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Glacier retreat and the increased possibility of rockfall can change the character of a route in significant ways. Climbers are therefore advised to check current conditions with great care before undertaking any alpine expedition.

The present glacial retreat began in the mid-19th century, and according to the Glacier Monitoring Service of the Swiss Academy for Natural Sciences, between 1850 and 2000 some 249 Swiss glaciers disappeared completely. Many more are in danger of disappearing within the next two or three decades, as satellite measurements recorded over the 15-year period from 1985 to 2000 show a 20 per cent loss of the glaciated surface of the Swiss Alps. Apart from the environmental consequences, glacier shrinkage can have a serious impact on mountain activities.

Mountain Activities

Walking/trekking

Every region included in this guide holds almost unlimited scope for walkers of all ages, abilities and ambitions, and in the majority of cases superb multi-day routes exist that link huts, mountain inns and villages. Literally tens of thousands of kilometres of footpaths have been created throughout the Swiss Alps; some of these are ancient trading routes; others, hundreds of years old, were worn by farmers, chamois hunters and crystal collectors. Some have been made specifically to reach mountain huts, while yet more have been devised and constructed by local tourist authorities for the simple enjoyment of their visitors. The majority of trails are waymarked, signed and well maintained, with bridges constructed over large streams and rivers, and rope or metal handrails provided to give psychological support where a section of trail is narrow or exposed.