tracks +Davos +Diablerets +Discarded Skis, disposal of + +Elements of Ski-ing +Engadine +Engelberg +Equipment +Equipment List +Etiquette + +Falls +Fex Thal +Finding the Way +First Aid Equipment +Foot plates + +Gloves +Gradients +Graubunden or Grisons +Grindelwald +Gstaad +Guides + +Hat +Heights +History of Ski-ing + +Inn Valley +Instructors +Iron for waxing + +Julier Pass +Jungfrau Joch + +Kandersteg +Kesch +Klosters +Knife + +Lantern +Lap Thong +Lauterbrunnen +Lenzerheide +Light +Lifting a Ski + +Maloja +Maps +Mending Outfit +Montana +Morgins +Muottas Muraigl +Murren + +Nursery Slopes + +Oiling + Skis + Boots + Bindings + +Para Iron +Parsenn +Pockets +Pontresina +Puttees +Putting on Skis + +Rettungs Chef +Rhone Valley +Right of Way +Rucksack +Runaway Skis + +Saanenmoser +Samaden +Scheidegg +Schuls +Scraper +Search Parties +Side Slipping +Side Stepping +Signals of Distress +Silvaplana +Sils-Maria +Ski-ing Centres +Skins (Seal) +Skis +Snow + Soft + Hard + Crust + Sticky +Socks +Spare Binding +Spare Clothing +Spare Ski Tip +Spectacles +Splugen +Sticks +St. Moritz +Stockings +Straight Running +Summer Ski-ing +Sweaters + +Tests + Elementary + Third Class + Second Class + First Class + Regulations + Jumping +Toe Irons +Traversing + +Uphill Work + +Villars + +Wax +Wengen +Wind Jacket + +Zuoz + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ski-running, by Katharine Symonds Furse + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SKI-RUNNING *** + +***** This file should be named 10969-8.txt or 10969-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/6/10969/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Greg Chapman and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Ski-running + +Author: Katharine Symonds Furse + +Release Date: February 7, 2004 [EBook #10969] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SKI-RUNNING *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Greg Chapman and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + +[Transcriber's note: The spelling and punctuation inconsistencies of the +original have been retained in this etext.] + + +SKI-RUNNING + +BY + +KATHARINE FURSE + +G.B.E., R.R.C. + +WITH MAP AND FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS + +1924 + + + + +PREFACE + + +So many excellent books have been written about Ski-ing that it is, +perhaps, presumptuous on my part to think that there is room for +another. + +Mr. Vivien Caulfeild in his "How to Ski" and "Ski-ing Turns," as well +as Mr. Arnold Lunn in his "Ski-ing for Beginners," "Cross Country +Ski-ing" and "Alpine Ski-ing," have covered all the ground of +the technique discovered up to date. What future discoveries and +inventions may be made, requiring new books, no one knows as yet. + +Had it not been for the help and coaching these two exponents of +Ski-ing have given to me personally, I should never have been able to +enjoy the sport to the extent I do now, because I should probably have +been content to continue running across country, falling whenever I +wanted to stop, and using a kick turn at the end of my traverses. +Their enthusiasm and example gave me new ideas of the standard I +wanted to attain, and their unfailing kindness and advice helped me to +get nearer to it than I could otherwise have done. + +The standard still lies away up out of reach, as age undoubtedly tells +against the Ski-runner, and the perfect Christiania in deep, soft snow +round trees growing close together on a steep slope must be done in +heaven rather than on earth by people who are nearer fifty than forty. + +Much experience of coaching beginners convinces me that there is still +room for a book such as I hope to make this--a book containing only +the simple answers to questions put to me during the last three years, +when I have been responsible for running the Ski-ing in various +centres. The object of such coaching is to raise the standard of +British Ski-ing, and it is satisfactory to realize that other nations, +including the Swiss, already marvel at the fair average of our +runners. This is specially remarkable when it is remembered that most +British runners can only afford a bare fortnight or three weeks' +winter holiday in the Alps, and that they are not always in training +when they arrive. Ski-ing is a sport which exercises every nerve and +muscle as well as lungs, as is soon discovered during the first 100 +feet climb or the first fall in deep snow on the Nursery slopes. + +In addition to my conviction that there is room for another book +for beginners, my love of the Alps, which have been my home for the +greater part of my life, also induces me to try to show something of +the real objects of Ski-ing; namely getting to the silent places which +can only be reached on skis, realizing something of the strength +and immensity of Nature at her grimmest, profiting by the wonderful +atmosphere of the mountains, to say nothing of the beauty of an Alpine +view on a fine day. + +The greatest pity is that most British winter holiday-makers can only +go out for Christmas. This is admittedly the worst time from the +point of view of weather. At low altitudes rain often falls early +in January, turning the snow into slush and reducing the Ski-er to +despair. After the 15th January, the weather is usually better, and in +February the days are longer and finer. The best time of all for an +Alpine holiday is usually February and early March. My advice to +novices, who are not tied by Christmas holidays, is to come out about +the 20th January, when the hotels are less crowded, the days longer, +the snow more certain and all the conditions more favourable. Some of +my own best Ski-ing days have been late in March when the crocuses and +gentians were already opening to the sun on the Southern slopes, and a +soldanella might be found along some tiny stream. Few experiences can +equal a Spring day among the Alps when the wealth of flowers begins +to show in the valleys, while masses of good snow still lie on the +Northern slopes or on the ridges above 6,000 feet. + +Early starts are necessary these days as the sun blazes after 11 a.m., +but nothing can equal the bodily comfort and well-being enjoyed at +midday, lunching at the top of some peak or pass, basking in the blaze +and imagining the run down cool slopes. No Ski-runner, who has not +been out in late February or March, realizes the joy and comfort of +late Ski-ing. The hotels will remain open as long as clients stay to +make it worth while, and all the mid-winter amenities will be kept up +if they are wanted. + +In recommending places and equipment, I intend boldly to confine +myself to the places I have been to and to the equipment I have used, +or of which I have had reports from people I trust. This is a somewhat +risky determination as there is great competition among the various +centres and business firms which cater for Ski-runners. My reason is +that the endless advertisements must be extremely confusing to the +novice, who does not know what to believe, and who may sometimes be +let down by a glowing description of some place or gear, which proves +to be quite unsuitable. + +The old hands will find nothing new in this book. Not even controversy +about the nomenclature of turns or as to which foot should carry the +weight in a Christiania. My own view of Ski-ing turns is that they +are a means to an end, and not an end in themselves, and that the +Ski-runner, who is content to spend weeks on the Nursery slopes, +perfecting one turn, has wasted almost weeks, when he might be +enjoying what Skis enable one to reach among the mountains above. At +the same time every beginner should be content to devote two or three +of his first days to the Nursery slopes, learning the elements of good +Ski-ing before dashing off on an excursion. As I know from painful +experience, there is much to unlearn in what one has picked up by the +light of Nature. Scrambling down a run, crashing and sitting on one's +Skis, may be great fun the first day, but is tiring and humiliating +as time goes on. It is infinitely preferable to learn the knack of +Ski-ing tidily, and thereby keeping dry and, in a few days, running +well enough thoroughly to enjoy a day out with its slow climb to the +top of some peak or pass, and then the slide down under control. + +This is where tests are so valuable. Most people undoubtedly enjoy +competition and, if the passing of the turns is made a necessary +qualification for the timed run of the 3rd class test, most beginners +will determine to learn them and then to try the Run and, having +successfully passed that, wear a Badge. Badge-hunting, like +pot-hunting, may not be a very worthy object in itself, but if it +encourages people to become proficient in a beautiful sport, let us +give our weakness of character free play and achieve the results it +leads to. The tests of the Federated Ski Clubs of Great Britain have +done more to raise the standard of our running than anything else +imaginable. + +The beginner is wise, who chooses a centre where the Ski-ing is well +organized, and where he can be certain of getting coaching as well as +excursions suited to his standard, as nothing is lonelier than going +to a place where he is dependent on his own initiative; neither is +anything more irksome to the good runner than to be asked to admit a +stranger to his party, who may keep him back and spoil his run. This +will be further alluded to in the Chapter on Etiquette, and if a +beginner wishes to be popular, I advise him strongly to adhere to +the "Law." A strict code has been adopted, mainly as a result of the +suffering from pertinacious runners, who put their standard higher +than is admitted by others. + +Where the Ski-ing is organized, tests sort different individuals into +their different standards and Runs are planned accordingly, so that +the novice is not over-strained and the experienced runner is not +hindered by too big a party. + +The beginner should also choose a centre where there is a railway to +help him. A great deal of precious time and energy may be wasted in a +short holiday when all climbing has to be done on skis. The first runs +are tiring enough without the additional fatigue of climbing, and +going up in a funicular or railway opens up numbers of runs which +would be far too energetic for most people who are not in training. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +PREFACE + +HISTORY OF SKI-ING + +COST OF A SKI-ING HOLIDAY IN WINTER + +SKI-ING CENTRES + +CLOTHING + +EQUIPMENT + +CARE OF EQUIPMENT + +THE ELEMENTS OF SKI-ING + +ETIQUETTE + +SNOW AND LIGHT + +FALLS + +TESTS + +GUIDES AND SKI INSTRUCTORS + +MAPS AND FINDING THE WAY + +AVALANCHES + +ACCIDENTS + +THE ATTRACTIONS OF SKI-ING + +SUMMER SKI-ING + +APPENDIX: REGULATIONS OF THE BRITISH SKI TESTS + +INDEX + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + +From photographs by E. Gyger, Adelboden, Switzerland + + +ACHIEVEMENT! + +MAP OF SWITZERLAND + +THE UPHILL TRACK + +POWDER SNOW + +SPRING + + + + +SKI-RUNNING + + + + +HISTORY OF SKI-ING + + +Very little is known of the early history of Ski-ing. Doctor Henry +Hoek in his book "Der Schi" gives a very interesting chapter tracing +the use of Skis back to the earliest records. He thinks that Skis were +used by Central Asian races thousands of years B.C. and long before +they were used in Europe. According to his book the word "Schi" is +derived from the Gothic "Skaidan," the German "Scheiden," Latin +"Scindere," and so on. All these words mean split or divide, and might +be used to describe the split wood of which Skis are made or their +action in dividing or separating the snow through which they pass. + +Doctor Hoek further says that early records show how Ski-ing was a +sport practised by knights, and he quotes Rognwald of Orkney (1159 +A.D.) who states that he could run on Skis. + +The Swedish Bishop Magnus writes in 1533 of the way in which the +Norwegians used Skis for traversing country when hunting. + +During the Swedish and Norwegian war in 1808 the Norwegian Army +included 2,000 Ski runners, but the use of Skis does not seem to have +come into warfare again until the Great War of 1914-1918, when the +Swiss, Austrians and Italians all used them on the Alpine frontiers. + +The modern and fully recorded use of Skis began about 1843 when the +sport became really popular in Norway and a Ski race was run at +Tromso. In 1861 a Ski Club was founded, and in 1863 an exhibition was +held there. + +The Swedes also took up Ski-ing as a sport at about this time but Skis +do not seem to have penetrated into Central Europe until after 1870 +when a French doctor tried them at Chamounix in 1871. + +The first introduction of Skis into Switzerland, which I have been +able to trace, was by the monks of St. Bernard, who obtained some +pairs from Norway in 1883, thinking that they might be useful in their +work of mercy, rescuing pedestrians who were in difficulties on the +Pass. About 1887 Colonel Napier came to Davos bringing with him a +Norwegian man-servant and a pair of Skis. Mythical tales were told of +the way this man slid down the slopes from chalet to hotel, carrying a +tea tray on his shoulder. I have only a vague recollection of seeing +him perform, but when Colonel Napier left Davos the same year, he gave +the Skis to me to play with. They were very similar to modern Skis but +had a rigid binding made of sealskin with no means of tightening or +loosening it. Not knowing better, I used to try to run in gouties or +rubber snow-boots which slipped about inside the binding so that I had +absolutely no control. This did not make much difference, as I knew +nothing of the art and only used the Skis as a freak on days off from +tobogganing. I knew nothing of wax, and when the Skis stuck, they +stuck, and I thought it a poor game. When they slid I sat down and +I thought it a poorer game. It never entered my head that I could +traverse across any slope and so I always went straight down and only +by a fluke did I ever stand. Then Tobias Branger, who was a great +sportsman and kept a sports shop at Davos, imported several pairs of +Skis and practised the art himself. + +About this time Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Dobson +took up the game and we spent many hours practising on the slopes +behind Davos Dorf. + +The Richardson brothers, who had been to Norway, came to Davos about +1893 bringing with them knowledge of the sport and soon gathered round +them a keen lot of disciples. The Davos English Ski Club was formed +and from now on Ski-ing spread rapidly throughout Switzerland. + +In the meantime, Ski Clubs were also being formed in the Black Forest +and other parts of Germany, as well as in Austria. + +Doctor Nansen, in his book about Greenland, described the use of Skis +for Arctic exploration and his accounts fired a great many more people +to try the game. + +I advise anyone who wishes to know more of the development of Ski +running to read Doctor Hoek's book "Der Schi," published in 1922, as +he gives a long account of the first forming of Clubs as well as the +gradual adoption of Skis as a means to winter climbing, and, further, +a useful list of the literature on the subject. + +After the first beginnings in 1899, the Swiss became energetic and +enthusiastic runners. The children could be seen on barrel staves with +a pair of old boots nailed to the centre into which they slipped their +feet with their own boots on. It was not a particularly graceful game +in those days. Runners armed themselves with poles some 8 feet long on +which they leant heavily when running downhill. This school soon gave +way to the more modern school, which proved that the carrying of two +sticks was better than one only. A great many books on the technique +of Ski-ing followed each other fast and furiously--Zdarsky and +Lilienfeld, Caulfeild and Lunn, Roget Hoeg and others all contributing +to the controversy on technique. + +Now there are innumerable Ski Clubs with their own year-books, and the +sport is so well launched, not only in Europe, but also in Australia, +New Zealand, East Africa and America and elsewhere, throughout the +world, that there is but little chance of its ever again dying out. + +The British Ski Clubs include the Ski Club of Great Britain, the +British Ski Association, the Alpine Ski Club and the Ladies' Ski Club. +These are federated in one Council and work harmoniously together for +the furtherance of British Ski-ing. + +This is a very incomplete history, but I feel that it is better +to limit it to a few dates and to await the publishing of a more +extensive history of Ski-ing in English than now exists. + + + + +COST OF A SKI-ING HOLIDAY IN WINTER + + +The expenses of a winter holiday differ according to the place chosen, +the hotel and the organization to whose care you commit yourself, if +any. Any figures I quote are approximate and are subject to change +owing to fluctuations in exchanges, etc. + +If you go to a large hotel, with all its luxuries, you will pay +anything from L1 a day upwards, and this may not include sports tax, +etc. The smaller hotels will probably make arrangements for pension at +about 16 francs, or even 14 francs, or less, per day, but may not +be very comfortable, and comfort is important in winter. It is +particularly necessary that the hotel should be well heated, as the +drying of Ski-ing clothes is a very important point. + +As I said in my Preface, the beginner will be wise who chooses a +centre where the sports are highly organized, and where he will be +certain to find coaching and arrangements made for tests and runs, as +well as a railway or funicular to help with uphill work. Only in such +a place can he learn enough Ski-ing in a short time to enable him to +begin to enjoy touring before he returns home, panting to come out +again and continue the experience. One joy of Ski-ing is that you +usually begin again where you left off, and have not to relearn what +you learnt the winter before. + +Having lived in the Alps off and on for forty-six years, and having +seen all sorts of different ways of running things, I realized at +Muerren, where I first learnt to ski properly four years ago, how much +the beginner profits by going to such a centre. Otherwise he may +waste infinite time in Ski-ing without skill and with only half the +enjoyment. It is not only at Muerren that the coaching is given, +though Mr. Arnold Lunn's system of helping everyone originated there. +Pontresina provides it also, and Klosters and other places as well, +but it seems to me that Muerren is the mother of up-to-date British +Ski-ing. + +The cost of a fortnight at a good hotel comes to about L15, including +sports tax, afternoon tea and heating. The journey about L7 return +2nd-class or L9 1st-class, in addition. This can be reduced by +travelling 3rd class in England and Switzerland, where at any rate it +is quite possible to travel 3rd class on any mountain railway. + +In addition to the expense of Pension at an hotel and of the journey, +at least L5 will probably be required for local railway fares, +subscription to entertainment fund, baths, gratuities, hire of Skis, +lessons, guides, etc. L30 ought to cover a fortnight, and L35 three +weeks, and a good deal less can be reckoned if a smaller hotel be +chosen. + +Most of the Sports Hotels will now quote an inclusive price per day, +to which at least 10 per cent. should be added to the estimate +for gratuities to servants. This is the recognized scale at which +gratuities are given by most people, though they might often amount to +more when any special service has been rendered. + +Local railway fares on mountain railways are high, because of the +great expense of keeping them open, but most of these railways offer +special sports tickets, either for a definite period as a season +ticket, or for a certain number of journeys. For instance, on the +Muottas Muraigl Funicular Railway above Pontresina 24 tickets single +journey can be obtained for the sum of Frs. 50, while the ordinary +single fare is Frs. 4.75, or more than twice the reduced fare. + +The cost of equipment must be added to the estimate, but this need not +be very great as Ski-ing boots and gloves are the only items which +cannot usually be used at home by men--trousers or breeches being an +additional cost for women. + +People sometimes complain that a Swiss winter holiday is very costly, +but I believe it can compare favourably with a golfing holiday at +home. Ski-ing is the cheapest possible sport, if runners are content +to foot it uphill instead of using railways or sledges. During the +months of February and March, special low terms can probably be +obtained in the hotels, as they are anxious to prolong their season, +and will do anything they can afford to induce British sportsmen to +come out then. February and the first half of March are the best time +from every point of view, so that no one who can take his holiday +then, and who does not want all the gaiety of the social side, will +regret going during these months. In old days before the war this was +fully appreciated and the season used to last three months, instead of +a short six weeks as it does now. + + + + +SKI-ING CENTRES + + +In this chapter I propose only to describe such of the larger Swiss +places as I know personally, or by reputation. There are a great many +smaller places where equally good, or even better, Ski-ing may be +found, but, as my book is meant mainly for beginners, it seems +preferable to adhere to the advice given in the preface, and for me to +mention only such centres as provide comfort in the hotels and good +coaching and organization of tours, as well as facilities for playing +other games. Most people when they go to the Alps for their first +winter visit wish to try all the different sports in order to see +which they like best, and there seems to me to be no question but that +the all-round sportsman gets the most out of his holiday. + +There may be days when Ski-ing is not possible or when a few hours on +the rink or toboggan run offer a relief to a stale Ski runner. It is +usually only the really keen enthusiast of some years' standing who +can spend the whole day waxing or oiling his Skis, or poring over a +map planning future runs. + +When choosing a place the first objective is a good supply of snow. +This does not seem to depend entirely on height, though there is more +likelihood of finding it above 4,000 feet than below that height. +Above 5,000 feet there is less chance of thaw and rain--the bugbears +of all Winter sportsmen, who can only go out for the Christmas +holidays. + +I have known a Winter when snow has lain in one district at 5,000 feet +and not at 6,000 feet in another, but this was exceptional. The higher +you go, the more hope you have of snow as a rule and also of frost, +which is so necessary to keep the snow in good condition. + +The centres I recommend are mainly arranged in groups geographically, +taking the Canton of Graubunden, or the Grisons first, because it is +the country I love best, having spent most of my early life there. The +heights are taken from Murray's Handbook. + +KLOSTERS, 3,970 feet above the sea. This seems to me to be one of the +very best Winter Sports centres. It is a small village with two large +and a few small hotels. It usually has good snow and is protected from +wind. There is plenty of sun, but North slopes provide good runs near +the village as well as on the Parsenn. + +The Rhaetische Railway helps runners to get the maximum of downhill +running for the minimum of climb, especially opening up the whole +Parsenn district to those who want a long day's tour with only some +1-1/2 hours' climb. + +The Nursery slopes are good, and there is plenty of open ground near +the hotels for practice. The Ski-ing is well organized by the local +club, and there are 1st-class Ski Instructors, as well as Certificated +Guides. + +The rinks are well kept and the Klosters run of old renown is +maintained in good condition for tobogganing or bobbing. + +There is quite a good Ski map to be obtained locally, but the Ordnance +Map should be used as well. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +DAVOS, 5,015 feet above the sea, was one of the first places at which +Winter sports began, and it still offers almost everything desired by +the Ski runner. The fact that Davos is much visited by invalids deters +a great many people from going there, for fear of infection. As a +matter of fact they are probably a good deal safer there than in some +other places where there may be a few invalids, but where the same +precautions regarding disinfection may not be taken. + +Two or three hotels are kept open for sports people only, and at these +the life is just the same as in all the other well-known centres. + +Davos is within very easy reach by the Rhaetische Railway of all the +Parsenn runs. The side valleys, Fluela, Dischma and Sertig, all offer +innumerable good runs to the energetic runner who does not object to +climbing, and there are endless Nursery slopes. It is one of the +few places whence tours can still be planned over almost unlimited +snow-fields when a track is a rare sight except on the few ordinary +short runs or on the Parsenn. + +The local club organizes the Ski-ing, and good Ski Instructors and +Guides are available. + +The rinks are excellent and the Schatzalp and Klosters runs are +maintained for bobbing and tobogganing. + +There is a good Ski map showing all the runs round Davos, but the +Ordnance Map should be used as well. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +AROSA, 5,643 feet above the sea, is said to be excellent for Ski-ing, +but I do not know it well. There is no railway to help runners much. +Invalids go there as well as to Davos, but the same precautions are +taken as at Davos. + +There are rinks and a very good run for bobbing and tobogganing. + +LENZERHEIDE, about 4,500 feet above the sea, has a fine reputation for +easy Ski-ing. There is no railway to help it and all uphill work has +to be done on Skis. I have never been there in Winter-time, but know +that a great many runners speak well of Lenzerheide. The Ski-ing is +organized, and good Instructors and Guides are available. + +There is probably a good rink, but of this I have no personal +knowledge. + +In the Engadine[1] valley, which is also part of Graubunden, the +following centres can be recommended. + +PONTRESINA, 5,916 feet above the sea. The Nursery slopes are very +extensive and offer short runs to the beginner. The Muottas Muraigl +funicular conveys runners up some 2,000 feet, when after an easy climb +of one hour a really good run may be obtained back to Pontresina. + +The Rhaetische and Bernina Railways open up a large number of good +runs in the Engadine valley and also up the Bernina and Morteratsch +districts. + +Open wood-running as well as glacier-running under safe conditions can +be enjoyed near home, and Pontresina is undoubtedly one of the best +places for people who want to perfect their cross-country running +under different conditions. + +There are no short afternoon runs ending in the village, but the +railways enable people to enjoy all the tours of the Upper Engadine. + +The longer tours, such as those over the Kesch Glacier to Berguen or +Davos, are unequalled so far as I know. + +Having spent two Winters at Pontresina, I can recommend it from +intimate knowledge, but only for the real beginner or for the expert +who wants amusing running. It is not the place for Ski-ers who only +want a short run between lunch and tea. + +First-class Guides and good Instructors are available. The Ski-ing is +organized and plenty of coaching is given to members of the Public +Schools Alpine Sports Club. + +Excellent rinks and short bobbing and tobogganing runs are maintained. + +A useful guide describing all the runs in the Upper Engadine can be +obtained locally. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +ST. MORITZ, 6,037 feet above the sea. +CELERINA, 5,750 " " " " +SAMADEN, 5,669 " " " " +are all served by the Rhaetische and Bernina Railway, and have the +same Ski-ing facilities as Pontresina. + +Their rinks and toboggan runs are well maintained, those at St. Moritz +being, of course, among the best in Switzerland. + +Good Guides and Ski Instructors are available, but, so far as I know, +Ski-ing is not in any way organized for beginners in these places. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +ZUOZ, 5,617 feet above the sea, is also a good Ski-ing centre further +down the Inn Valley. There are only two or three hotels, and the +village is quite unspoilt. It provides the most wonderful open South +slopes for Ski-ing and North slopes are also within reach across the +valley. + +Zuoz lies almost at the foot of the climb for the Kesch runs and also +taps the country further down the Inn valley behind Schuls. + +So far as I know the Ski-ing is not organized in any way, but Guides +are available. + +There are rinks, but, Zuoz being still one of the old-fashioned +places, life would be quiet there. + +CAMPFER, about 5,850 feet above the sea, and + +SILS-MARIA and SILVAPLANA, about 5,950 feet above the sea, lie +further up the Inn valley beyond St. Moritz. No railway exists to +help Ski runners, and the slopes are somewhat steep and apt to be +precipitous except in the Fex Thal, south of Sils-Maria, which has +lovely snow-fields. + +Campfer and Silvaplana tap the country lying behind the Julier Pass, +but, as no railway helps here, the tours entail a lot of climbing and +a drive on the way home. + +MALOJA, 5,935 feet above the sea, lies at the upper end of the Inn +valley. + +Never having been there in Winter, I cannot describe it during that +season. + +It is a beautiful place in Summer, and may open up a good deal of +country which is not much tracked, as there is no village and only one +large and two small hotels. + +The post road runs zigzagging down into Italy and is said to provide a +very fine bob or toboggan run. A Rink is kept open. Now that Maloja is +being opened as a Winter centre, every amenity for a Winter holiday +will probably be offered. + +The Bernese Oberland is also one of the best Ski-ing districts in +Switzerland. + +Mr. A. Lunn has produced a very helpful guide to all the Ski-ing tours +and also, with the help of Herr Gurtner, a first-class Ski-ing map, +using the Ordnance Map as its basis, so that only one map need be +carried. + +MUeRREN, 5,368 feet above the sea, seems to me to be one of the very +best centres for beginners as they receive so much help, and there are +numbers of short runs aided by the Allmendhubel funicular which runs +up some 700 feet above the village. From the top of this several short +runs end in the village or on the Berner Oberland Railway, which +brings the tired novice home without much effort. + +The Berner Oberland and the Wengern Alp Railways also enable people to +get the best of the Scheidegg runs down to Wengen or Grindelwald. + +The Ski-ing is very highly organized at Muerren and beginners receive a +great deal of help and encouragement. + +There are Guides and Instructors. + +The Rinks and bob run are admittedly among the best in Switzerland. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +WENGEN, 4,187 feet above the sea, is a lovely place, with the most +beautiful view of the Jungfrau. It faces south, but provides two or +three nice home runs, which remain in good condition except for the +tracks of innumerable runners. + +The Wengern Alp Railway is usually open to the Scheidegg, though after +a very heavy snow-fall it may take a few days to clear. This enables +people to enjoy all the runs down to Grindelwald, returning to Wengen +by train. + +The Ski-ing is organized and there are good Guides and Instructors. +Rinks and a most amusing toboggan run provide for off-days. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +GRINDELWALD, 3,468 feet above the sea, is too well-known as a Summer +resort to need much description here. + +Its main fault in Winter is that the sun disappears behind a mountain +for about an hour and a half in the middle of the day. This ensures +perfect ice on the rinks and does not much affect the Ski runner, who +can climb beyond the shadow for lunch. I cannot resist mentioning my +good friend Frau Wolther's tea-shop as one of the great attractions at +Grindelwald, drawing many a Ski runner over the Scheidegg from Muerren +and Wengen! Frau Wolther's unfailing welcome and hospitality are a +great joy at the end of a hot, wet run, and the fact that a change of +clothes can be sent round by train to her care is a great comfort to +those coming from afar. + +There are plenty of short Ski runs above Grindelwald, and the +Scheidegg railway is kept open as far as Alpiglen to help with the +climb on a long day's tour. + +There are good Guides to be had, some of whom are probably Ski +Instructors. + +The Rinks are first-class and both bob and toboggan runs are kept up. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +LAUTERBRUNNEN, about 3,000 feet above the sea. People who know +Switzerland well may wonder why I include Lauterbrunnen in my list, +but I have often wondered equally why no one makes it a centre for +Ski-ing. Though the sun may not shine there for long hours, the fact +that it lies at the junction of the Berner Oberland Railway, the +Muerren Funicular and the Wengern Alp Railway seems to me to make it a +very possible Ski-ing centre. + +There are good hotels, and the Herr Gurtners, whose home Lauterbrunnen +is, may be depended upon as two of the best Ski runners in Switzerland +and two of the most active pushers of Ski-ing, to do their utmost to +help any British runners who decide to try Lauterbrunnen. + +All the Muerren, Wengen and Grindelwald runs are within easy reach of +Lauterbrunnen, and if the railways will sell special tickets, the cost +of the journeys should not be prohibitive. + +To my mind, the fact that one could stop at Lauterbrunnen after a day +over the Scheidegg would be a great comfort, as the last journey up +to Muerren or Wengen is apt to be tiresome after a long run, if often +repeated. + +In any case it seems to me that runners might do worse than write to +Herr Gurtner at Lauterbrunnen and ask for particulars, at any rate for +the Christmas holidays, when most of the popular villages are very +full and the hotel rates are high. + +Good Guides are available at Lauterbrunnen. + +KANDERSTEG, 3,835 feet above the sea. I have never been there except +in Summer when I know it well. + +One great attraction about Kandersteg is that it can be reached by a +through train from Calais or Boulogne. + +From the Ski-ing point of view, I think Kandersteg might be +disappointing to the runner who hopes for short runs. There are +excellent Nursery slopes, and the Loetschberg Railway probably opens +up quite a lot of country. + +Guides are obtainable. + +Rinks and toboggan runs are maintained. + +ADELBODEN, 4,450 feet above the sea, is said to be an excellent +Ski-ing centre, but I do not know it personally, having only just been +up there in Summer time. + +There is no railway to help, so that all climbing has to be done on +Skis. It is within reach of very good tours throughout the lower +Bernese mountains. + +The British Championship was held there in 1923, which shows that the +Ski-ing is organized, and good Guides are, no doubt, obtainable. + +Adelboden, being a well-known Winter Sports Centre, the rink and +toboggan runs are probably excellent, but, never having seen them, I +cannot vouch for them. + +Skis can be hired locally. + +SAANENMOSER, 4,209 feet above the sea, lies at the top of the low +pass between the Simmen Valley above Zweizimme and the Sarine Valley +running down to Gstaad and Chateau d'Oex. + +There is only the one Sports Hotel and no village. It is a most +charming place within reach of Ski-ing in all directions among the +lower Bernese mountains. + +The Montreux Oberland Railway running down both sides of the +Pass helps a little by carrying Ski runners home after some long +excursions, but all uphill work has to be done on Skis. The slopes +are gradual and the Saanenmoser runs are perfect for people who have +learnt the elements of Ski-ing in some active place, and who then want +to gain confidence by free running over easy country. + +The Ski-ing was not organized when I was at Saanenmoser in 1921, and +neither Guides nor Ski Instructors were obtainable. There was only a +tiny rink and no toboggan or bob runs. + +Skis can be hired at Gstaad. + +GSTAAD, about 3,800 feet above the sea, lies below Saanenmoser, and is +a large village with numbers of hotels. The Ski-ing is very much the +same as at Saanenmoser and the Railway serves the same purpose, only +helping runners a little. + +I have never stayed at Gstaad, but have heard it well spoken of as a +Winter Sports centre offering all the usual attractions. + +Skis can be hired locally, I believe, and Guides are obtainable. + + * * * * * + +The Rhone Valley offers a few centres which I do not know in Winter. +Among those I have heard most about, the following are outstanding. + +VILLARS, 4,000 feet above the sea, is reached by a railway from Bex. +It lies on slopes facing South, and I gather that the Ski-ing there is +somewhat limited. + +The rinks are said to be good and the usual Winter attractions are +offered. + +MONTANA, 5,000 feet above the sea, is reached by a funicular railway +from Sierre. Like Villars it also lies on slopes, facing almost south, +but there seems to be good Ski-ing among the mountains behind. + +MORGINS. In addition to the above, I would mention Morgins, which I do +not know personally, but of which I have heard a good deal. Morgins +is 4,406 feet above the sea, and is particularly well-known for its +rinks, which seem to be first-class. The Ski-ing is said to be good +but not extensive. There is no railway. + +DIABLERETS, 3,849 feet above the sea, in a valley going from Aigle +among the mountains to the East, might be a good centre for Ski-ing, +but I only know it in Summer. So far as I have heard it offers the +usual attractions in Winter, but there is no railway to help much. + +In other districts of Switzerland the following places should be +mentioned, although I have never been to them in Winter time. + +ENGELBERG, 3,343 feet above the sea, in the Stans valley near Luzern, +is often well spoken of as a Winter centre, though it is liable to +thaw and shortage of snow. From what I know of it in Summer time I +should think that most of the surrounding slopes are too steep and +precipitous to allow of much free running, but the Titlis group +probably provides some open country and there is a short funicular +above the village. + +There are excellent hotels, and all the usual attractions are offered. + +ANDERMATT, 4,738 feet above the sea, lies in the Gothard Valley above +the Tunnel, and is easily reached in Winter by express trains stopping +at Goeschinen, whence a short mountain railway runs up to Andermatt. + +I have only been there in Summer, and from what I saw should imagine +that Andermatt was subject to a great deal of wind. The slopes all +look somewhat steep and are bare of forest, so that they might be +somewhat dangerous on account of avalanches. + +There is no railway to help Ski runners, but Andermatt might offer +quite a lot of good runs to experienced people. + +I know nothing of the other attractions for the all-round Winter +sportsman, but have little doubt that Andermatt, which is a go-ahead +place, does all it can to satisfy them. + +There are, of course, innumerable other places which may be good +Ski-ing centres, not only in Switzerland, but also in Germany, +Austria, and the Italian Tyrol. + +The Jura mountains and places, such as Splugen and Schuls in +Graubunden, might open up new districts. There is much new country to +explore, and I have only picked out for notice the few places to which +I have been myself, or of which I have heard from people I trust. + +My description may not always be appreciated by people who have +special affection for any one centre, but I have only tried to put +forward my own impressions for the guidance of any beginner who may +feel in a quandary as to what place to choose. + +So much depends on weather conditions: if there is plenty of snow and +if the sun shines, almost every place is delightful. If, on the +other hand, a thaw settles in or fog descends on the mountains, or +a blizzard blows the snow about, or, worst of all, if rain falls, +reducing the snow to slush, nobody will be satisfied anywhere. Luckily +for Ski runners, even a few inches of wet snow will provide practice, +so that they suffer less than other Winter sportsmen when the weather +is unfavourable. + +One thing can invariably be depended upon in Switzerland, namely a +warm welcome from the hotels, and every endeavour made to ensure the +comfort and enjoyment of their clients. + +No country in the world lays itself out more for the satisfaction of +its visitors, and no holiday can beat a Winter holiday among the Alps +when the conditions are favourable and the sportsmen determined to +enjoy themselves. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: There is apt to be a certain amount of wind in the whole +Engadine but its height counterbalances this by usually ensuring that +there is not a thaw, even at Christmas time.] + + + + +CLOTHING + + +Clothing should be light, smooth, warm, loose and, when buttoned up, +it should leave no gaps. It is better to wear several thin, warm +garments than one thick one, for the simple reason that going uphill +one wants to peel to the minimum; sitting on top of a mountain or +ridge in a wind, one wants to pile on everything one possesses, and +going downhill one wants a medium amount, all of which will button up +so that the snow cannot penetrate inside. Ordinary country clothes +will usually suffice for the first season, especially if they are of +smooth material which will shake off the snow. + +Men usually wear smooth wool or cotton gaberdene coats, and trousers, +and a peaked "Guide's" cap. Their trousers either tuck inside the +uppers of their boots and should be sufficiently long to do so without +pulling out in a strained turn or fall, or they may be buttoned round +outside the boots or folded and tied on with Norwegian puttees or +swanks. Breeches and stockings may be worn, but long puttees should be +avoided as they constrict the muscles and stop the circulation, thus +tending to frost-bite, which is a serious danger at high altitudes. + +Sweaters, unless worn under a coat when practising or running +downhill, are quite unsuitable as the snow gets into the stitches and +then melts, and the sweater becomes a sponge and often stretches till +it is more like a woman's coat-frock than anything it was before! A +Ski-ing suit should be well provided with pockets, all of which should +have flaps to button over and keep the snow out. Also to keep the +contents in. Money and other things carried loose are apt to fall out +in a downhill fall. Once this winter, when getting up from a fall, I +saw what looked like a useful leather boot-lace lying in the snow. +I picked it up and found it was the bootlace attached to two +stop-watches, which I had been using for a test. As one cannot tie +one's money up with a boot-lace, it is wise to carry it safely, and +cheat the goatherds, who may surely make a profitable living out of +the various treasures lost by Ski-ers, which appear on the slopes +after the snow melts. + +Women need very much the same sort of clothing as men. Either trousers +or breeches, whichever they prefer. These should be made to measure in +order to fit well and be worn with braces to pull them up. Thick boys' +stockings should be worn to pull up over the breeches. If women would +only realize how sloppy their nether garments sometimes look and how +really horrid breeches look hanging loose over silk stockings indoors, +they would surely be more careful to study and copy a man's neat legs +before they venture into man's apparel. + +One sometimes sees women's coats made with innumerable fancy buttons +or tabs as decoration. These only add to the weight which no one would +want to carry, and also look out of place. So does fur trimming. +Ski-ing clothes cannot be too simple. Elaboration is easily obtained +by bright-coloured gloves, scarves or swanks. + +Coats should be made with a belt, which can be buckled tight before +the descent. A sitting fall in soft snow is apt to provide the runner +with a good dose of snow inside the coat. For the same reason breeches +and trousers should be cut somewhat high above the waist. + +Women need just as many pockets as men, and I strongly advise two +large side pockets and two smaller breast pockets outside the coat, as +well as two inside breast pockets--all with flaps to button over. + +A felt hat is now usually worn by women Ski runners, who find the brim +a comfort on sunny days, while it also protects the eyes when Ski-ing +through a blizzard. Incidentally it helps to prevent snow from going +down the neck in a head-first fall. A chin-strap may be required for +fast running. + +Boots are, perhaps, the most important part of a Ski runner's outfit. +They must be water-proof and large enough to hold two pairs of socks +in addition to stockings. The soles must be so stout that they will +not buckle or bend under the instep when the Ski binding is tight. +Heels must be low and should be slightly grooved at the back to hold +the binding. I have no hesitation in saying that most of the Ski-ing +boots sold in England prove to be unsatisfactory. Such firms as +Lillywhite and Fortnum & Mason, which make a study of suitable +equipment, may be trusted, and almost every Swiss bootmaker now sells +trustworthy boots for Ski-ing. I always buy my own boots from Och, +who has shops at Geneva, Montreux, Zuerich and St. Moritz. They can be +relied on for at least two or three long seasons, if one is careful to +oil the uppers with boot oil occasionally, and never to oil the soles +except with linseed oil, which is said to harden them. On the whole, +however, the soles are safest left untouched. Boots should never be +dried on a radiator or by a fire. Personally I like hooks, rather than +eyelets, and I find that leather boot-laces last longer than others. + +There is much discussion as to whether Ski boots should have nails in +the soles or not. They tend to wear away the aluminium or linoleum +plates fixed to the Skis under the foot, but on the other hand they +are almost indispensable when Skis are carried across a hard, steep +slope, or down an icy path. It seems to me that it is positively +dangerous to go any real Ski tour with unnailed boots unless crampons +or spikes to fit on to the heels be carried. New plates can easily be +fitted to the Skis when nails have worn through them, but nothing can +help the Ski-er down a steep, icy path or across a hard frozen slope +on smooth soles, unless he carries special contrivances to fix to his +boots. + +People are now trying crepe rubber soles, but they are not solid +enough to bear the strain of tight bindings unless fixed to the usual +thick leather sole, when the whole becomes too thick for comfort. My +experience for several winters with beginners is that the soles of +most English boots buckle as soon as they are subjected to the tight +pull of a leather binding. + +Few things are more irritating to a beginner than to find that his +binding will not hold on his boot. Over and over again in a run down +his Ski comes off and he delays his party by having to stop and put +it on again. Still it will not hold even though he ties it on with +string. Then he realizes that his boot is buckling. The sole arches up +under the instep and the binding, becoming loose, slips off the heel. + +There is no cure for this, and the only solution is to use a toe +binding, such as the new B.B., or a solid binding such as the Ellessen +or Lilienfeld, instead of a heel binding. As most hired Skis have the +Huitfeldt heel binding it is essential to ensure that boots are of the +very best. + +Gloves are another very important item of clothing. They should be +waterproof. This is easy to say but very difficult to obtain. The +rub of the stick on the palm of the hand tends to sodden almost any +material. Snow also gets inside during a fall and then, of course, +even the waterproof glove comes home wet. The best gloves are paws +made of thick horse-hide and lined with wool. They should have long +gauntlets wide enough to pull up over the sleeves and they should be +joined by a string going round behind the neck, under the coat collar, +long enough to allow of free use of the hands, and this string should +have another string joining it across the chest. It is often necessary +to slip off a glove and if they are not safely hung round the neck +they fall in the snow, which promptly runs inside, or they may be +dropped and lost. + +Socks are a matter for individual choice. Some people like goat's-hair +socks, which have many of the qualities or disqualities of a hair +shirt. They are prickly and, therefore, perfect as a counter-irritant +under very cold conditions, but far too irritating for ordinary wear. +I was much amused in a London shop last winter when I heard a Ski-ing +expert advising a lady not to buy "those repulsive goat's-hair socks." +When she had bought what he advised I said I had come especially to +buy "a repulsive pair of socks." He immediately explained that he had +advised the lady not to get them because they only had two pairs left, +and he did not want to sell them. He let me have a pair, and the +only time I wore them I thought with amusement of his advice and +explanation. The lady was undoubtedly well out of them, and I hope +never to use them again. Some people swear by them, so all tastes must +be allowed for. + +It seems to me better to wear two thin pairs of socks in addition to +stockings, rather than one pair of thick socks. If these seem to fill +the toes of the boot too much, the toe part of one pair of socks can +be cut off, the remainder being worn as an anklet. + +Swanks, or Norwegian puttees, may be used to tie the socks above +or over the boot so as to prevent the snow from getting inside. Or +shooting anklets may also be used, granted that they are large enough +to go over the wide uppers of a Ski boot as well as the socks. + +Footgear for Ski-ing is not elegant, but as every one wears the same, +nobody need feel shy. It is another reason for buying in Switzerland. +Ski boots of the right size bought in a London shop look so Gargantuan +that people will often insist on having a smaller pair than is really +useful when the time comes to wear them. + +Spare clothing should invariably be carried on any run beyond the +nursery slopes as, in case of an accident and delay in fetching help, +a runner who is hurt may be badly frost-bitten. This, of course, only +applies to high places during the months of December, January and +early February, when the thermometer may often register 32 deg. of frost +or more after the sun goes down. + +When choosing equipment it is wise, therefore, to remember spare +clothing, which should include a Cardigan or Jersey, a dry pair of +woollen gloves, a dry pair of socks or stockings, a warm cap of some +sort to cover the ears and a scarf. All these should be chosen for +a combination of warmth and lightness. A wind-jacket is often +recommended. Some people carry a thin silk, or oil silk, or even +chamois leather, or paper waistcoat, to put on under their coats +when a wind blows. This is not necessary for any but long tours in +midwinter. A very useful "sail-cloth coat" specially made for Ski-ing +can be bought in most Swiss sports-shops and is excellent. + +The great thing to remember about clothing for Ski-ing is that +climbing uphill you will probably get very hot and perspire freely. +To stop in a biting wind in this condition without putting on spare +clothing is obviously risky. It is difficult to ski freely in heavy +thick clothes, so that everything should be warm and loose and made of +wool except, perhaps, the wind-jacket or the Swiss coat, which can be +worn over a sweater. + +Cotton or linen underclothing will probably soon be discarded, but +this is a personal matter, and need not be dealt with here. + + + + +EQUIPMENT + + +The minimum amount of equipment should be purchased before going out. +The Swiss shops are just as well provided with Ski-ing necessities as +the British and it is expensive to take out heavy luggage. Most Swiss +hotels will gladly store Skis or gear of any kind through the Summer, +and these can be posted or forwarded by rail to any place the runner +chooses for the following season. + +Clothing has been dealt with in a former chapter. Here I propose to +describe the equipment which I know, from experience, to be useful. + +Skis can be bought in England or in Switzerland. One or two English +firms, such as Lillywhite, which really take pains to obtain the best +possible quality of goods, may be trusted to provide Norwegian Skis, +but there are also several makers of good Skis in Switzerland. Skis +should be made either of hickory or ash. Other woods such as birch and +walnut have been tried but these do not appear to make as satisfactory +Skis as hickory or ash. Hickory is heavy so that the beginner will +do well to get ash Skis in the first instance. Their average length +should be the height of the Runner with his arm extended above his +head, the tip of the Ski when standing upright being in the palm of +his hand and his fingers just able to bend over it. When the novice +becomes more proficient, he may like to try longer or shorter Skis, +but the average length is best to begin with. + +Good makers, such as Bjornsted in Bern or Staub at Zurich, may be +trusted to make their Skis right proportionately, and the buyer need +not worry about their width or depth so long as the length is right. +There is a great deal of difference in the line of a Ski, as there is +in a boat. Flat ones are ugly compared with those which hump along +the centre, but they are also lighter. It seems to me wise for the +beginner to hire his first Skis, rather than to buy them. Most of the +sports shops in the different centres are very obliging and will allow +their clients to try two or three pairs of Skis in order to experience +the difference between them. + +They should not curve up too abruptly in front and they should be +about one inch apart in the centre when laid flat one against the +other. This spring adds greatly to the comfort of running and should +be maintained by the Ski having a block of wood between them when put +away for the Summer or even when laid by for two or three days. + +The question of binding is a very serious one. Broadly there are three +different types: + + (1) Toe bindings, by which only the toe of the + boot is attached to the Ski. + + (2) Solid binding with a sole attached to the + Ski. + + (3) Leather heel bindings. + +(1) I have tried two forms of toe bindings--the B.B. and the B.B.B. +and gave them up for the following reasons. Firstly, I think it a +dangerous binding. There is practically no give at all so that in a +bad fall when the foot is twisted under one, if the Ski does not move +the leg has to give way and may be broken. I think surgeons agree that +there are more accidents as a result of wearing a B.B. binding than +any other--so that it seems to me much better to start with another +type of binding and then go into the B.B. later if preferred. Another +drawback is that as the whole pivotal pressure in a turn is borne by +the toe iron, when a B.B. binding is worn, the toe irons are always +being forced open. Not only that, but the spring on the Ski which +holds the hook on the boot is so strong that it tends to pull the boot +through the toe irons, so that gradually the boot gets longer and more +pointed and the spring no longer holds. + +All this criticism may be due to prejudice on my part, but I have +tried the B.B. with enthusiasm and only gave it up because I was +convinced that a heel binding was more satisfactory. Since I tried it, +two or three new forms of toe binding have been put on the market, the +simplest of which seems to me to be the Davos form, which is merely a +strap fixed to the Ski with an iron loop at the end to fit into the +hook on the boot and an ordinary Huitfeldt spring buckle to fix it +firmly. + +(2) Solid bindings. The commonest forms of these are the Ellesen, +Lilienfeld and Bilgeri, but as I have never tried any of them, I can +say nothing about them. + +(3) Heel bindings. There are two main forms of these--the Lap thong +and the Huitfeldt. The Lap thong is merely a long strap of raw hide or +leather. A loop is drawn through the hole under the toe iron, the long +end is taken round the heel and through the loop, then back round the +heel and through a slit in the other or short end. The long end is +then carried under the foot and round the instep and finally tied off +with a knot. This has been improved upon by a ring and buckle being +added to save slitting the leather or knotting the ends. + +The Huitfeldt binding is a thick double-leather strap, which buckles +round the whole foot and has a strong spring to pull it taut when the +binding has been slipped on to the heel. This is the usual binding on +hired Skis. + +I have tried both these bindings, and now wear a Scheer binding, which +is a combination of the two--the long Lap thong with buckles and also +a spring similar to the one tightening a Huitfeldt binding. The chief +drawback to a Lap binding was that it took time to put on so that +fingers got very cold and clumsy when fitting it before a run down +from a height. The trouble about a Huitfeldt binding is that it is +thick and clumsy and the buckles stick out so that they catch in the +snow when running. + +The Scheer binding avoids these drawbacks. It is put on just as easily +as a Huitfeldt and the thin thong lies so closely along the boot that +there is nothing to catch in the snow. It is very easily lengthened or +shortened when the leather contracts or stretches and this is also +a great comfort. This binding being new, may not yet be obtainable +everywhere, but it is well worth trying to get. The Huitfeldt and +Scheer bindings both tend to give a little in a strained fall, so that +the foot slips round and the leg is usually saved. + +Toe irons pass through the Ski under the toes and come up either side +to hold the foot in place. They should be carefully fitted and, with a +view to this, the boots should be left overnight with the sports shop +and the Skis fetched next day. The boot should lie quite straight +along the Ski. If the toe irons do not fit properly, the boot will be +cock-eye on the Ski, and too much free play may take place. I have +often seen beginners take advantage of this to stick their heels out +and off the Ski into the snow to help them uphill, or to act as a +brake downhill. They will rue it downhill, however, as the foot should +be firmly held on the Ski or control will be impossible. + +Toe irons are sometimes made of very soft metal. These are usually +attached to Skis hired out by the sports shops in order that they may +be easily fitted to the many different shaped feet of the hirers. When +getting toe irons fitted to one's own Skis, it is wise to ask for +strong ones, as the soft irons give too freely to the pivotal action +of the feet in turns and tend to be constantly opening and becoming +loose. + +Cast-iron toe irons are often used in conjunction with toe bindings in +order to avoid the difficulty of the irons being forced open by the +boot being pulled through by the spring. These irons have one great +fault. They have to be screwed on to the Ski and are very cold under +the foot. This may be considered imagination, but I believe it to be +true, in which case it may be prejudice. + +The toe irons are joined over the toes by a leather toe-strap pulled +through and buckled. The irons should be so high that this strap does +not press at all on the boot, or restrict the free play of the toes. +The whole binding should be so fitted that it is possible to kneel +down on one's Skis. + +Foot plates are nailed on the Ski under the foot. These are usually +made of linoleum or aluminium. I prefer a thick plain aluminium plate, +and find that the snow does not stick to it. + +When the Skis have been chosen, sticks have to be provided. A pair +of sticks should be used, one being carried in each hand. They are +usually made of hazel or bamboo. The latter are light, but tend to +split. I always use hazel, which are cheaper and very satisfactory. + +Sticks should be so long that they reach to just above the waist and +should not be very heavy though strong sticks are necessary for all +real touring. They should have padded leather knobs at the tops, +as these prevent the stick from slipping out of the hand and being +dropped during a run, as well as saving the hand from blisters when +the stick is much used in practising lifted stem or jump turns. Wooden +knobs are often used but these tend to get coated with ice, which wets +the glove and is uncomfortable. + +A leather or webbing thong is passed through the stick or nailed under +the knob as a loop to hang them up by, but should never be put round +the wrist except for uphill work as the wrist might easily be broken +in a bad fall, if the stick be attached to it. My great idea is to get +rid of my sticks in a fall, as I once impaled my leg on the spike of +my stick in a somersault. I was thankful that the spike was a short +one and not one of the newfangled aluminium spikes which would have +penetrated much further and might easily have done damage to the bone. +Only a short spike is necessary--just long enough to go into crusted +snow and hold. + +The discs round the bottom of sticks should be large, about seven +inches in diameter, and they should be loose so that they will lie +flat with the Ski when packed. I prefer them put on with a thong which +passes through the stick and is crossed backwards and forwards across +the disc, allowing of plenty of free play in the disc. By this means, +the thong does not cut where it passes through the stick. Discs are +often made almost solid and then fixed to the stick with an iron hasp, +which is apt to snap or to split the stick. + +Sticks hired out with Skis usually have small discs and no knobs, and +most beginners will soon wish to possess their own pair, which only +cost about twelve francs. A word of advice here. Keep your sticks +in your bedroom. Even in the best Ski-ing circles sticks sometimes +disappear--and once your own sticks go, you are tempted to take +anybody else's and so the mischief goes on! + +The Rucksack is a very important item of equipment It should be +waterproof and large, even if you do not intend to carry much. Nothing +is more uncomfortable than a small full Rucksack, perching like a +football on one's back. By the time a packed lunch and a cardigan +as well as some spare gear is stuffed into the sack, it swells. Two +outside pockets and one large inside division are indispensable. Keep +wax, scraper, string, etc., in one outside pocket ready to hand. Map +in the other. + +Leather shoulder straps are the best as they do not cut the shoulder +in the same way as webbing. I once hunted a great many London shops in +vain for a Rucksack with leather shoulder straps. They all had thin +webbing, which soon turns into a wisp and hurts the muscles of the +shoulder. The leather straps should finish on a ring at the top which +should be attached to the top of the Rucksack by a leather tab firmly +sewn on. This is a much safer system than running the string, which +pulls up the top of the sack, through the shoulder straps at the back, +because the pull on the string chafes it and gradually cuts through +it. Some experienced runners prefer the Bergans Rucksack on an +aluminium frame. It is unquestionably heavier than the ordinary sack, +but the frame resting on the hips helps to distribute the weight and +it is said to be less tiring to carry. Another joy about it is that +the frame keeps the sack off the back, so that there is an air space, +and the usual poultice effect of an ordinary Rucksack is avoided. + +There are many different types of Rucksack to be had in Switzerland. +They should be waterproof and as the waterproof material is very +expensive now, a good serviceable sack costs at least Frs. 17.00 to +25.00. The better Rucksacks have straps fixed outside for carrying +one's coat or possibly sealskins. (Sohms skins should be carried +inside the sack.) I advise people to carry the various contents of +their sacks in different bags, or tied up in handkerchiefs. This may +sound old-maidish, but it is a trick I learnt from Swiss climbers and +I am very thankful. Anyone who has hurriedly searched his sack for +some particular bit of gear knows the sort of haystack which results, +while if first-aid equipment, sealskins, spare bindings, emergency +rations, mending outfit, etc., are all carried in separate, +differently coloured bundles inside the sack, endless time is saved. +This is particularly worth considering in a blizzard, when fingers are +cold and nothing can be found. + +Skins are used for climbing uphill on tour. They consist of long +strips of sealskin, which are attached to the running surface of the +Skis. The hairs lying towards the back of the Ski catch in the snow +and prevent the Skis from slipping backwards, which is a great help +and saving of energy. The Skis can be kept in good slipping condition +with oil or wax, and when the skins are taken off at the top of a run, +very little further preparation is necessary. + +There are two forms of sealskins: + +(1) Sohms skins, which are attached to the Skis with wax. + +(2) Those made up on canvas with straps to fix them to the Skis. + +The latter can usually be hired by the day for about Frs. 3.00 from +the local sports shop, and cost about Frs. 20.00 to buy. Most runners +now use the Sohms skins, the great gain being that one can run +downhill almost as well when they are still on, so that on a tour with +one or two short descents _en route_, the Skis may be left on. + +Waxes are of many kinds, and some runners, not content with what they +buy, prefer to mix their own. + +The waxes most used in Switzerland are Skiolin, both hard and soft, +Sohms' with red, yellow or green label, and Parafine. + +I have found that hard Skiolin ironed into the running surface of +the Ski with a hot iron, provides a good surface. Sohms' wax being a +climbing wax is apt to stick to some kinds of snow and if Sohms' skins +have been used, it is wise to scrape all this wax off before the run +down and to polish the Ski with Parafine wax if it needs a finish. On +hard snow this is not necessary. + +Some waxes are used as climbing wax instead of skins, but as different +sorts are needed for different types of snow, they complicate life +almost more than is worth while. + +A very good permanent surface on Skis is obtained by oiling them +repeatedly with linseed oil, allowing them to dry thoroughly between +each coat of oil. This is a somewhat lengthy process and an impossible +one if the Skis are in daily use, but it is much the best method at +the beginning or end of the season. + +The best Sohms' skins are dark grey or black and they cost about Frs. +25. The leather surface should be carefully waxed with green label +Sohms' wax before starting on an expedition. The wax should be +very thinly spread, and it is wise to get this job done at leisure +overnight and to lay the skins together with their waxed surfaces +touching, and to keep them in a warm room, but not near a heater or +stove. + +When starting on an excursion wear the skins wound round your body +under your coat so that they remain warm and supple until required. +Then wax the running surfaces of the Skis with yellow label Sohms' wax +as sparingly as possible. It should be spread smoothly and without +lumps. When putting on the skins lay them along the Skis from the tip +towards the back and run your thumb down the line of the centre groove +in the Ski, while you press the skin on evenly over the whole Ski. + +New skins are apt to shrink after use, so it is better not to cut the +strap, which slips over the tip of the Ski. The best plan is to make +a second slit in this strap and slip it on, and then if the skin is +still too long turn the end part up over the Ski at the back, sticking +it on with wax. Then, when the skins have been used for two or three +days, it is easier to decide what length the strap should be. + +Having put your skins on, lay the Skis flat on the snow so that the +skins will freeze on. + +Sealskins must never be dried by a heater or stove as the heat +shrivels them and they are ruined. + +When not in use, they can be kept rolled up in a bag and should be +carried in the Rucksack rather than hanging on outside. Frozen skins +are very difficult to attach. + +A scraper should invariably be carried when Ski-ing, even on the +Nursery slopes. These are made of aluminium and the best type has a +groove which will fit into the groove of the Ski and scrape this as +well as the flat surface, as ice is apt to adhere there also. Some +runners carry, attached to their belt, a Norwegian hunting knife in +its case. This is excellent for scraping the Skis and for any purpose +for which a strong knife may be wanted, but it always seems to me that +it would be a nasty thing to fall on. + +A strong ordinary knife should invariably be carried. The Swiss +military knife is the best possible as it seems to include practically +everything necessary. A really good one costs about Frs. 12.00 or Frs. +14.00, though inferior steel may be had for a great deal less. It +should have a ring and be attached to the belt. + +Dark spectacles or goggles should be included in equipment. + +A mending outfit is often needed, and at least one member of every +party going on tour should carry something with which to mend broken +Skis. There are many patterns of spare Ski tip on the market, all of +which may be useful in certain circumstances, but I have no doubt that +the wooden Ski tip is the best. It is just an ordinary front part of a +Ski, about two feet long and planed off, so that it will lie close to +the broken Ski. This is fixed on by metal clamps, which are made on +purpose and can be bought in most winter sports shops. Holes, at +different intervals fitting the clamps which should be put on +lengthwise, may be bored beforehand in the Ski tip, in order to save +time when the tip may be needed on tour. The gimlet supplied with the +clamps is usually a poor one, and I always carry a spare gimlet, a +little larger than is necessary, as it is difficult to make the holes +in exactly the right place in a broken Ski. Cold and clumsy hands have +always to be reckoned with when Ski-ing. + +The clamps being somewhat roughly made are apt to break so that one +should carry at least five pairs. In putting them on, take care not to +drop the little square nut off the bolt into powder snow as it sinks +at once and may be irretrievably lost. + +Other makes of spare Ski tips include one made of cast aluminium +produced by Lillywhite, who will probably improve upon it, as at +present it seems to me to be too flat. The method of fixing it is, +however, a good one. + +The Swiss sports shops also keep light tips made of tin and copper, +which are affixed by various methods, but they are usually too short +and thin to be more than a makeshift. + +If a Ski is broken near the front, the wooden Ski tip, when properly +adjusted enables one to run any distance quite comfortably and even +permits of turns. It is clumsy to carry except in a Bergans Rucksack. +A long, narrow pocket might be sewn diagonally across the back of an +ordinary Rucksack in which to carry it, but I am afraid it would be +uncomfortable. I tried such a pocket vertically and found it quite +intolerable and even dangerous in some falls. + +Mending outfit must also include a spare binding and a toe strap, +as well as some string and cord, wire, and two or three leather +boot-laces. The best spare binding to carry is a Lap thong, as it is +easier to push through than a Huitfeldt, unless a thin single strap is +carried for the front part of the latter. In any case a bit of wire +facilitates the pulling through of the thong or strap. + +An inexperienced runner, who has not used a Lap thong, should try +fitting one at home before depending on it in emergency, as it is a +little tricky to put on at first. + +Runners going any distance on tour should carry some sort of first-aid +equipment. It need not be elaborate, but should include bandages, a +clean dressing (a first field dressing is the best and most compact), +iodine and adhesive plaster, and some vaseline or boracic ointment. +Even a scratch will go on bleeding on a cold day and be very tiresome. +Accidents are miraculously few and far between in Ski-ing, considering +the falls and the large number of people who ski. But they happen +occasionally, and it is as well to be prepared. + +The list of gear could be prolonged to any extent, as "What to carry +in my Rucksack" becomes an enthralling hobby. Everyone will eventually +decide what he thinks he ought to have, in order to come home with a +free conscience after any eventuality. Another runner has suggested +my adding a pair of small pincers, a pocket tool outfit, matches or +fusees, an electric torch, scissors. + +Weight has to be considered, as the more the Ski runner carries the +greater the effort, but there is undoubtedly great satisfaction +in feeling that one has everything which might be helpful in any +emergency. If three or four runners are going together the whole gear +can be distributed among them, but this makes it more necessary than +ever for the party to keep together as a spare Ski tip or similar +luxury is no use at the bottom of a run when the accident is near the +top. + +Even if one does not need all the gear oneself, it seems better to be +prepared to help other people who are in difficulties. + +The following lists show firstly what I think every runner going +several miles beyond home ought to carry; and secondly what a great +many runners carry in addition: + +(1) A strong knife with corkscrew, leather punch, tin opener, etc. + +(2) A Ski tip, gimlet and mending outfit. + +(3) Wire. + +(4) String and cord. + +(5) Spare binding and toe strap. + +(6) Dark yellow glasses (Triplex are safest). + +(7) Siren or strong whistle. + +(8) Emergency ration of some sort, such as chocolate, raisins, dates. + +(9) Spare clothing including cardigan or sweater, dry gloves, dry +socks, scarf, cap to cover ears. + +(10) First-aid equipment. + +(11) Map. + +(12) Wax and scraper. + +Some runners carry all these things and the following besides: + +Matches, lantern (folding), or electric torch, aneroid, compass, +pincers, hammer, brandy, thermos with some hot drink. + +A great many people will laugh at me for suggesting all this gear, but +I do so out of experience. When one has ski-ed some years with a good +many people, one looks back with amusement to the number of times when +one has been asked to provide any of the above. + +People go out without spare clothing, food, first-aid equipment, +repair outfit. Something happens, and they at once look round to see +where they can borrow. Now borrowing is not part of the game and every +runner should be independent. It is easy when going on tour, to divide +up the gear so that every member of the party carries his share; it is +not necessary for each member to carry the whole of what I have shown. +Let each carry enough to feel self-reliant, and let the party carry +enough not only for their own needs, but also for any other runner in +distress whom they may come across. Ski-ing should be an unselfish +sport. + +At a certain centre one Winter, word was brought in at about 3.30 p.m. +by a member of a party of three that one of his companions was lying +in the forest about a mile away with a badly broken leg. Three runners +dashed off from the Nursery slopes with the man who brought the news, +to show them the way. I posted a friend to watch where they entered +the wood, while two other strong runners fetched clothing and hot +drinks in a thermos. Somebody else called up the Rettung chef and the +doctor. All this help was mobilized within an hour. + +Meanwhile the man was lying in the snow in the wood with a badly +broken lower leg. The sun had set and the temperature very low. +Not one of the party had any spare clothing or gear of any sort. A +sensible man, who had been one of the first three to go off from the +slopes told me afterwards that if hot drink and clothing had not come +soon, he was convinced that the man would have died. As it was he was +nearly unconscious and his pulse had nearly stopped. + +Dark came on and the doctor and the ambulance sledge did not arrive. +Instead of going the way the others had disappeared, they tried a +route they thought easier and took too high a line in the forest. +The trees muffled sound, and though both parties were shouting and +whistling, they heard nothing till at about 6.30 p.m. one of the +watchers heard a runner near and went off after him in the dark and +luckily found him. This man was scouting for the doctor and sledge and +finally brought them to the scene of the accident at 7 p.m. + +By this time some one or two of the watchers had gone home nearly +frozen, leaving all possible clothing on the injured man. Three others +stayed and rubbed him without intermission, which probably saved his +life and limbs. The doctor had brought a splint which he put on by +light of an electric torch and the man was taken to the station and +sent off at once to the hospital. + +Now, all this happened within a mile of home where help was handy. +Such accidents happening several miles from home may have far more +serious consequences, and every Ski runner, who scoffs at the +precautions of people more fussy than themselves, may very likely have +the life or limb of someone else on their mind when, had they been a +little more fussy, they might have saved it. + +Not only that, the selfish runner, who travels light, may well be a +serious burden to others and risk their safety and comfort through his +own foolhardiness. + +Ski-ing is a game which sorts people out, and where the character of +people like sailors, who know what it is to face the elements, shows +up well against the civilian, whose greatest risk in life at home is +crossing a street at a busy hour. + +People may ski for years without getting hurt, and the experienced +runner probably hurts himself less than the beginner. Yet it is the +experienced runner who carries the gear, the beginner it is who +usually scoffs and takes risks, not only to himself, but to the people +who have to go out to look for him when he is benighted or hurt. + + + + +CARE OF EQUIPMENT + + +Skis call for a good deal of attention if one takes the game +seriously. People who only come out for a fortnight and who hire any +pair of Skis, which they treat as they would the floor of an omnibus, +have no appreciation of how much attention Skis need, if they are to +be really dependable in all sorts of snow. + +New Skis should be well-oiled with two or three coats of Linseed oil, +which should dry between each coat. I think hickory needs the oil just +as much as ash, but some people disagree with this. The oil hardly +goes beyond the surface of the wood and soon rubs off on hard snow, +but it preserves the wood as well as giving a slipping surface so +long as it lasts. Newly oiled Skis when dry need very little further +attention for a few days, as they will run well over all sorts of +snow. + +When there is no time to oil, because the Skis are in daily use, wax +can be ironed in. Most good sports hotels now provide a bench with +an electric iron in a special heated and lighted room where the +Ski-runner can work happily after tea, or on a snowy day. If no such +room be provided, it should be clamoured for, because the waxing of +Skis is a much more difficult job without it. The patent iron "Para" +is helpful where no electric iron is provided. "Para" is an oblong +perforated metal box with a handle which screws in. A lump of Meta +(solid spirit fuel) is lighted and put inside and the iron becomes hot +and is rubbed up and down the Ski, while wax is pressed against it and +dribbled on to the wood. + +Almost any wax can be ironed in, but I think the hard black "Skiolin" +is best for the purpose. Be careful to wax the groove as well as the +flat surface of the Ski. + +When Skis are put away for the summer, the upper as well as the +running surfaces should be oiled or re-varnished in order to preserve +the wood. + +Leather bindings may be well oiled with special boot oil to keep them +supple. + +Skis should never be kept in a hot place, as they are apt to warp, but +they should be kept dry when put away. + +Boots should never be dried by a fire or on a heater, but should be +stored in a cool place. They need occasional oiling of the uppers with +some sort of boot oil. Dubbin may also be used and is good for filling +places, such as between the sole and the upper. The soles should never +be oiled, except perhaps with Linseed oil, which hardens the leather. +I think the wisest plan is to leave the soles dry, but if snow balls +on them they can be waxed with Ski wax. This is often specially +necessary on the heel. If boots be put outside the bedroom every +night, the porter will oil them automatically, in most good hotels. + +Sealskins should be wrapped up in newspaper and stored in a cool place +when put away. Moth will ruin them if left open and heat crumples +them, making them useless. A friend told me that when her seal Skis +(webbing ones) were ruined by being put near a fire, she recovered +them by soaking them in salad oil. She was certainly using them quite +happily afterwards. + + + + +THE ELEMENTS OF SKI-ING + + +This book does not profess to be in any way a textbook of the +technique of Ski-ing. As stated in the preface, my only idea in +writing it is to provide an answer to a good many questions which have +been asked me every year. Anyone who deals with a great many people +knows that there are always some fifty stock questions, which can +quite easily be answered by fifty stock answers. What I say in this +chapter about the first run will be the barest elements of Ski +running. + +Beginners should obtain either Arnold Lunn's books, or those of Vivien +Caulfield, and concentrate on the theory of turns. I have known two +or three novices who, though they had never even seen Skis before, by +dint of studying the technique in theory before they came out, were +able immediately to apply it in practice. Most beginners find, +however, that the moment the Skis start sliding, all theory is thrown +to the winds. Instinct of self-preservation prevails and they sit +down. Kind friends looking on say, "That was because you were leaning +backwards. You must lean forwards." Off they start again, carry out +the advice, their Skis stick for some reason and down they go head +foremost--the most difficult fall of all to get up from, and the most +aggravating. + +The great thing is not to do too much the first two days after coming +out. The height affects people more than they realize at first, and +great energy, due to the bracing air, is often followed by great +lassitude. Most people are not in training, and Ski-ing tries the +lungs, nerves, and muscles of the fittest as the whole system seems to +be brought into play. + +A few hours' practice on the Nursery slopes is usually enough for the +first two or three days, and if, at the end of the week, the beginner +seems to be falling more than when he first began, half or even a +whole day off Skis will produce wonderful results in better balance +and general fitness. + +Having chosen Skis, and ensured that the toe irons and binding fit +you, go out to some gentle slope of about 10 deg. with soft snow, if +possible. + +Set your Skis at right angles to, or across, the fall of the slope +before putting them on, because Skis are quite apt to go off alone if +pointing down, hill. It is as well to realize this from the first and +to adopt the habit of preventing it in the way I suggest, because many +a run has been ruined by a Ski descending alone to the valley below, +leaving its owner to get home as best he can on one leg. Even if it +only goes down some 100 or 200 feet, the friend who goes after it and +brings it back often has a good deal to say, and you are lucky if the +Ski has not struck a rock or tree and got broken in its independent +run. It is no good getting angry on these occasions. I once watched a +boy on a distant slope, who had been obliged to descend some hundreds +of feet after one of his Skis. When he got hold of it in a temper he +started beating it with his stick, and continued doing so till the +stick nearly broke. + +While on the subject of runaway Skis, I may as well warn you also +against a runaway Rucksack. I put mine down at my feet on a steep +hard-crusted slope while I took off my coat one day, and the Rucksack +started sliding slowly down below us. The party was made up of +beginners and we had ropes on our Skis instead of skins so that no +one could catch it up till it stopped about 200 feet below us. To add +insult to injury at the same time, somebody dropped a 50-ct. bit at +the same moment and this danced off down into the valley, racing the +Rucksack and beating it hollow. + +But to return to the start. The Skis are safely lying across the +slope, and you are going to put them on. Put on the lower one first. +Never forget this, because it will often prevent a runaway Ski. If the +slope is very steep and hard, you should stick the other Ski upright +in the snow above you, in order that it may remain well in hand while +you put on the first. You will probably find it impossible to put on +your Skis with gloves on. If you lay these on the snow, they will +undoubtedly get snow inside them. The safest place to put them is one +on each stick, stuck upright on either side of you, or tuck them into +your belt or pockets. + +When you have your Skis and gloves on and everything else is +hermetically sealed, you are ready to start sliding or traversing +slowly across the slope, before going straight down it. This will give +you time to get the feeling of Skis, which are clumsy at first. Slide +one foot forward, then the other, but do not lift them. Now try a kick +turn and come back across the slopes to the top and face straight +downhill. Keep your Skis closely side by side, one foot leading by +about twelve inches and push yourself off with your sticks. Try to +imagine that the Skis are only a moving staircase and that all you +have to do is to stand upright on them and let them do the rest. If +your slope is only 10 deg. and there is nothing steeper below you, the +Skis won't do much. Indeed in deep snow they may refuse to move at +all, in which case try pushing yourself along with your sticks. The +great thing is always to want to run faster than you are going and, +therefore, only to choose slopes where you feel that you can keep up +as fast as the Skis go. It is a mistake to start immediately down such +a steep slope that the Skis run away with you. At the same time it is +also a mistake not to increase the angle of your slope as soon as you +can compete with it. + +Stand upright, press the knees together and try to feel that there is +a spring in your knees. Let one or other foot lead so that, if the +Skis stop, the front foot takes your weight and prevents you plunging +forwards and if the Skis suddenly plunge forward, the back foot is +equally ready to take the weight and prevents you from sitting down. + +Whatever you do, avoid the hideous doubled-up position of a runner, +who bends at waist and knees, with feet parallel and far apart, +looking like a note of interrogation and leaving what we call +tram-line tracks. By his tracks shall a Ski-er be judged! + +Look back and see the line you have left. If your two feet have left +two tracks with more than six inches apart in soft snow, you must not +be contented. In a good track, the two feet should leave one track, +but some bindings make this impossible, so that unless you are wearing +a toe binding you need not worry about a gap of two or three inches +between your feet. This only applies to soft snow running. On hard or +crusty snow, it is almost impossible and also dangerous to keep the +feet together. + +When you have begun to feel at home on Skis, go off to a much steeper +slope and try traversing. Choose a slope which has flattish ground +below so that you have an easy out-run and nothing to make you +nervous. + +Remember for your comfort that if you go across a slope leading +with the upper foot and with most of your weight on the lower +foot--standing upright and, if anything, leaning a little outwards +away from the slope, you can traverse across almost any slope without +difficulty, so long as it is not too steep for the snow to bear your +weight without slipping itself. Nothing is more comforting to a +beginner than to realize this. It takes away the feeling of giddiness +and gives confidence, but it needs learning and should be practised at +once. + +The first tendency of Skis on a steepish slope is to point more and +more downhill till, finally having intimidated the beginner into +allowing them to go their own way, they plunge straight down, and the +beginner collapses. To counteract this put more weight on the heel and +less on the toes while traversing. + +This will push the back part of the Skis down and the front part +uphill across the slope and, if done sufficiently, the Skis will stop +and you have begun to get some feeling of control when traversing. + +Standing upright the inner edge of your Skis will bite into the snow. +Try leaning inwards, as you will do by instinct, and you will find +your feet slipping away down the slope and you will gracefully recline +full length against it. It is exactly the same when walking across +a steep grass slope in Summer. Most of the slips are due to leaning +towards instead of away from the slopes. + +As you get more confidence in your running, try lifting one Ski off +the ground as you slide along. Or even take off one Ski and try +running on the other; lifting a Ski will often save a fall. For +instance if the Skis get crossed, just lift the upper one and put it +down beside the other again while running. It is perfectly easy and +yet I have known people who, after weeks of practice, dared not lift a +Ski off the ground while moving, only because they had never tried it +as routine practice. + +Whatever you do by way of practice do it first on one foot and then +on the other, or you will become a right or left-footed Ski-er and it +will take ages for you to feel equal confidence in either foot. This +applies especially to turns. Beginners will often go on practising a +turn on the right foot, till they can do it and then have to re-learn +it completely on the left foot. + +Straight running downhill is mainly a question of confidence and +balance. As said before, it is better at first to avoid straight +running down a steep slope, because the Skis may go so fast that the +beginner is quite incapable of keeping up with them and a fall at very +high speed is somewhat upsetting and may temporarily shake your nerve. + +Choose a low gradient of about 12 deg. or 15 deg. where you can see the +out-run which should be on to level ground or even a gentle rise so +that the Skis gradually pull up of their own accord. Soft snow is the +easiest and confidence may soon be won in this. + +Stand upright or bend the knees, but do not bend at the waist. You +should feel as though on springs and you want your weight should be +well forward over your feet so that you can keep up with the Skis. +Standing in tube or bus, facing the way you are going and not holding +on to anything is very good practice at home. You will notice that a +bus conductor usually gives with the movement of the bus, so that he +is prepared for whatever it does. So with Ski-ing. Look ahead and see +what the ground is like, and then suit your balance to what is likely +to occur as the ground rises or falls. This soon becomes automatic but +it needs thinking out at first. + +When the snow is hard, practise side slipping, because it will help +you out of many difficulties and once you know the feeling of it, you +will find that it replaces the downhill side-stepping, which is so +slow. + +On hard snow, it is possible to go down broadside on by merely +standing on one's Skis and turning one's outer or lower ankle outwards +and one's inner or upper ankle towards the other, so that the Skis are +lying flat on the snow, instead of the edges biting into it. Push off +with your stick from the slope above you and weight your heels or your +toes according to whether the Skis are sinking in front or behind. +Have confidence, keep upright, lean away from the slopes and let your +Skis slide and don't blame me if you suddenly slide into a soft patch +of snow, which stops the Skis dead and you fall head downwards. This +is all in the day's work. If the surface of the snow is uniformly hard +you will slip down without difficulty. + +Seriously, side slipping is a huge help and should be learned at once. +Mr. Caulfield gives first-class instructions, which are easy to follow +in detail. + +When going uphill never try to climb steeper than is easy. If the Skis +are slipping back, you are going too steep and should turn off and +traverse instead. No time is saved by too steep a climb; the man who +goes easily gets to the top first, while the other clambers up almost +on all fours, gets hot and exhausted and has gained nothing. If I am +leading an elementary run uphill, I can soon pick out the experienced +runners by the line they take and the pace at which they climb. The +puffing, panting, stumbling people, who forge ahead, herring-boning or +turning their ankles over their Skis so as to get a grip with their +boots, are not included in my "experienced runners." + +Another hint for uphill work is that when traversing a slope, the +Skis should be edged so that the inner edge of the Ski bites into the +slope. A Ski with its whole surface flattened to the slope is bound to +slip especially on hard snow. By standing upright as you go uphill and +keeping the ankles straight, the Skis will be edged in the right way. + +A quick way of getting up a steep slope is side-stepping. As you stand +with your Skis horizontal across the slope, lift the upper foot and +place it on the slope a few inches higher. Then lift the lower foot +and place it beside the upper. You will soon be able to do this while +advancing across your traverse at the same time, but it is hard work +and should only be used for short climbs. + +Side-stepping is a very good way of climbing, but should be avoided +when descending, except when approaching a narrow gap in a fence or +crossing a stream where the approach is steep. + +I have known a party almost benighted by a beginner, who had +discovered the joys of side-stepping and proposed to descend some +1,000 feet by this safe method, instead of sliding in the proper way. +Allowing eight inches to each side-step, how many hours would it take +to descend 1,000 feet? + +A further hint, which may be useful for uphill work. If the Skis are +slightly lifted at every push forward, they tend to stick instead of +sliding back. + +Always stand upright when climbing and keep the weight well on the +heels. People tend to bend forward and this adds greatly to the effort +and the Skis are more likely to slip back. + +On long climbs sealskins are usually used on the Skis. The hairs lying +towards the rear stick into the snow and prevent the back slip, while +when the Ski pushes forward, they lie flat and offer no resistance. + +The best uphill track is the one which keeps going at the same angle. +Every good walker knows how tiring it is to go up and down across +country when gullies have to be crossed. It is disappointing, having +got up a certain height, to lose all that is gained by going down +again. So it is even more with Ski-ing, when uphill work is really +more arduous than walking. Mr. Caulfield gives a very helpful +description of a good uphill track, and Skis tend to teach the +beginner how to keep the angle as they slip so easily downwards the +moment the uphill direction is altered. + +When going uphill make up your mind what point you want to reach in +the distance and what line will take you to it most easily and then +go for it steadily, keeping the same angle all the way so far as is +possible and choosing your places for turns very carefully before you +reach them. + +Following an experienced leader teaches a great deal about the art of +setting an uphill track, and the criticisms of the rest of the party +following, when the leader loses height soon make one want to avoid +comment. + + + + +ETIQUETTE + + +In organized Ski-ing centres a perfectly good code of etiquette is +growing up as the result of experience. + +So many novices pour out on to the slopes with no knowledge of the +game that notices are even posted on the boards in the hotels giving a +few of the main points of the Law. + +One such notice runs as follows: + +(1) Ensure that you take your own Skis, sticks, etc. when you start +out. It is wise to mark sticks, and they are safest kept in bedrooms. + +(2) Never join a private party unless invited. + +(3) Only join the advertised tours, the test for which you have +passed. + +(4) The slower mover has the right of way. The faster mover must avoid +him. Never call "Fore," "Achtung," etc. + +(5) Always offer help to anyone in difficulties. + +(6) Keep with your party. They might waste a lot of time looking for +you while you run home because you thought their pace too slow. + +(7) Never desert a runner who, for any reason, is unable to keep up +with a party. + +(8) Carry your own gear including spare clothing, Ski-ing necessaries, +etc. + +(9) Avoid stepping on the Skis of another runner. This caution is +especially necessary for uphill work. + +(10) Remember that wherever you leave a track others may follow. +Therefore only choose safe slopes. The snow is liable to slip on +slopes of 25 deg. or more, so that these are dangerous. + +Ski-ing is a sport which can be made dangerous for others if +individuals do not carry out the usual etiquette. It may seem +extraordinary that people should need warning not to join a private +party unless invited, but it is sadly true. + +One day as I was starting off on a long run a stranger came up to me +and asked if she might join us. I consulted the Guide, and he said he +already had as many in the party as he could take charge of. I told +the lady this, and said I was sorry that we could not accept her +companionship. She at once replied cheerily, "Oh, then I will follow +you." Nothing could prevent her from doing this. Switzerland is a free +country, and there is a right of way anywhere over the mountains in +winter. We started off and she followed. From that moment, of course, +we automatically became responsible for her because one of the Laws +is that you never desert a runner who is alone. She was a very poor +performer and fell a great deal, so that for the whole six or seven +miles' run, we were kept waiting for her. Of course, we were under no +real obligation to look after her, but had we left her and anything +had happened to her, we could never again have held up our heads as +Ski-ers. + +On another occasion a runner made a formal complaint to me about a +lady who joined his party. In this case it was an experienced runner, +who had presumably learnt the Law, and who might have read the notice +on the board. First of all she said, "May I go with you?" and the +somewhat cold answer was that the party was complete. Then she +followed asking questions about the route, etc. at every opportunity. +Of course, she had finally to be adopted and taken along much to the +boredom of the party, which was a private one. + +Where the Ski-ing is organized, tests are run and tours arranged +for the different standards. This does not apply so much to 2nd or +1st-class runners who, of course, prefer to make up their own parties, +but, at any rate, these are protected from having the less experienced +runner with them, except by invitation. By these means the organized +tours only take runners up to the standard advertised, and no one +need feel compunction at leaving members of their party behind in the +village, because they know that the elementary runner will also get a +chance of a run. + +Yet even under these arrangements, I have found a beginner sitting +huddled in a corner of the railway carriage when we have started +before dawn for a big tour. "Where are you off to?" I said, thinking +he was out with a Guide. "With your party," was the reply. What could +I do? It is not easy to turn a person out of a train at 5.45 a.m. on +a cold morning. I said weakly, "Did you not see the notice which said +this was a run for 3rd-class runners only?" He said, "Yes, but I +thought I could keep up." So there he was, and we took him through and +though he was very slow uphill and kept us all back in this case, he +ran down without delaying us. People often put their own capacity +higher than do the people they want to run with and it is very +difficult to be tactful. + +Again most people would not think it necessary to warn runners against +deserting their party. Yet they often do and it is not usually the +beginner who is the culprit here. Perhaps he cannot run quick enough +to get away! I shall always remember a run in charge of a tour when I +was with a lot of novices. Another experienced runner accompanied me +officially to help. I chose what I thought the easiest way to start, +and he wanted to try another route at the top and went off saying he +would join us below a wood. When we reached the part where I thought +we should rejoin, I waited and shouted, but he did not appear. So we +went on to another post where we had lunch, and then I began to get +anxious as this runner never turned up. Anything might have happened +to him. He might have gone over a rock or into a tree or even only +be tied up in one of those tangled falls when it is practically +impossible to extricate oneself. It was no good our trying to look for +him then, so after about two hours' delay, I took my party down to the +valley and the first person who met us in the village was our lost +companion. He chaffed us for being so late as he had run down very +quickly and had had his tea ages ago. + +No party going beyond the Nursery slopes should consist of fewer than +three. One to go for help in case of need, the other to stay with the +third runner, who may need help. Needless to say, people who know the +mountains well, go off alone with impunity. When I asked one of these +lonely runners what would happen if he hurt himself and was benighted, +he told me he always carried sufficient morphia to put him out of his +agony in case of need. This was, no doubt, all right from his point of +view, but what of the people who might go out to look for him among +the infinite possible runs with Ski tracks in every direction. + +No sporting runner would ever refuse help to a lame duck, though +pretty bad cases of selfishness have been recorded. + +There is one point, which does not always strike people, and that is +the danger of cutting a track over a difficult place. Beginners will +usually follow a track instead of working by their map. For instance +on the Muottas Muraigl run at Pontresina, if once a rash runner cuts a +track straight across from the restaurant to the valley, crowds will +probably follow it, though they may be warned against it. This is +a very dangerous slope under certain conditions as was shown this +Winter, when a runner going along its top was carried down to the +bottom of the valley by the avalanche he started. + +I have one track left on my conscience; when a few of us went down +what might have been a dangerous place under different conditions to +those we found. Luckily it was not a way most people would have wished +to follow as it apparently led nowhere and hardly looked attractive. + +The slower mover always has the right of way when Ski-ing, so that no +runner ought to shout to those ahead of him to get out of his way. +Needless to say this does not apply to a runner out of control, who +may be dashing unwillingly into someone in front of him when, for both +their sakes, a friendly warning is advisable! + +It is the business of every Ski-er to avoid obstacles and the slower +mover may be looked on as such in just the same way as a rock or a +tree. I was amused one day at Pontresina when a crowd of us were going +up the village street and met a lady on Skis being held back as she +went downhill by two friends on either side of her. It was the first +time I had ever thought of someone going down hill being the slower +mover in relation to those climbing. + +Nursery slopes are for the practice of turns and the individual who +uses them for straight running while a lot of people are practising is +abhorred. The same applies to jumps on the Nursery slopes. These +are so easily made where other people are not practising that it is +selfish to come plunging down into a crowd of devotees to turns. When +the Nursery slopes are empty, it is great fun to practise straight +running down them and no one will object. + +One jolly thing about Ski runners is that they seldom ridicule one +another or laugh at falls in any but a friendly way. There is great +rivalry and daring to greater effort, but ill-natured ridicule is +seldom heard. Perhaps this is due to the fact that most people who +live in glass houses do not throw stones. Everybody who tries to +improve his Ski-ing is bound to fall and it is better not to set the +fashion of laughing at others in difficulties. + +There will always be some people who like to look on at tests as "Free +entertainment without tax," but if they could hear the comments on +their behaviour and probably on their own lack of prowess they would +soon give up the habit. + +Anyone who is really keen to get on and who will go on practising and +accept advice may be sure of sympathy and help. Ski-ing with all its +dangers and need for combined effort seems to bring out the best of +people and to produce the very best spirit of goodwill and tolerance. + +Going uphill in soft snow, every strong member should take a turn at +cutting the track. It is often heavy work, and an energetic leader may +not like to ask for help. The best plan is to work by time, the leader +falling out at the end of his shift and letting the party pass him +till he takes his position at the rear and the second man becomes the +leader and so on. + +People who are wise, will avoid stepping on the Skis of the man ahead. +This is often difficult as instinct makes one want to go faster than +the person ahead, just as a wheeler in a tandem will usually try to +catch up the leader. The easiest way to avoid overlapping is to keep +step. Push forward the right foot, when the man ahead pushes forward +his right foot and then the left. This gives a rhythm to the uphill +work, which also seems to minimize effort. Anyone who has experienced +the irritation caused by his Skis being constantly touched by the +runner behind while plodding uphill will learn to spare another the +same nuisance. + +When running straight down a steep slope make sure that there is no +one ahead whom you might run into and no one below on either side, +who might traverse across the slope you propose to run down. This is +especially necessary in a gap between trees. Another member of your +party might be among the trees below and suddenly come out into the +open, traversing to the other side. When straight running at any +speed, only the best Ski runners can turn suddenly to avoid a +difficulty, and a nasty collision may occur if care be not exercised. + +When a crowd of people are taking their Skis by train, a great deal of +trouble may be avoided in getting the mass of Skis out of the train if +these are tied neatly together. + +A pair of Skis tied near the tips and behind the bindings is easy to +handle, while a pair of Skis put together by slipping one through the +toe-strap of the other is a great nuisance. + +Skis piled together soon become very like a heap of spillikins if not +carefully handled and a good deal of damage may be done to them as +well as delay to the train if Ski-ers are careless in this small +matter. + +Another good plan is for the Ski-ers to form themselves into a queue +and to hand out all the Skis along the line, till they can be easily +distributed where there is space. The beginner is apt to hunt +anxiously for his own pair, which may be at the bottom of the pile, +and while he pulls and tugs with but little success, other people are +waiting in vain for a chance to get their Skis out. This is especially +the case on funicular railways, where space is very limited in the +stations. Different nationalities travelling together add considerably +to the confusion and the railway officials are usually thankful to +anyone who will take charge and get a line formed and the Skis handed +out tidily. + +These hints may seem unnecessary to a great many people, but no +matter. I have had so much of my own time wasted by this sort of +tiresome lack of sense that I venture to suggest a means of saving +time and temper for others. + +Ski runners should remember that sledges and pedestrians have the +right of way on a road. All the fields are open to the Ski runner and +he should not monopolize a road. In most parts of Switzerland there +is a law by which everyone has right of way everywhere where the snow +lies--so long as it is not enclosed ground. This was brought home +to my family rather vividly, when we lived at Davos, by a shooting +gallery being set up on our land in front of our house. We had no +power to prevent it and there it remained for the winter. At the same +time, Ski runners should respect the property of other people, and +here I would like to make two appeals to British runners. + +Firstly, that we will do our best to avoid damaging young trees. (Old +trees can probably look after themselves where the Ski-er is concerned +as they are usually stronger than he is.) + +Secondly, that we should treat the inhabitants of the country with as +much courtesy as possible. The peasant, over whose land we run, makes +very little out of the tourist business and has other things to think +about rather than sport. He is usually courteous and friendly and +always ready to help us when in difficulties. Let us return his +hospitality be treating him with courtesy. School teachers have told +me that they have great difficulty in persuading the children to greet +foreigners because these so seldom respond. Yet few things are more +pleasant than the friendly "Gruesse," or "Gruess Gott," or "Leb wohl," +with which one is greeted by the people of the country. We can answer +in English if we do not know how to answer in German, but do let us +answer and, thereby, prove ourselves as friendly as our hosts. + +Another matter, which is not always understood by beginners on the +snow fields is that when an Alpine Club or local Ski Club hut is used, +a fee should be paid to the funds which support the Hut. These Huts +are expensive to build and their upkeep is a great tax on the Clubs. +British runners can either join the local Club, when they can use +the Huts by day for nothing, or they can pay the advertised fee for +whatever use they make of them. + +A notice is always posted in the Hut showing the various charges, but +when no one is there to collect the money, it is left to the honour +of the guests to pay it. A money-box can be found in all huts within +Switzerland proper, but as these boxes are not safe from marauders +near the frontier, the Ski runner has to send the money in by post. At +the Boval hut, for instance, above the Morteratsch Glacier, a supply +of money order forms will be found hanging near a door. All the leader +of the party has to do is to collect the money from his members, take +one of the forms and pay the money into any post office, whence it is +sent to the H.Q. of the Club. + +Huts should invariably be left tidy. This also is a matter of honour. +The doors are unlocked always in order that people who may need +hospitality, in case of distress, can find shelter. Blankets can be +borrowed. Wood is usually provided for firing and there may even be a +reserve of food, all of which should be respected. Before the party +leaves, blankets should be folded, shutters should be shut, snow swept +out and debris buried outside, or what can be used as fuel put away +tidily in the kitchen. Then the door should be shut carefully and +the hut left the better, rather than the worse off for having given +hospitality. + + + + +SNOW AND LIGHT + + +Full descriptions of the different types of snow which must be +negotiated by the Ski-runner will be found in Mr. Arnold Lunn's book, +"Alpine Ski-ing." + +It is only necessary for me, therefore, to describe the four main +types, namely, soft, hard, crust and sticky snow. + +Soft snow in winter is the new powder snow, which is to be found after +a fall or on North slopes where sun and wind have not spoilt it. It is +the ideal snow for the luxurious runner, especially two days after it +has fallen, when it has settled down and a hard frost has converted it +into crystal powder. A run through crystallized snow, which tinkles as +the Skis cut through it, is beyond description. + +Even a bad runner will find that he can do marvels as the snow seems +literally to help him in all his experiments. I have known a day when +a blinding blizzard has started blowing the snow into my face and I +have run fast along the bottom of a valley with my eyes shut. The +Skis kept to the lowest line and ran safely and steadily through this +powder snow at a low gradient. It is not suggested that blind running +should be indulged in as a rule and I only quote this case to show how +helpful is good powder snow. + +The Telemark is the usual turn in soft snow. Christiania and jump +turns can also be used by people who are proficient and strong, but +they require both skill and strength. + +Soft snow is usually found on North slopes or at the bottom of shady +valleys or even behind any ridge which protects it from the sun or +wind. Also among trees which shelter it. Tracks ruin it in time so +that it is usually wise to sidle off the track and try new snow beside +it. + +Luckily for the experienced runner, most beginners usually behave +rather like sheep, preferring tracks to exploring on their own. The +result is that perfect snow can often be found alongside the beaten +track, and when this gets spoilt, it is only necessary to go a little +further afield in order to get a good run. Then, as more and more +people beat down the track it becomes hard and very amusing running +can be had there. + +Hard snow is of two types--a beaten track or a hard crust where the +sun has melted the surface and the frost at night has frozen it, so +that it will bear the weight of the Ski-runner. When this is really +solid enough to allow of side-slipping and stem, or Christiania turns, +it is very trustworthy and easy to negotiate. At first, however, it +intimidates the beginner, because it is very fast. As time goes on and +he becomes accustomed to the skid and rattle of hard snow, he will +find that his horror turns into pleasure because he can trust it. The +Nursery slopes become hard after two or three days and will provide +useful experience for coping with such snow on a run. + +The lifted stem and Christiania are the best turns on hard snow. A +Telemark is apt to skid too much. + +Crust is the bugbear of all runners and is out and away the most +difficult to tackle. It may be hard, and then with nothing apparent on +the surface to warn you, the Skis break through and catch in the crust +and down you go. When crust is about, let someone else lead, and then +profit by his experience. + +There are many forms of crust, all of which may be met on the same +run, and when wind has been at work, there may be crust on North +slopes and not on South. After rain too, when the surface has been +soaked and a frost follows, crust will be found everywhere. + +Sticky snow is usually due to the effect of the sun or to Fohn wind +or thaw. It is easily coped with by proper waxing of the running +surfaces, but the sudden sticking of the skis, which have been running +well over wet snow in the open, when they get into cold powder snow +under trees or in shadow, is very disconcerting. + +The same is apt to happen when people have dried their Skis in the sun +by sticking them on end while lunching. The sun not only dries them +but warms them so that if the first run after lunch is in shadow and +the snow is cold, the Skis stick because the warm surfaces melt the +snow, which immediately freezes again and adheres to the Skis, so that +they come to an absolute standstill. + +The only way to avoid sticking is to keep the running surfaces of the +Skis in good condition by oiling them thoroughly and to carry one or +two different types of wax for use according to circumstances. + +The great thing is to get practice on all types of snow and never to +mind it. Look upon crust as a joke, and learn jump turns, which are +the only safe turns for any but the strongest runners. Some of these +can accomplish a Telemark, or stem-turn or even a Christiania on every +sort of snow, but most people are content with the jump turn on crust. +The great trouble of this turn is that it is very tiring when a heavy +Rucksack is carried, but knack and good use of the stick will help it. + +Light is a great factor in Ski-ing. On a fine day when visibility is +good, it is easy to distinguish between the rise and fall of country +ahead and, therefore, to be prepared for decrease or increase in +speed. Some days when the sky is clouded, it is practically impossible +to tell what is coming. This difficulty is increased in a narrow +valley when the reflection of the slopes on either side make the whole +surface look identical. + +Coloured glasses may help a little, but it is better to run slowly and +to take no risks. On these occasions tracks help immensely as they +give the eye something to follow. Rocks and trees also help; anything +that breaks the surface of the snow and shows up the gradient ahead. + + + + +FALLS + + +Falls!--what a word. When I first thought of writing this book, it +struck me that the best selling title would be "Ski-ing without +Falls." But then I remembered that I could never look a beginner in +the face again if, knowing that he had read my book, I saw him fall. + +Besides which, a Ski runner who never falls, is probably but a poor +exponent of the sport. When you begin to run comfortably and can do +the turns at low speeds, falls show that you are still trying to +learn more of the game. It is only by trying new things that a +runner becomes really proficient and you are almost certain to fall +constantly as you learn. There is art in falling on Skis as well as in +running and turning. Fall loose. Let yourself go; never try to save +yourself when once you find the fall is inevitable and get rid of your +sticks. You will have the most amazing falls on Skis and nobody will +listen to your descriptions of them because they are just as eager to +describe their own. The surprising thing is how little people hurt +themselves--knees and ankles go most. The strain on the knee and ankle +is very great in some falls, but if you let yourself go and relax your +muscles as you fall, you will find that even ankles and knees survive +as a rule. + +I once saw a really good runner turn three somersaults while +nose-driving down a steep slope at high speed in soft snow. And all +the damage done was two hat-pins snapped! Moral, don't wear hat-pins. + +People are so tangled up sometimes that they do not know whether the +Ski tip sticking out of the snow belongs to their right or left foot, +and they have to dig with their sticks before they can extricate +themselves. And sometimes the results of a fall are so intricate that +the runner could never extricate himself, but needs the help of a +friend, who will undo a binding so as to free him. The most curious +fall I ever saw was when a man, running down a steep slope among +trees, ran into a fir tree on the upper side where the snow was lying +well up the trunk. He then fell head downwards into the hole below the +tree where the snow had not penetrated and, his Skis being caught in +the branches, there he hung. Had he been alone, I doubt whether he +would ever have succeeded in getting free. As it was, we undid a +binding quickly and no damage was done. + +Not only is there art in falling but there is a technique of getting +up. Before attempting to get up, arrange your Skis so that they are +ready to stand on. Suppose they are crossed below you on a steep +slope, lie on the slope, raise the Skis in the air, uncross them, set +them parallel across the slope below you, facing the way you want to +go, and get up. This fall is sometimes used as a turn and may be +very useful, though not considered the best possible form if done +intentionally. + +Never attempt to get up on to Skis facing downhill. They will only +go off with you the moment you begin to rise, and then down you flop +again. + +If you fall head downwards down a slope, you still have to get your +Skis parallel across the slope below you before you can stand up, and +the only thing to be done is to turn a somersault uncrossing your Skis +in the air if they are crossed and getting them below you and then +standing up. All of which is extremely easy, but it is very necessary +to ensure that clothes are so made that the powder snow cannot slip +into crevices while you are gambolling in this fashion. The first +thing I do before getting up from a fall is to put up my hands and let +the snow shake out of my glove gauntlets. + +If you are so tangled up in a fall that it is almost impossible to get +out, just undo a binding, slip off a Ski and get up easily with a free +foot to stand on. And, if you see anyone else so tangled up that he +does not begin to get up immediately, hurry to his assistance, because +his ankle or knee may be in a very strained position and he may be +thankful to you for undoing a binding and releasing him. It is in +these falls that the leather heel bindings so often prove better than +a rigid toe binding. The leather will ease a little or slip and allow +the foot to turn a fraction of an inch so that the strain is not +maintained long enough to cause real damage. + +Falls are often half the fun of Ski-ing, and every runner who is +trying something new will sometimes fall in the endeavour. So never +lose hope, however much you fall. If you have been running rather +well, and then get a day when you do nothing but only means that you +are stale and that your muscles and nerves need a rest. This is where +the all-round Winter sportsman gains. He can spend a day on the rink +or curling or tobogganing and not feel that he has wasted time. + +Never scoff at people because they fall. A first-class runner is +supposed to be able to run at high speed, using turns without falling. +So he will, probably, if he intends to, but no first-class runner +worth his salt would always run like this. He will always be trying +something more difficult, turns at higher speed or in difficult snow, +and consequently he will often be seen to fall, and the beginner who +scoffs is merely voted an ignoramus. Here again a runner will be +judged by his tracks. Look carefully at the place where he ran and try +to make out what turn he was trying and what the snow was like, and +why he fell. You can learn a great deal from other people's tracks. + +Falls in deep snow are always a little more risky than on hard snow, +because there is greater strain on muscles and ligaments. On hard snow +you get many a bump and scratch, but the results are less lasting than +a torn ligament. + +Having got up safely from your fall, look on the snow and see what you +have dropped before starting off again. Even pockets with flaps may +allow of leakage. + +It is wise to tie your Rucksack firmly with a strap round your waist +because, if it is loose, anything heavy inside may give you a nasty +bump on the head as you fall. + + + + +TESTS + + +There are three British Ski tests under the Federal Council of British +Ski Clubs. In addition to these, different centres and local clubs +often set an elementary test for beginners in order that these may be +sorted into various standards for expeditions. + +Hitherto the Elementary test has usually been a run down a certain +distance within a time set by the judges. This is not an altogether +satisfactory test, as the beginner, who goes straight down sitting on +his Skis may get through, while another, who conscientiously tries to +run standing, falls the whole time and fails. Style might be judged +and the sitting candidate disqualified, but when, as often happens, +some seventy or eighty people enter for an Elementary test, the judges +have their hands full enough with starting and timing, apart from +watching individual running critically as in the 2nd-class test. + +A better way, therefore, is to flag a line, which must be followed, +providing traverses across slopes, which soon catch out the sitting +novice. + +Beginners usually hate traversing because they dislike the look of a +steep slope and do not know how to prevent the instinctive pointing +straight downwards of the Skis. They do not realize yet that if they +would stand upright on their Skis while traversing, and lead with the +upper foot while they put their weight on the lower foot and keep +their whole weight somewhat on their heels, they will traverse quite +easily at a gentle angle. + +The Elementary test ought to be so planned as to force this type of +running. + +Another way of running an Elementary test is for a judge to lead at a +steady easy pace for an hour's cross-country run, including both up +and downhill, as well as level running and obstacles. The test would +be timed, an ample margin being allowed beyond the judge's time. All +those, who finished within the time would pass. + +This would probably not be nearly so popular a Test with the +candidates as the short downhill run, but it would be a far better +test of their capacity for touring. + +The British Ski tests consist of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd-Class Tests, the +Regulations for which will be found in the Ski Year Book, which can +be obtained from the Hon. Secretary, Federal Council of British Ski +Clubs, Essex Court, Temple, London, E.C. They can also be obtained +from any official representative of one of the British Clubs in +Switzerland, and are printed as an Appendix at the end of this book. + +In the 3rd class test, which is the first and which has to be passed +before the runner can go up for his 2nd class, there are three parts. + +Part (a) is a climb of 1,500 feet in not more than 1-1/2 hours and a +run down 1,500 feet in a time set by the judges. The time may not be +less than seven, or more than twenty minutes. It should not be more +than 12 minutes under good conditions. + +Men must carry Rucksacks weighing not less than 6 lbs., and women 3 +lbs. Sealskins may be used for the climb. + +Part (b) consists of four consecutive lifted stem-turns on a slope +of 15 deg. to 20 deg., and Part (c) four consecutive Telemark turns on a +slope of the same gradient. Parts (b) and (c) are often used as +a qualifying test before Part (a) is run, in order to limit the +entries for Part (a), which may otherwise be a very difficult test +to run when a large field enters for it. + +Candidates who enter for this test should really take pains to ensure +that their bindings fit their boots and that they have everything +necessary for a run as well as being up to the standard. Speaking as +a judge of four years' standing, who has run innumerable tests, I may +say that it is pitiable to see the number of casual people who will +come up for a test without reading the regulations and without being +in any way prepared for a 1,500 ft. climb. Few things are more +disagreeable than having to disqualify a candidate, who turns up +without a Rucksack, or more miserable than having to shepherd down +beginners who are worn out by a run for which they are quite out of +training. The one comfort is that a candidate, who is pertinacious and +courageous enough to face this test five or six times without passing +and goes in again, is almost sure to pass in the end. + +For the judge's sake, however, I strongly urge such a candidate to +time himself over similar runs with his friends and to persist in this +until he proves that he is up to 3rd-class standard, when he will be a +very welcome candidate in the test itself. + +A course is easily found by using an aneroid, or it may also be worked +off the Ordnance Map. Any ordinary watch with a second hand will +suffice for the timing of one's own run. + +Some people may think that I am a little harsh in my reasons for +suggesting that beginners should not enter for the running part of the +3rd-class test so lightheartedly. It is really for their own sakes as +much as for that of the judge's. Failure is very discouraging, and I +have known people's nerve quite upset by one of these runs. They have +tried to race down and have taken really nasty tosses in their rush, +while the fatigue of constant falling and getting up out of deep snow, +becoming more and more out of breath in the anxiety to compete, is +very bad for their running. I have often wanted to hide my head in +shame when coming home after such a test with a lot of worn-out +people, wet through, who have failed. And yet, such is life, that many +with the first breath, after they finish exhausted, will ask when the +next Test takes place in order that they may compete again. Such a +candidate really does one's heart good. + +Tests have probably done more than anything else to improve the +standard of British running. We all have a liking for competition, and +here is our chance. Having succeeded in passing the 3rd-class test, +we can wear a badge and then we have to ski better in order to prove +worthy of it, and presently we see no reason against qualifying for +the 2nd-class test before going home. "After all, the turns only have +to be done on a steeper slope." "The run can be put off till next +Winter, and passed the moment we come out," they say. + +The 1st-class standard is rising higher and higher as British Ski +runners become more proficient. The runner who passed a year or two +ago now hesitates to wear the gold badge, because he often realizes +that his speed and turns are not good enough for what is now required. + +Judges of the British Ski tests may be found in most well-known +centres, but, as there are very few 1st-class people, the tests for +this class are usually run in one or two districts only. + + + + +GUIDES AND SKI INSTRUCTORS + + +Swiss Guides are certificated by the Swiss Alpine Club and are the +only people permitted by law to guide parties among the higher +mountains. A tariff exists in every district showing the fees which +these Guides must charge. In addition to the fee, the client usually +gives a gratuity and also pays for the Guide's accommodation and +provisions on the tour. A percentage may be added for numbers greater +than those provided for in the tariff, while on a really difficult +tour, the Guide will probably refuse to take more than two or three +runners unless a second Guide or porter be engaged. The Certificated +Guides wear a badge issued by the Swiss Alpine Club and any man +wearing this may be depended upon to be a good fellow, a careful +Guide, and a philosopher and friend. Most of them can now ski well, +though a few of the older ones may not be very proficient in technique +and may be stick riders. + +When on tour with a Guide, he is responsible for the safety of the +party, and every member should do his best to help him by carrying out +any instructions he may give for their greater safety. This is not +always appreciated by people who do not know the Alps and their +unwritten laws, and the Guides complain somewhat bitterly that they +are often put in very difficult positions. For instance, on one +occasion, when a party was crossing an avalanche slope, the Guide +asked them to go singly at intervals of 20 metres, so that if anyone +was carried away, the others would not be involved and could go to his +rescue. One of the party was overheard saying: "Oh! he is only trying +to prove how careful he is in order to get a higher tip," and they +were careless in their carrying out of the instructions. + +In any case it is discourteous not to do what the Guide prescribes and +he is put in a very false position as he is held responsible. + +Ski Instructors belong to a different category, unless they are also +Certificated Guides, which is often the case. In some Cantons, such as +Graubuenden, the Instructors have to pass an examination showing +their capacity to ski and also to teach. Many of them are perfectly +beautiful runners, but they should not be pressed to conduct tours +where glacier work or rock climbing is involved. They are not examined +for this and they hold no credentials, and if an accident occurs, +everyone is blamed. There are a great many other runs they are allowed +to lead and they will set as good a course as anyone would wish for. + +Before engaging a Guide, or an Instructor on the recommendation of the +concierge, get some expert advice as to who is the best. The Secretary +of the local Ski Club would advise or some good runner in the +neighbourhood. + +In some parts of Switzerland the Guides and Instructors have taken to +touting for clients. They hang about the hotels and try to induce the +unwary to engage them and to go for tours for which they are often +not fit. The better Swiss Guides are the first to want the public to +discourage this type of behaviour, as it is doing a lot of harm to +their good name. + +When a Guide is engaged, treat him as a friend and trust him. They +are usually a most obliging and reliable set of men, who will do +everything in their power for their clients, such as carrying food and +spare clothing, waxing skis, attaching skins and even making terms in +inns, and cooking the food in huts when on tour. Their knowledge of +the mountains and their experiences are well worth probing, and they +will usually talk willingly when kindly dealt with. They are quick +judges of character and if the younger ones are sometimes a little +inclined to take advantage of the people who do not treat them +suitably, only those people themselves can be blamed. The +old-fashioned Guides are never familiar, though they are very friendly +and will always do their best for the entertainment of their party. +They should not be petted and flattered, neither should they be +treated as inferiors. A happy medium is easily found which is what the +Guide will prefer, because in his heart of hearts, he has the whole of +the Swiss characteristics--great dignity, independence and respect for +wise people. + +On a long and dangerous tour the safety of the party may ultimately +depend upon the trust and confidence placed in the Guide in charge, +and by him in his clients, and this should be remembered in all +negotiations. These men often have to risk their lives for the sake of +the people who employ them, and their staunch unselfishness is a fine +example of human endeavour for the benefit of others. Their fees may +appear to be high, but when everything is taken into consideration, +including the shortness of their Winter and Summer Seasons, it is soon +realized that the fees are not exorbitant. + + + + +MAPS AND FINDING THE WAY + + +Every Ski runner going across country should carry a map. Even on a +short run a great deal can be learnt from a map, which will prove +useful later on a longer run. Both time and risk can be saved by +people who run by their map and who know how to avoid dangerous places +and how to take advantage of narrow safe openings. + +There are different types of maps to be had in Switzerland. The +best are the official Ordnance Maps published by the Eidg. +Landestopographie at Bern. The mountain districts are produced at a +scale of 1 centimetre in 50,000 centimetres or 2 centimetres in one +kilometre, and large or small sheets can be bought almost everywhere. +The gradients are clearly shown by contour lines. The equidistance +being 30 metres, or roughly 100 feet, the dotted contour lines when +height is marked some every 8 or 10 ordinary contour lines. This +differs according to the edition. Cliff and rock are shown grey, while +glacier contour lines are blue. + +Some districts, such as the Bernese Oberland, have produced this map +with red lines showing all the Ski runs. In other places they also +provide Ski-ing maps, but on a different scale and not as good as the +Ordnance Map. + +All maps are best when mounted on linen, as the weathering they +receive on a run may reduce a paper map to pulp or rag. + +It is easy to work out the distance of runs or the gradient of slopes +from the large scale Ordnance Map. 1 in 50,000 metres means that 1 +centimetre on the map equals a run of 50,000 metres; 2 centimetres +equal a kilometre or 100,000 metres; 8 kilometres equal five English +miles. Therefore, if a centimetre measure be carried, the distances +are soon ascertained with a minimum of arithmetic. + +Throughout this chapter I have taken the mathematical or map gradient +and not the engineer's gradient. The latter is generally used, I +understand, to measure the gradients of roads, railways, etc. + +To avoid confusion when Ski-ing, the gradient is usually named by the +angle of the slope. + +The gradient of slopes is shown by the contour lines, the drop between +each being 30 metres or approximately 100 feet. The table on p. 92 was +got out by Commander Merriman, R.N., and has proved very useful to +me in setting tests as well as in judging whether slopes are +comparatively safe from avalanche or not. + +A slope showing eight 30-metre contour lines in one centimetre works +out roughly at 27 deg., which is a steeper slope than most people care to +take straight, running over unknown country. Anything steeper than +this is apt to avalanche in certain conditions, though a 30 deg. slope +should usually be safe. (A 25 deg. slope may be dangerous under some +conditions.) + +A comfortable slope is 5 contour lines in 1 centimetre, or a gradient +of 17 deg.. Taking English measurements as in Commander Merriman's scale, +16 contour lines in one inch on the map. + +The beginner will probably content himself with slopes where 10 +contour lines are shown in one inch, or a gradient of about 13 deg.. + + ROUGH TABLE OF GRADIENTS. + +Assuming 30 metre contours to be equal to 100 feet contours +(actually this is 98.4 feet). Natural Scale 1: 50,000. + +-------------------------------------------- +Drop per inch | Average angle | Gradient + on map. | of slope. | 1 in. +-------------------------------------------- + 100' | 1 deg. 24' | 40.9 + 200' | 2 deg. 45' | 20.8 + 300' | 4 deg. 07' | 13.9 + 400' | 5 deg. 29' | 10.4 + 500' | 6 deg. 50' | 8.3 + 600' | 8 deg. 12' | 6.9 + 700' | 9 deg. 33' | 5.9 + 800' | 10 deg. 52' | 5.2 + 900' | 12 deg. 11' | 4.6 + 1,000' | 13 deg. 30' | 4.2 + 1,100' | 14 deg. 47' | 3.8 + 1,200' | 16 deg. 04' | 3.5 + 1,300' | 17 deg. 20' | 3.2 + 1,400' | 18 deg. 34' | 3.0 + 1,500' | 19 deg. 48' | 2.8 + 1,600' | 21 deg. 00' | 2.6 + 1,700' | 22 deg. 11' | 2.5 + 1,800' | 23 deg. 22' | 2.3 + 1,900' | 24 deg. 30' | 2.2 + 2,000' | 25 deg. 39' | 2.1 + 2,100' | 26 deg. 45' | 2.0 + 2,200' | 27 deg. 50' | 1.9 + 2,300' | 28 deg. 53' | 1.8 + 2,400' | 29 deg. 56' | 1.7 + 2,500' | 30 deg. 58' | 1.6 +-------------------------------------------- + +Up till now I have only been describing the official Ordnance Maps. +There are several other maps which may also be useful. + +The Dufour maps are good for direction and lie of country, but their +scale being 1 in 100,000 they are not much help for actual running. + +The local Ski Tour Map is useful to show where the usual tours go, +but cannot always be trusted for gradients or cliffs and rocks. The +Pontresina map, for instance, though showing an equidistance of 30 +metres as in the Ordnance Maps, really has 50 metres contour lines, +which might be a terrible snare to the unwary, who would confidently +run towards a slope, thinking it was about 20 deg. and find that it was +nearer 35 deg., or an avalanche slope. In a case like this the Ordnance +Map must be used for actual running, while the Ski Tour Map is used to +show the line to be followed. + +In some districts, such as the Bernese Oberland, the Ordnance map has +been used for the local Ski tour map, and the tours shown on it in +red. This is a great saving of weight and money for the runner, who +then only has one map to carry. + +Most Ski maps show dangerous avalanche slopes. The local Summer map +published in most tourist centres in Switzerland is not much use to +the Ski runner, because it shows walks which may be along slopes or +down cliffs, which are perfectly safe in Summer and very dangerous in +Winter. + +I strongly advise all beginners who are bitten by the joy of Ski-ing +to buy, at any rate, the small local sheet of the Ordnance Map which +usually only costs Frs. 1.30, or roughly 1s., and to study it +carefully, noticing the contour lines on the well-known Nursery +slopes, and gradually realizing the gradient represented by the +different widths between them. + +Let him also notice the difference between a hill and a hole on the +map. This is easily recognized either by the thin blue line of a +stream emerging from a lake, or by comparing the nearest heights shown +on the dotted lines or some marked point. Contours are often puzzling +to a beginner in map reading, but knowledge of what they represent may +save a party from a weary climb back up a place they have gaily ski-ed +down, thinking they could get through but finding an impossible slope +or fall of rock which forced them to retrace their steps. + +Before going on tour even with a Guide, it is wise to study the map +with a view to knowing where an Alpine hut can be found in case of +need, or where a hay chalet could offer shelter. + +When once the Ski runner has begun to appreciate the fun and interest +of running by a map, he will never leave it behind, and he will be +able to enjoy all sorts of runs he would never know of if he were +content with the sheep habit of "following tracks." + +The greatest fun of Ski-ing is in finding one's own way, and this one +can never hope to do without a map. + +The following scale of comparative heights in metres and feet may be +of use in estimating the heights of points which the Ski runner wishes +to reach: + + 10 metres equal 33 feet (approximately). + 50 " " 164 " + 100 " " 328 " + 250 " " 820 " + 500 " " 1,640 " +1,000 " " 3,281 " +2,000 " " 6,562 " +3,000 " " 9,843 " + +A compass is, of course, useful when running by map, but as precipices +are apt to get in the way when running straight for any given point, +a compass cannot be trusted alone. In the case of fog, it is very +difficult to avoid difficulties, and points on the map can only be +identified by the use of an aneroid, as well as a compass. Set the +aneroid at the point you start from and check your heights by this as +you climb or descend, referring constantly to the map to ensure that +you are running on the right line. It is wise to practise this on +clear days in order to get accustomed to running by map, compass +and aneroid. As the weather also affects the aneroid, it should be +constantly reset at known levels. + +All this may sound very confusing, and most beginners will probably +prefer to take a Guide who knows his country well rather than trust to +elementary map-reading knowledge in unknown country. Most runners +who go on tour will find running much more interesting, however, if +instead of following a Guide blindly they also watch the map or get +a knowledge of what is good or bad country to run over. There are +sometimes cases also when the party must necessarily divide, and an +amateur may have to take the lead over unknown country. + + + + +AVALANCHES + + +Much has been written on this subject. Mr. Arnold Lunn, in "The +Alps," tells some extraordinary stories about these monsters of the +mountains. My father, John Addington Symonds, in "Our Life in the +Swiss Highlands," also describes them. + +There was a very interesting article by Monsieur F. Krahnstoever in +the "Swiss Ski Club Year-Book for 1923" on the subject of avalanches +in relation to Ski-ing. They are an everlasting nightmare to Ski +runners in high places, and beginners should at once take care to +learn all they can of snow-craft in order, in so far as possible, to +realize what is safe and what is dangerous. + +The steepness of slopes and the condition of snow, as well as the +direction of wind, are all factors affecting avalanches. + +Any slope whose gradient is more than 15 deg. may be dangerous under +certain conditions, but it may be generally accepted that most long +slopes under 25 deg. are comparatively safe so long as they have not much +steeper slopes immediately above or below them. + +New snow is always apt to slip before it has had time to settle down. +Snow blown by wind into a cornice or overhanging lip at the top of a +slope or on a cliff may topple down and start an avalanche. + +Wet snow, after rain, or a warm Foehn wind, becomes heavy and begins to +slide. + +A very dangerous condition is new soft snow lying on a slope covered +with old hard snow. + +Trees or rocks sticking up through the snow make such slopes safer, as +they tend to prevent the snow from beginning to slip. This is why the +Forestry Laws of Switzerland are so strict. In some districts the +owner of a forest may not cut a tree unless it has been approved +by the Government forester. This is to ensure that the forests are +maintained as a protection for the villages in the valleys below. + +Beginners should never go on a tour without first ascertaining that +the route they propose to follow is a safe one. And if there is the +slightest doubt, owing to weather conditions, they should put it off +for a day or two. Some runs are perfectly safe when the snow has +settled and a sharp frost has bound it, but they may become dangerous +again when a thaw sets in, a Foehn wind is blowing, or rain has fallen. + +The Ski runner himself may start an avalanche on a slope where the +snow would lie safely if he did not pass along it. The cutting of his +track, breaking the continuity of the snow, may set it going either +above or below him and he will be carried away with it. + +Wherever there seems to be the slightest risk of avalanche the party +should separate and proceed in single file at about 20-yard intervals. +Then if a runner is carried away, the others will be able to go to +his assistance. In some cases, however, even this is not sufficient +protection as the whole slope may go at once. In old days before the +railways had tunnelled through the passes we were driving over the +Fluela above Davos on our way to Italy in March. We were in the post +consisting of some 20 one-horse sledges and had just left the Hospiz +when we met the up-coming post, also consisting of a number of +one-horse sledges. It took some time to pass, as the track was narrow +and the horses floundered in the deep snow when passing each other. +After we had got by and were continuing on our way down to Sues, we +turned along an outstanding buttress of cliff and saw that some two +miles of steep slope ahead had avalanched. The whole surface of the +snow had slipped to the bottom of the valley and if either of the +diligences had been on this slope when it happened, horses, sledges +and all would have been carried away. + +This experience fixed avalanche danger very firmly in my mind, and +having also seen several large avalanches falling, as well as the +immense amount of damage done to forests and chalets by these +insuperable monsters, I have never wished to risk getting into a large +one myself. + +Even a small avalanche is very overwhelming and a beginner who has +felt its effects soon realizes what it may mean. Choose a _very_ short +steep slope on a day when the snow is slipping and try to get it +going. Once it moves and entangles your legs and Skis, you will feel +the extraordinary helplessness which results. This was one of our +games when I was a child. Without Skis it is possible to float on top +of a baby avalanche and to enjoy it, but with Skis on, the feet soon +become entangled and helplessness results. + +The first thing to do when an avalanche starts and no escape is +possible is to get the Ski bindings undone and the feet free. Then +"swim" with arms and legs and try to keep on top. If buried, keep one +arm over nose and mouth so as to keep air space and push the other arm +up, pointing the Ski stick through to the open so that it may show +your whereabouts. This is easy to describe, but probably not so easy +to carry out if the occasion arises. + +One of the first books on Ski-running advises people to carry some 60 +metres of red tape and to let this trail behind them when crossing +dangerous ground. Then, if overwhelmed by an avalanche, the red thread +can be picked up by the search party and the victim may quickly be dug +out. I have never met anyone who has carried out this suggestion and +do not want the extra weight of red tape in my Rucksack, but it makes +one think and realize how much other experienced runners have thought +also. + +The following precautions would seem to me to be better: + +Never ski along, or above, or below a dangerous-looking slope under +doubtful conditions. + +Never go for a tour without making sure beforehand that the route you +propose to follow is a safe one. + +Always carry out any instructions your Guide or the experienced leader +of your party may give. If you have any sudden doubt about the safety +of the slope you are on, make quickly for the nearest rocks sticking +up. + +If there are trees near get among them as quickly and quietly as you +can. + +If the snow begins to slip and you see no chance of Ski-ing quickly +away from the dangerous place, get your Skis off. This is where toe +bindings may be safer than heel bindings as they come off quicker. + +Never follow a track across a slope, about which you are doubtful, +thinking hopefully that the runner who cut it knew more than yourself. + +Never cut a track across a dangerous place at your own risk if there +is the slightest chance of misleading another runner into danger +later. + +Remember that though you yourself may be on a safe slope, the slope +above or below you may be so steep that the snow may slip off by +itself and your slope may be involved. This applies equally to running +along the bottom of a valley. The slopes on either side may be +dangerous, and if the snow slips you will be buried. + +There are so many perfectly safe runs that it is folly to risk being +killed by an avalanche, when it can easily be avoided by a little +forethought and common sense. + +Even if you do not mind the risk yourself, think not only of your +people waiting below, but also of the people who have to come and look +for your body. There have been several cases where the search party +have been overwhelmed by a second avalanche while digging for people +carried away by the first. + +January and March are probably the most dangerous months from the +avalanche point of view. In January the fresh snow is apt to slide +before it has settled. A few days after a new snowfall, most of the +avalanches will have come down and the ordinary runs will be safe +again, but every snowfall entails the same risk. There are some slopes +where the snow will never stay in February, but unless a Foehn wind or +rain make the snow heavy, most slopes are pretty safe below a gradient +of 25 deg.. + +In March when the thaw begins more avalanches will fall. These usually +come down well-known tracks and can easily be avoided for this reason. + +This chapter may appear to be somewhat intimidating, but it is better +to be safe than sorry. Very few experienced Ski runners get into +avalanches and if ordinary precautions are taken and the advice of +experts followed beginners need have no fear. + +The Ski-ing maps usually show the more dangerous places, but every +runner should keep his own eyes open and learn all he can of +snow-craft in order to be able to explore new country as he becomes +proficient. + + + + +ACCIDENTS + + +Some people will think that I lay too much stress on the dangers of +Ski-ing. Considering the thousands of people who ski every Winter and +the extraordinarily small number of accidents, I admit that I have +exaggerated the dangers. But I do so quite deliberately because it is +only by realizing risks that they can be avoided, and my experience +proves to me that the average town-bred man and woman, boy and girl +have very little appreciation of life lived up against Nature. They +set out so lightheartedly and often so fool-hardily on an expedition, +without telling anyone where they propose to go, or when they expect +to be home, and without having provided themselves with the extra +equipment which may prove to be very necessary before the day is +finished. + +While writing this book I have constantly had in mind Ski-ing centres +above 5,000 feet, whence tours are made among the glaciers and at high +levels where the cold may be a danger during the months of January and +February. Much of what I have said of the necessity of carrying spare +clothing in good quantity does not apply so much to places below 5,000 +feet unless high tours are undertaken. But wherever people ski there +is a possibility of accidents due to falls, and though these are +seldom serious, they need attention. + +When someone is really lamed by knee or ankle, Ski-ing becomes very +difficult, except to the expert, who can ski mainly on one foot, and +walking through the deep snow, sinking at every step, is an agony, so +that some form of stretcher becomes necessary. + +Two or, better still, four Skis tied together, side by side, form an +excellent sledge, which will travel straight downhill every easily. +It practically refuses to traverse a slope so that the case has to be +slipped straight down to the bottom of the slope and along the valley +or level below. + +Skis usually have holes through the flat part of the tip in front. +A piece of strong wire should be threaded through these, care being +taken that the Skis lie parallel their whole length and that the tips +are not drawn together too much. A stick must be tied to the wire and +the Ski tips to keep them in position and to take the pull when the +sledge is drawn along. If there are trees about, a branch can be cut +to serve this purpose. If not, a Ski stick must be cut in half and +used. It should not project beyond the Skis on either side, or it will +catch in the snow. + +The other half of the Ski stick or another branch must be tied across +the Skis, by the toe irons, to keep the Skis parallel there also, and +to give solidity to the sledge. People sometimes tie a strap or string +round the Skis, including their running surfaces, forgetting that this +will soon cut through with the friction of the snow. + +To finish the sledge, put some fir branches on it, the bushy part of +which will make it more comfortable to lie on. The thick wood of the +branch part should point towards the front of the Skis and be fixed +there. If branches are not available, Rucksacks can be used for the +injured person to lie on. He will probably be more comfortable going +downhill if he can be laid head-first downwards on the sledge. + +To draw the sledge along, join a lap thong or sealskin or rope or +puttee to the outer Ski tips, and also to the ends of the stick across +them. In order to prevent this from pulling these Skis forward too +much it is well to tie a string to the inner Ski tips also and join +them to the pulling rope. + +Another rope or thong should be attached to the stick and centre toe +irons, so that this can be held from behind to prevent the sledge +travelling too fast downhill. Experienced runners will be able to +travel on Skis while getting this sledge down, but beginners will do +well to wade on foot, especially the rear man, who has to control the +speed. Neither the pulling nor control rope should be attached to the +body of the person holding it because a sudden jerk may pull him over +and the sledge be stopped suddenly with a jar to the person hurt. + +Most club huts are provided with excellent ambulance sledges, which +may be used, and which should be conscientiously returned to the +Rettungschef of the locality. + +There is a Rettungschef in every mountainous district whose duty it is +to help with accidents when these are reported to him. He arranges to +send out Guides and porters with an ambulance sledge to the assistance +of any party in trouble. If, therefore, your accident be a serious +one, and you are far from home, the wisest plan may be to send one or +two of the best runners down to the nearest village for help, while +the remainder stay with the injured person. For this reason it is +always unwise to go out with fewer than three in a party. Five or six +are a better number on a long day's run. + +Remember the people waiting at home, and when you have made +arrangements for help to go to your party ring up your friends and +tell them what has happened and what you have arranged. Having often +seen the anxiety of relations and friends when their party comes home +late, I know how important this is. Even if you are only delayed for +some small reason such as a train being late, it is kind to ring up, +and this is easily done, as there are telephones in almost every +village. + +While on this subject I would again like to urge that before going off +on an expedition of any length the Concierge and someone should be +told in writing the destination, the route, and the hour anticipated +for return. Then, if the party does not turn up and no news comes +through, a search party can be sent out with some hope of finding +them within a reasonable time. Time is very important in January +and February, when the weather is cold, as people can be badly +frost-bitten if benighted. + +Search parties are expensive luxuries, as it is risky work for the +Guides, who deserve to be well paid for it. I have only once followed +a Rettungschef with his five assistants and their ambulance sledge, +and shall never forget the pace at which their lantern went ahead of +us, dancing like a will-of-the-wisp. A runner had come home at 5 p.m. +with news that one of the party had hurt his knee some four miles from +home. This runner had already wisely rung up the Rettungschef from the +first house he came to, and a party of Guides was being collected. I +decided to go out with some friends in case the accident was a serious +one and we could bring the remainder of the party home, and so save +the Guides that duty. They were all beginners who were benighted. + +We followed the lantern and saw it stop and knew the Guides had +reached the people in trouble. When we caught up they already had the +patient looking like a mummy, rolled up in blankets in a canvas bag on +the sledge. I could hear him choking over the brandy which was being +poured down his throat. He had only hurt his knee, but his friends, +who were all real novices, had had a wearing time getting him down. + +The way in which the Guides handled the job filled me with admiration +and confidence. When they found we were ready to herd the party home, +they shot off with their sledge and the lantern soon became a speck of +light in the distance again. + +I also had a lantern that night, and found it delightful to ski by, +but doubt whether anyone else profited much by its light except as a +guide to direction. + +When a person is hurt and helpless at a high level, in winter, cold is +the most immediate danger, and all spare clothing should be piled on +him, and his limbs should be rubbed to prevent frost-bite. When he +cannot be moved, a fire might well be lit if below tree level where +wood is available, because, though the lighting of fires is forbidden +in the Swiss forests, a breach of the law would surely be overlooked +in case of danger to life. The heat of the fire would help to keep +the patient warm, while its light would act as a beacon to the search +party. + +The following is the code of signals in use among the Alps: + +_The Alpine Signal of Distress_-- + +(a) By Day.--The waving of anything (a flag or stick with an article +of clothing attached) six times in a minute, repeated after an +interval of one minute without signals. + +(b) By Night.--A light flashed six times a minute, repeated after an +interval of one minute without signals. + +(c) By Sound.--Six sharp calls, or whistles, in the minute, repeated +after an interval of one minute without signals. + +_The Answering Call_-- + +(d) Anything waved, a light flashed, a sharp call, or whistle three +times in the minute, repeated after an interval of one minute without +signals. + +If a Ski runner does not remember the exact signal any regular signal +repeated a definite number of times in a minute, with a minute's +interval, should prove sufficient. Similarly, if you hear a signal +repeated at short regular intervals, you should always suspect a call +for help. + +An ordinary whistle is hardly loud enough for the sound to carry any +distance and a siren might be better. Newspaper could be used for a +flare if the party does not possess a lantern or electric torch, but +it would not last long. + +Finally, may I suggest that everyone who takes up Ski-ing seriously, +and who carries gear to be used in emergency, should be proficient in +the use of such gear and not wait till it is needed to find out how to +fit it. + +To experiment in making an ambulance sledge while an injured person +lies beside you and when your fingers are cold and people are buzzing +round you with suggestions, which may or may not be better than your +own ideas, is a bad plan. It is wiser to have made the experiment at +home and to have got someone to drag you down a hill on the result, +and then you will know something about it. A new game for the Nursery +slopes, and what fun for the spectators who already think all Skiers +mad! + +I would like to add at the end of this chapter on accidents that +during the many years I have enjoyed Ski-ing, and with the hundreds of +beginners I have helped, I have never met with a single really serious +accident. + +One or two knees and ankles twisted and now and then a cut or severe +bruise have been among the worst cases I have come across. + + + + +THE ATTRACTIONS OF SKI-ING + + +Though some runners are content merely to enjoy the actual practice of +Ski-ing with all the difficulties to be overcome and the various turns +to be perfected, the greater proportion probably ski mainly on account +of the exhilaration obtained, the freedom enjoyed, and the wonderful +beauty of the places reached. + +The amazing thing is that Skis were not used sooner among the Alps. +They have already in less than thirty years entirely altered the life +of the young people in far-away villages, who used to be practically +shut up during the winter months, but who can now ski from one place +to another on Sundays and holidays, enjoying the companionship of +their friends and widening their outlook by mixing with strangers. +This will probably have a very good effect on the population of the +High Alps, who will be less inclined to leave their homes in order +to get away from the monotony of the long winters. So much is this +appreciated that Ski-ing is now part of the school curriculum in some +districts, often taking the place of gymnastics during the winter. + +It is amusing to watch the classes of children out on the Nursery +slopes with their teachers. While we foreign women Ski-runners are +provided with elaborate costumes, including breeches or trousers, the +little Swiss girls ski in frocks and cotton pinafores without cap or +hat, and often without gloves. Led by their teacher they wearily climb +up the slopes, and then comes the mad career home to the midday meal. +Twenty or thirty little girls all dashing down together practising +turns as they go, or making as straight down as they dare in their +effort to outpace their rivals. + +The boys carry the sport still further and most local Ski-jumping +competitions start with a demonstration by the boys, who often do not +look more than 10 or 12 years old, and who go over the big jump as +straight as their elders and usually a good deal more gaily, as they +have not begun to appreciate the dangers. The smaller boys line the +sides of the jump and pour out at the word of the judge on to the +steep landing-slope like a lot of little goblins, jumping on their +Skis horizontally to flatten away any track or hole made by a jumper +who has failed to jump perfectly. Little chaps of seven or eight run +through the woods on these occasions, swanking their turns through the +trees and putting most grown-up runners to shame by their nimbleness. +At Pontresina one winter I was much amused by one of these small +children wearing a British third-class test badge which he must have +picked up. I asked him where he got it, but he hurried away for fear +I would claim it, and his Christianias through the big trees made me +very envious. + +Many of the children ski to school and back, getting endless practice +all through the winter months. + +May I here appeal to British runners who may have old Skis, even +broken ones to throw away, to offer them to the local branch of the +Swiss Ski Club as there is an organization which mends them or cuts +them down for lending or giving to the school children, who are too +poor to provide themselves with Skis. + +When the beginner has learnt the elements of straight running and +turns and begins to go off among the mountains the real interest of +Ski-ing is begun, with the slow climb up in single file, first of all +through woods and then out on to the open slopes. This is usually a +silent game as breath is needed for the climb, and it is dull work +keeping up a conversation with the back ahead. Sometimes, as one +inadvertently steps on the Skis ahead, a gruff word is flung back and +the trespasser is wise who stops, pretending to attend to his binding, +or to look at the view--the view is usually worth looking at, too, as +there is usually something to see. If it is not a distant view of the +Great Alps or of the valley below, it is of trees or rocks, which, if +examined carefully, usually show some sign of life. I remember being +snubbed by an ardent Ski-er because I ventured to ask "What are those +black birds?" "Who wants to know about birds when he is ski-ing?" was +the answer. I did want to know, and I found out that they were Alpine +choughs and I still want to know when I see the inhabitants of the +mountains or their tracks. + +Most of the wild animals use old Ski tracks as highways now, even +finding it worth while to follow the zigzag of an uphill traverse. +Foxes, hares and roe deer all use them, the roe deers' feet showing so +much tinier than the chamois, who leaves a deep rough track as they +usually run in each other's footsteps. The hare's track when running +is two holes abreast and then two single ones. The fox runs rather +like a dog. The squirrel hops two feet at a time, often leaving a +slight ruffle on the snow as he swishes his tail. Among the cembra +trees in the Engadine the snow may be sprinkled with the nuts out of +the cones. They are delicious eating, being very like the Italian +stone pine nut, or pinelli, and they attract the squirrels as much as +they do the nutcracker bird. + +Martens and pole cats leave distinct footmarks. Weasels, also, and +these are easily recognized as they usually start from a hole under a +bush or a rock. One day when a party of us were silently traversing a +slope above Muerren a tiny brown ball came rolling down, which, when +picked up, proved to be the warm dead body of a mouse. Looking up we +saw a weasel peering out of his hole anxious as to the fate of his +dinner. A mouse's track also usually starts from a tiny hole and the +two feet go abreast, while the tail leaves a line all the way. + +We nearly always see chamois and roe deer when ski-ing in the woods +at Pontresina as it is a protected area and they are not shot and +therefore become very tame. The chamois are driven down into the woods +in search of the lichen which hangs like a beard from the branches of +the cembra trees. On Muottas Celerina this winter we saw four chamois +below us in the wood. Without a word our guide, Caspar Gras, dashed +down the slope after them and very nearly caught one round the neck, +as they were surprised, and knowing there was a precipice beyond the +scrub below them, they could not make up their minds which way to go. + +The roe deer scrape away the snow below the trees in search of +alpenrose or bear berry leaves or dry blades of grass. They suffer +more than the chamois after a heavy snowfall because they are not so +strong and cannot scamper through it. At the beginning of this season, +Klosters had a snowfall of some two metres and the roe deer were +driven down to the villages where the peasants fed them in stables +till the weather improved. Four were caught on the railway, having got +on to the line at a crossing and being unable to spring out over the +high banks of snow. + +Ibex are being let loose in order to re-establish them where they were +exterminated a few years ago. They can usually be seen through the +telescope at Bernina Hauser above Pontresina, and also opposite +Muerren. The ibex, or steinbock, is used as the Coat of Arms of the +Canton of Graubuenden, and is familiar to Ski runners as the badge of +the local Ski Club of Zuoz in the Engadine. + +After some controversy eagles are being encouraged to increase, having +been almost exterminated. We saw a beauty sailing over the Muottas +Muraigl Valley one day. There is even talk of trying to get bear back, +but the peasants obstruct this as they were so destructive to sheep. +As a child at Davos I saw three bears brought in dead by hunters, +and remember with pride, mixed with disgust, tasting a bear's paw. A +peasant told me of how as a boy he looked after the village sheep near +the Silvretta Glacier, and of a bear who used to come and kill a sheep +and then bury it in the ice for future eating. + +Ski runners shudder at the idea of meeting a bear while on a run, but +they need not worry as the bears roll up and sleep through the winter +so that unless the Ski-er took an unusually heavy fall into the bear's +hole, he would be safe enough on the surface. Besides which it is said +that a bear cannot traverse down a slope, so that the Ski-er could +easily get away unless the bear rolled to the bottom, and then ran +along and waited for him. As there are no bears in Switzerland now, +perhaps it is waste of time to start a controversy about the best turn +with which to circumvent a bear. Cows are much more dangerous. I was +pursued down the village street at Pontresina by a playful cow, who +had been taken to the pump to drink. She put down her head and stuck +up her tail and I wasted no time in pushing away from her. + +Another animal which hibernates through the winter is the marmot, and +I often think of them sound asleep under the snow as I pass along the +slopes of some high valley. They are said to have breathing holes, but +I have never seen them, unless this was the explanation of some holes +which puzzled me on the Schiltgrat above Muerren. I was traversing +uphill a long way ahead of my party and noticed some isolated holes in +the snow, very like Ski stick holes, but with no Ski tracks near. As I +passed a grey hen flew out of one of the holes, and, looking back, I +saw several black cocks and grey hens flying away. It is more likely +that they had made their own holes to shelter in rather than that +these were marmot holes. + +Ptarmigan often greet one on the higher ridges and sometimes a +capercailzie will get up with a noise which is very apt to upset one. + +The choughs are persistent followers of a Ski-ing party, flying over +one's head and chirruping for lunch. When at last we stop and take our +nosebags out of our Rucksacks, they perch on a cliff near and wait +till we move on, when they immediately fly down to see what we have +left for them. I have seen a paper lunch-bag, which they were unable +to tear, absolutely surrounded by a circle of their footmarks, some +eight feet in diameter. How they must have worried it and each other +in their endeavour to get at the contents. + +At Muerren a pair of ravens also accompany the Ski-ers. They take their +perch high up and watch the many luncheon parties, croaking now and +then to remind us of their wish to share our slices of beef and +sausage. These "packed lunches" are usually so plentiful that the +choughs and the ravens get a goodly feed. The tidy Ski-er who buries +all his paper and orange peel and other debris will often find next +day that the whole thing has been dug up by a fox. + +At many of the Alpine huts, the snow-finch has adopted the habits of +the sparrow and is often so tame that he will almost take crumbs from +one's hand. + +Another bird I love among the Alps is the dipper or water ouzel. +Ski-ing along the snow banks of the rivers, I have often watched him +hop down into the water and run along the bottom picking up whatever +his food is among the pebbles. + +Surely most Ski runners can spare time to watch all these little +people, whose rights to the snow fields are even greater than their +own. + +Very little vegetation shows in winter, but it is wonderful what a lot +one can find if one looks carefully and it certainly makes Ski-ing +more interesting to me if I can recognize the trees, plants and seeds. + +A very fair estimate can be made of the different heights by noticing +what grows. + +Corn stops at 2,000 to 3,000 feet, though a little rye may be grown +up to 5,000 feet in sunny places. Fruit trees and beech trees stop at +about 4,000 feet. There is one beech tree above Davos about 5,500 feet +above the sea, but it has never succeeded in topping the huge boulder +which shelters it from the North. The silver fir is healthy at 4,000 +feet, but is seldom found much above that level, while the spruce or +fir goes up to 7,000 feet and does best there. Larches seem to thrive +best at about 5,000-6,000 feet, but may be seen almost as high as the +top of the Bernina Pass on the south side facing Italy. The cembra +pine, like a great cedar, is the finest tree in the Alps and does +best at 6,000 feet to 7,000 feet. It is also called the Arolla pine, +because of the forests near that place. In the Upper Engadine almost +all the forests are of cembra and there is one splendid old tree known +as the "Giant Tree" near upper tree level on Muottas Celerina. Another +group of veterans grows just below the Little Scheidegg on the +Grindelwald side. Many of these trees are said to be 600 or 700 years +old and their wood is much used for panelling in Graubuenden. It is +recognized by the big dark knots. The panels are usually formed of +boards reversed so that the knots form a symmetrical pattern. Larch is +also used and is very red, while sycamore goes to the making of tables +and chairs in the Buendner Stuebli. Good examples of the modern use +of these woods may be seen in the hotels, Vereina and Silvretta, at +Klosters, while the museum at Zurich contains beautiful old panelled +rooms from different districts. + +Creeping down steep avalanche slopes above 5,000 feet we find _Pinus +montana_, whose long branches form a tangle in which to catch one's +Ski tips. Below 5,000 feet this pine will sometimes grow almost +upright but never attains much height. Alder may also be a trap for +Skis on an avalanche slope where it creeps downhill and provides a +very slippery surface for the snow. I remember shooting down such a +slope about 100 feet when the snow slipped with me in a safe place. + +Along the rivers the alder grows into quite a fine tree, and if its +catkins be picked at Christmas and are brought into the warm house, +they soon blossom out and spread their green pollen over everything. +Rather a nice way of bringing a reminder of Spring into one's Winter +holiday. + +Birch and mountain ash grow happily up to 6,000 feet on sheltered +slopes but after 6,000 feet there are no deciduous trees, except the +tiny creeping willows buried deep under the snow. + +Juniper is the most ubiquitous shrub to be found, it seems to me. +You get its various types at sea level in Italy and on the top of +mountains up to 8,000 feet when it pokes up through the snow beside +the Alpine Rose or _Rhododendron ferrugineum_. + +On the top of ridges when the snow is blown away, all sorts of +treasures may be recognized. The creeping azalea with its wee +evergreen leaves, which no one, thinking of the garden azaleas at +home, would recognize as belonging to the same family. Little primulas +and saxifrages sheltering in cracks in the rocks, with nothing but +bunches of brown leaves to show them up. _Polygula Chamaebuxis_ +or Bastard Box almost always in flower on a sunny patch even in +midwinter. On the lower slopes, gentians or anemone plants with their +buds waiting to open when the soft wind or rain of Spring calls to +them. _Erica carnea_ with its whitish buds waiting for Spring to +colour them, one of the earliest of the flowers. Or the seeds of +_Gentiana lutea_ or _asclepedia_ or _purpurea_ and of Aconite or +Monkshood on their strong stems standing high above the snow. + +One winter when at 4,000 feet we had no snow at Christmas, we went +flower hunting instead of Ski-ing, and found thirty different sorts of +flowers out. But this was exceptional and by no means satisfying to +the Ski runner, who has come out for the sport he loves and not on +botany intent. + +Later, when the snow begins to melt on South slopes in March, the mass +of purple and white crocuses open to the sun; nothing in the whole +world can equal the mass of these crocuses. They push up as the +miracle of Spring, impatiently thrusting through the snow, melting +holes for themselves. The soldanellas do the same, but not till late +in March, and with them come gentians and the whole glory of the +Alpine Spring has begun. By this time the Ski-er has to oil and put +away his Skis or climb to the glaciers and higher snow fields. A +wonderful experience alternating between Spring and Winter as he +changes his levels. + + + + +SUMMER SKI-ING + + +The only experience of Summer Ski-ing which I have had is on the +Jungfrau Joch, about 11,900 feet above the sea. + +The Berner Oberland and Jungfrau Railways carry one up from Interlaken +to the Joch where there is an excellent new hotel, offering every +possible comfort. + +Good Ski-ing can be had on the glaciers and I am surprised that more +people do not come out for practice during the Summer. + +The two great draw-backs to this Ski-ing are, firstly, the expense +and, secondly, the difficulty of breathing. The expense is unavoidable +because the carriage of building materials, food, etc. to such a +height must necessarily entail high prices. Glacier Ski-ing, except on +the snow-field near the Joch, also usually necessitates the employment +of Guides. But these snow-fields are so extensive and so safe that a +week could be spent in practising without a Guide. + +After the first night on the Joch the feeling of breathlessness is +reduced, and so long as all climbing is done slowly no bad effects +need be expected by people in good health and condition. The Jungfrau +Joch can be reached from London in twenty-six hours, and keen runners +could enjoy a week or a fortnight of amusing Ski-ing on snow which +lends itself particularly well to the practice of all turns. + +The Jungfrau Joch branch of the Swiss Ski Club holds an annual meet on +the Joch in the month of July, which is well attended by Runners and +Jumpers from all parts of Switzerland. + +First-Class Guides and Ski Instructors can be found at the Joch. + +People who would prefer not to sleep at so great a height could stay +at the Scheidegg or Eiger Gletscher, at both of which places hotels +exist. + +In view of the shortness of Winter holidays, it seems a pity that +more enthusiasts do not profit by the chance of practising which the +Jungfrau Joch Railway offers in Summer time. I have twice spent two +days up there and have enjoyed them immensely. The snow was very +different to anything I ever met in Winter, but also very easy and +filled me with confidence. In July and August the crevasses show +clearly and need not inspire anxiety in anyone, except after a new +fall of snow, which may hide the smaller ones temporarily again. + +There must be several square miles of perfectly safe Ski-ing on the +glaciers behind the Joch, which provide Nursery slopes just as good as +anything found in Winter. The gradients vary, but it is easy to find +stretches of 10 deg. to 30 deg. unbroken by crevasses. + +Anyone coming out to ski on the glaciers in Summer time should bring +with them their own Skis or arrange to hire these at some Winter +Sports centre in the valleys. They should also be provided with all +the Ski-ing equipment they may need. A few pairs of Skis are kept for +hiring purposes on the Jungfrau Joch, but they are not very good ones +and it would be better not to depend on them. + + + + +REGULATIONS OF THE BRITISH SKI TESTS + +AS APPROVED BY + +THE FEDERAL COUNCIL OF BRITISH SKI CLUBS. 1923. + + + + +GENERAL REGULATIONS. + + +1. The British Standard Ski Tests have been drawn up by the Federal +Council of British Ski Clubs, hereinafter referred to as "The +Council." _The Council represents the following clubs, which are named +in the order of their foundation: The Davos Ski Club, the Ski Club of +Great Britain, the Alpine Ski Club, the British Ski Association, and +the Ladies' Ski Club_. + +2. The British Standard Ski Tests are of two kinds: Cross Country +Ski-ing Tests and Jumping Tests. There are three Tests of each kind, a +First Class Test, a Second Class Test, and a Third Class Test. + +3. The Tests are open to all ski-runners without payment, but +successful candidates will only receive a certificate and badge +if they are members or prospective members of one of the Clubs +represented on the Council. A candidate who has been proposed +and seconded for a constituent Club, and who has paid a year's +subscription, and whose election is pending, will be deemed a +prospective member for the purpose of this rule. The following sums +will be payable for the badges. These sums may be paid through the +members' Clubs or direct to the Hon. Secretary of the Council. + + First Class Badge 35s. + Second Class Badge 3s. + Third Class Badge 2s. + +4. In Switzerland francs will be accepted instead of shillings in +payment of badges. + +5. Certificates and badges will be awarded to any person who has +passed the Cross Country Ski-ing Tests: First Class, a gold +badge; Second Class, a silver badge; Third Class, a bronze badge. +Certificates will be issued to those who have passed the corresponding +Jumping Tests, and these certificates will entitle the holder to +receive a Jumping badge when the Council authorizes the issue of new +badges. + +6. Application for the badges, accompanied by a certificate signed by +two judges, shall be made either to the local representative of the +Club or to the Hon. Secretary of the Council, K.R. Swan, Esq., 1 Essex +Court, Temple, within three months of the passing of the Test. + +7. Certificate holders will alone be recognized as having passed the +tests. _No certificate will be recognized as valid unless issued to +a member of one of the constituent clubs of the Council_. A list of +those certified as having passed any of the tests will be issued +periodically by the Council. + +8. _Judges_.--No candidate can be judged for any test nor for any part +of a test unless two qualified Judges are present. No candidate can +be passed for any part of a test except by being judged formally and +knowing that he is being judged. + +9. The Judges are appointed by the Council; the appointment is for +the season only. Judges and Emergency Judges must be of British +nationality. + +10. The Council also appoints an emergency committee, any one of whom +shall have the power to appoint temporary judges for the season only, +to act with a Judge elected by the Council. Such temporary judges +shall only be qualified to judge such tests as they have themselves +passed. The appointment of an Emergency Judge will not be recognized +by the Council unless the appointment is notified to the Secretary of +the Council. + + +CROSS COUNTRY SKI-ING TESTS. + + +GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES. + +The following definitions may be taken as applying to the three tests: + +_Stemming Turns_.--For the purpose of these Tests, Judges must insist +that candidates shall adopt that type of stemming turn known as the +"lifted stemming turn," that is to say, the stemming turn which is +finished by lifting round the inside ski. + +_Telemarks_.--In the Telemark the back ski should drop behind, and the +bend of the back ski should not be ahead of the ankle of the leading +foot and should not be allowed to come forward till the turn is +completed. Candidates who start the turn with a mixture of ordinary +stemming should not be passed. + +_Christianias_.--The Christiania may be done _either_ by separating +the points of the ski and completed by bringing them parallel--the +so-called "open Christiania"; _or_ by keeping the ski parallel +throughout and jerking them round, the "jerked Christiania"; _or_ by a +very slight stem, the ski being immediately brought parallel after the +turn has started, the so-called "Closed or Stem Christiania." + +In every case the essence of the Christiania is that the swing should +be rapid, and that the preliminary stemming or diverging of the skis +should be as slight as possible. + +A turn started by pronounced stemming and completed as a Christiania +should not be passed. + +_Continuous Turns_ are sometimes known as "downhill turns." They are +used to connect one tack with another, and differ from stop or uphill +turns in that the turn is made away from the hill instead of up +towards the hill. Candidates must not stop between two continuous +turns. + +_Hard Snow_.--For the purpose of these tests, any well-beaten down +practice slope from which all traces of soft snow have disappeared may +be considered as hard snow. Hard crust superficially softened by the +sun cannot be considered as hard snow. + +_Soft Snow_.--For the purpose of these tests, a deep layer of powder +snow resting on hard crust, or hard crust superficially softened by +the sun, but not breakable, may be considered as soft snow. + +_Form_.--The Judges must consider the "form" of the runner, as well as +his speed and steadiness. The distinguishing marks of good "form" are +an easy balance without dependence on the sticks (see below), an erect +position, except on steep slopes, and a narrow single spoor in soft +snow. + +_Use of the Sticks_.--Candidates should carry sticks throughout these +tests, but the sticks should not be used to reduce speed nor to help +out a turn. On the other hand, a candidate may be allowed a prod with +a single stick at the end of a turn provided that he is carrying a +stick in each hand, or in the event of the candidate using a single +stick that this stick is only held in one of his hands. _He must not +put both his sticks together, nor hold a single stick in his two +hands, during any of these tests, unless expressly directed to do so +by the Judge_. + + +THE THIRD CLASS TEST (CROSS COUNTRY). + +The Third Class Test consists of three parts, which may be passed on +different days, and before different Judges. + +Part (a).--_The ascent of 1,500 feet in not more than 1 hour 30 +minutes, and the descent of the same distance within a time which +shall be decided by the Judges. This time shall not be less than +7 minutes, nor more than 20 minutes, and shall not exceed 12 +minutes unless sanctioned by a Second Class Judge or member of the +Emergency Committee who is present and judging_. + +Part (b).--_Four continuous Lifted Stemming turns on a slope of hard +snow or hard snow covered by a shallow layer of soft snow. The angle +of the slope to be between 15-20 degrees_. + +Part (c).--_Four continuous Telemarks in soft snow on a slope of +similar gradient_. + + +INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES. + +1. The course selected for Part (a) should include at least 200 feet +of moderately difficult ground. Courses such as the Lauberhorn at +Wengen, which is an unbroken descent of 1,500 feet that a good runner +could take straight, should not be chosen. No part of the course +should be along a road. + +2. Throughout the Test candidates must carry rucksacks, which should +weigh about six lbs. for men, and three lbs. for ladies. The ski must +not be removed during the test, except to clean or repair them. + +3. The Judges should, if possible, appoint two time-keepers. During +the descent not more than six candidates must be judged in one batch. + +4. Not more than three attempts at Part (b), and not more than three +attempts at Part (c) are allowed on the same day. + +5. The attention of the Judges is directed to the General +Instructions. The gradient on which Third Class candidates are +expected to do their turns is gentle, as the intention is to secure +that candidates should master the proper methods, so as to be able +later to make real use of the turns on steep slopes. Judges are +therefore urged to insist that the stemming turns and Telemarks are +done correctly and in good style. Each turn should be short, well +defined, and not a mere change of direction. + + +QUALIFYING TEST FOR THE SECOND CLASS (CROSS COUNTRY). + +No Candidate may enter for Parts (a), (b) and (c) of the Second Class +Test until he has passed the Qualifying Test, and no Candidate may +enter for the Qualifying Test until he has passed the Third Class +Test. + +The Qualifying Test consists of three parts, which may be passed on +different days and before different judges, but which must all be +passed in the same season. + +Part (a).--_Four continuous Lifted Stemming turns on a slope of hard +snow at an angle of 25-30 degrees_. + +Part (b).--_Four continuous Telemark turns on a slope of soft snow at +an angle of 25-30 degrees_. + +Part (c).--_Christiania swings to a standstill (right and left) from a +direct descent at a fair speed_. + + +INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES. + +1. Not more than three attempts at any one part should be allowed on +the same day. + +2. The Christianias should be done on the level or on a gentle slope +after a descent from a steep slope, as a stop Christiania is more +difficult on the level than on the slope. + +3. The Judges must require a considerably higher standard of +steadiness and certainty than in the Third Class Test. The object of +the Third Class Test is to ensure that candidates learn the correct +methods of making the turns. The object of the Second Class Test is +to ensure that candidates can make practical use of these turns on +moderately steep slopes. + + +THE SECOND CLASS TEST (CROSS COUNTRY). + +The Second Class Test consists of three parts, which must all be +passed in the same season, and should, if possible, be judged by the +same Judges. + +Part (a).--_A descent of not less than 2,500 feet, mainly on soft +snow. The course selected should provide opportunities for straight +running on reasonably steep slopes_. + +Part (b).--_A descent of not less than 1,000 feet on hard snow, such +as unbreakable crust or snow which has been thoroughly beaten down_. + +Part (c).--_A descent of at least 500 feet of woodrunning, dense +enough to prevent straight running, but not too dense to prevent +continuous turns_. + +1. A Second Class runner may be defined as a runner who can run at +a good speed on hard or soft snow of unvarying quality, and who +is, above all, thoroughly steady on his turns. A runner who runs +recklessly without judgment, and who shows little power of selecting +a safe line, should not be passed even if he takes slopes straight at +the expense of frequent falls. _The Second Class Test is, in the main, +a test of steady controlled ski-ing at a good, but not at a racing +speed_. + +2. Candidates must not use their sticks to control speed nor to help +out a turn except under very exceptional circumstances and with the +express permission of the Judges. The Judges must, however, satisfy +themselves that the Candidates understand the use of the stick, and +could, in emergencies, where speed is vital, increase their speed and +steadiness on difficult snow by the use of the stick. + + +QUALIFYING TEST FOR THE FIRST CLASS (CROSS COUNTRY). + +No candidate may enter for Parts (a), (b) and (c) of the First Class +Test until he has passed the Qualifying Test that entitles him to be +judged for the First Class Test, and no candidate may enter for this +Qualifying Test until he has passed the Second Class Test. + +The Qualifying Test consists of five parts, which may be judged on +different days and before different Judges, but which must all be +passed in the same season. + +Part (a).--_Four continuous lifted Stemming turns on a slope of hard +snow at an angle of not less than 30 degrees_. + +Part (b).--_Four continuous Telemark turns on a slope of soft snow at +an angle of not less than 30_. + +Part (c).--_Four consecutive jump-turns to connect downhill tacks on a +slope of breakable crust at an angle of about 30 degrees_. + +Part (d).--_Christiania swings to a standstill (right and left) from a +direct descent at a very high speed_. + +Part (e).--_Four continuous Christiania (see General Instructions) on +a slope of about 20 degrees_. + + +INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES. + +1. The turns must be done round sticks or flags placed by the Judges. + +2. Not more than three attempts at any one part are allowed on the +same day. + +3. Soft breakable crust will usually be found on slopes with a +southerly exposure just after the sun has struck them or just before +the sun leaves them. + + +FIRST CLASS TEST (CROSS COUNTRY SKI-ING). + +The First Class Test consists of three parts, which must all be passed +in the same season and should, if possible, be passed by the same +Judges. If this is impracticable, Judges must indicate on the Test +forms which parts they have judged. Not more than two parts shall be +judged on the same day. + +Part (a).--_A descent of not less than 2,500 feet, which should, if +possible, be continuous without any intervening stretches of level or +uphill. The course selected must provide ample opportunity for fast, +straight running, and must also include a fair proportion of steep and +difficult ground_. + +Part (b).--_A descent of not less than 1,000 feet on really +difficult snow, such as hard, wind-swept, unbreakable crust, on which +Lifted Stemming turns are practicable but Telemarks impossible, varied +by breakable crust in which only Jump turns are practicable_. + +Part (c).--_A descent of not less than 500 feet of difficult +woodrunning in which continuous turns are just possible for a +first-class runner._. + +The above represents a minimum, rather than a maximum. If Judges can +devote sufficient time to the Test, each section may well be repeated +on different days in order that the Judges may have ample opportunity +of coming to a decision. + +For a descent of about 500 feet, the candidate should lead in order +to test his capacity for choosing a good line. During the rest of the +Test one of the Judges must lead and must set a first-class speed. The +other Judge must remain behind the candidate in order to compare his +speed and steadiness with that of the leading Judge. + +A First Class runner turns as little as possible and slows up as +little as possible before each turn. His turns are done at a high +speed on all but very steep ground. + +_The candidate must satisfy the Judges that his running combines high +speed, thorough steadiness on difficult ground and difficult snow, and +an easy, effortless control of his ski_. + + +SKI-JUMPING TESTS. + + +GENERAL REGULATIONS. + +1. The length of a jump shall be measured with a taut tape from the +edge of the take-off to that point at which the hindermost ski touches +the alighting track with the part immediately below the binding. + +2. To constitute a standing jump the runner must not fall within +a distance of 40 metres from the edge of the take-off or within a +distance of 60 metres where the jump, as in the First Class Test, +exceeds 30 metres. If the runner comes to a standstill without falling +within this distance he will be held to have stood. + +3. If a runner saves himself from falling by supporting himself with +his hands, he shall be considered to have fallen. + + +THIRD CLASS TEST (JUMPING). + +1. Every Candidate is required to make two standing jumps of not less +than 10 metres. Four attempts are allowed on the same day. + +2. Any two Judges appointed by the Council for the Cross Country +Ski-ing Tests are qualified to judge this Test. + + +SECOND CLASS TEST (JUMPING). + +1. Every Candidate is required to make two standing jumps of not less +than 20 metres. Four attempts are allowed on any one day. + +2. Any two Second Class Judges appointed by the Federal Council for +Cross Country Ski-ing Tests may judge this Test. Any Candidate who has +passed this Test may replace one of the Second Class Judges. + + +FIRST CLASS TEST (JUMPING). + +1. Every Candidate is required to make two standing jumps of not less +than 30 metres. Four attempts are allowed on any one day. + +2. Two Second Class Judges appointed by the Federal Council for Cross +Country Ski-ing may judge this Test. Any Candidate who has passed the +Second Class Jumping Test may act in place of one of the Second Class +Judges. + + + + +INDEX + +Accidents +Adelboden +Alpine Club Huts +Ambulance Sledge +Andermatt +Aneroid +Arosa +Attractions of Ski-ing +Avalanches + +Bergun +Bernese Oberland +Bernina +Bindings +Boots + +Campfer +Cap +Care of Equipment +Celerina +Clothing +Clubs +Coats +Compass +Cost of Ski-ing Holiday +Crampons +Cutting the Track + +Dangerous tracks +Davos +Diablerets +Discarded Skis, disposal of + +Elements of Ski-ing +Engadine +Engelberg +Equipment +Equipment List +Etiquette + +Falls +Fex Thal +Finding the Way +First Aid Equipment +Foot plates + +Gloves +Gradients +Graubunden or Grisons +Grindelwald +Gstaad +Guides + +Hat +Heights +History of Ski-ing + +Inn Valley +Instructors +Iron for waxing + +Julier Pass +Jungfrau Joch + +Kandersteg +Kesch +Klosters +Knife + +Lantern +Lap Thong +Lauterbrunnen +Lenzerheide +Light +Lifting a Ski + +Maloja +Maps +Mending Outfit +Montana +Morgins +Muottas Muraigl +Murren + +Nursery Slopes + +Oiling + Skis + Boots + Bindings + +Para Iron +Parsenn +Pockets +Pontresina +Puttees +Putting on Skis + +Rettungs Chef +Rhone Valley +Right of Way +Rucksack +Runaway Skis + +Saanenmoser +Samaden +Scheidegg +Schuls +Scraper +Search Parties +Side Slipping +Side Stepping +Signals of Distress +Silvaplana +Sils-Maria +Ski-ing Centres +Skins (Seal) +Skis +Snow + Soft + Hard + Crust + Sticky +Socks +Spare Binding +Spare Clothing +Spare Ski Tip +Spectacles +Splugen +Sticks +St. Moritz +Stockings +Straight Running +Summer Ski-ing +Sweaters + +Tests + Elementary + Third Class + Second Class + First Class + Regulations + Jumping +Toe Irons +Traversing + +Uphill Work + +Villars + +Wax +Wengen +Wind Jacket + +Zuoz + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ski-running, by Katharine Symonds Furse + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SKI-RUNNING *** + +***** This file should be named 10969.txt or 10969.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/6/10969/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Greg Chapman and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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