EN
2014
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22 INDEX
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GUIDES
Shepherds and Alpine guides. Worlds apart?
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STORIES OF THE WORLD
aku friends looking for a balance between man and nature
REPAIRERS
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The mountains: a tough yet fragile world that needs our care and attention
MOUNTAIN REALISM
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Hunting for “Volti d’alpeggio”
FARMERS
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The mountains are not an amusement park. They are first and foremost our home and our livelihood
AKU COLLECTION 2014
WALKERS
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A long journey of discovery
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complete aku models range
CREDITS Editing // AKU trekking & outdoor footwear TeXTS // Teddy Soppelsa, AKU Marketing dept., in cooperation with the interviewed friends COVER PHOTO // Lorenzo Di Nozzi Graphic design // Pubblimarket² PRINT // Castaldi, Industria Grafica, Agordo GOOD FOR ALPS INDEX
cover: Francesco Muretto, Alpe Vittine (ph. L. Di Nozzi)
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ANDREA ENZIO
CELESTINO FRONER
«For me, the mountain is skiing on fresh snow with my father, paragliding with my brother, but also watching the sun rise and set in silence from the Margherita hut» page 06
«I was born in the mountains. I became a shepherd when I was just a lad. I owe so much to the mountains, years and years of memories and experiences, working lovingly alongside my flock» page 06
Alpine guide
Shepherd
EUGENIO GARLET
Farmer and La Fiorita Coop’s Team Manager
«I’m a strong believer in the strength and importance of associations and co-operation. As with all things, you need strongwilled, enlightened people to lead the others » page 13
GIACOMO INVERNIZZI Farmer and Deputy Mayor
«The Casa dello Stracchino and the farming cooperative Il Tesoro della Bruna are a symbol of the future of the Imagna Valley» page 13
ROBERTO D’AGOSTINO
Walker and Trekking Italia association’s Team Manager
«Walking is a good exercise in mediation because it throws you into a dimension where there is no room for forcing your hand or having second thoughts; the only way back is on foot» page 18
PROTAGONISTS MARIO MOTTINI
NARCISO SIMION
STEFANO SANSON
MARIA SCHNEIDER
GIANLUCA MAGLIAVACCIA
«In fifty years’ time the Alpine pastures in Livigno will be managed by the young, just like now. We call the farmers the “gardeners of the Alps”» page 06
«The skill of a rock-climber/ worker is often dictated by where he is from; living in the mountains means he has intuition but exercises caution towards hidden dangers on site» page 10
«A local integrated product is a lot more sustainable than an organic certified product from outside the EU. We aim for the shortest production chain possible, in other words direct sales» page 13
«My husband and I have always considered walking a good indication of our own speed, without needing bicycles or cars. This philosophy has helped us realise our dreams and it also brought us to the Maira Valley» page 18
«Going slowly is even more provocative if we apply it in our towns and cities. The “green roads” in and out of our towns as “high slowness” is a great challenge to speed» page 18
Alpine guide
Alpine guide and repairer
Agrotechnical
Walker and tour operator
Walker
RENZO GANZ
GUALTIERO COLZADA
DANIELE LANDRA
ALBERTO CONTE
LORENZO DI NOZZI
«A shepherd’s priority is the wellbeing of his flock. Nothing makes a shepherd prouder than a well-cared-for flock » page 06
«There are some beautiful examples of bioengineering and structures with minimal environmental impact, but they still depend to a large extent on the awareness of organisations and designers» page 10
«I was guided by the idea that you can make a living from farming and tourism in the mountains, do a job you like, where hard work and hardships take second place» page 13
«Travelling on foot or by bicycle is so much easier and more natural; the frenetic pace of today’s world is left behind with no regrets » page 18
«I have listened to as many stories as I have taken photos. Difficult stories, tales of sacrifice and hardship, but also of love, selflessness and dedication» page 26
Shepherd
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Alpine guide and repairer
Farmer and tour operator
Walker and Movimento Lento association’s Team Manager
Photographer
GOOD FOR ALPS PROTAGONISTS
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MOUNTAIN DWELLERS BY CHOICE stone wall holding up the slope has partly collapsed. Deep cracks rip the walls apart in the houses. Hazelnut bushes undermine the meadows but nothing can stop the abandoned and forgotten seeds from germinating and, as the season advances, flowers appear. After decades of decline, depopulation and resignation, the Alpine valleys are now showing signs of recovery and are blossoming again. A new season has come.
The effects of this phenomenon, linked to immigration and the decision of many not to forsake the mountains, can be seen in the redevelopment of old villages, the creation of businesses involving agriculture and sheep farming, the introduction of different kinds of tourism and soft mobility and the experimentation of innovative services using the latest ICT solutions. These people, for the most part youngsters, are more interested in an economy that promotes happiness rather than accumulation and consumption, and have decided to start a new life in the mountains for a variety of reasons: to experience a different lifestyle from on the plain or in the city, to be close to nature, to seek out new job opportunities or to take on a life project. They are “mountain dwellers by choice”. (1) The mountains have taken on a new lease of life, thanks to the initiative and courage of these “new inhabitants” who are keen to prove a point: you can still live in the mountains. We bring you the experiences of the people, associations and businesses which have a vested interest in the future of the
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mountains (like the agency from Cuneo AgenForm, the Bergamo association Gente di Montagna, the associations of Alpine Guides of Alagna, Livigno and Valchiavenna, the shepherds of the Dolomites in Trentino and Belluno, the Consorzio Triveneto Rocciatori and the Cooperativa Agricola La Fiorita from Belluno) and which have decided to stay in the mountains or return to the Alpine valleys. This issue of Good For Alps resonates with the sound of their voices. For a company like AKU, born and raised in this world, being close to those who live and work in the mountains is a form of responsibility, a sentiment it endorses discreetly, and it is genuinely enthusiastic in its support of social and cultural initiatives. The mountains are also a place of physical and mental regeneration where we are free to walk, observing, thinking and savouring as profoundly as we wish, tuned into the rhythm of nature. “No walk is too long for those who walk slowly, without exerting themselves (...)” is a sentiment shared by travellers and pilgrims alike and echoed by the associations Trekking Italia, Il Movimento Lento and Percorsi Occitani, whose testimonials we have gathered and want to share with you together with the other stories. Enjoy reading and walking.
GOOD FOR ALPS EDITORIAL
(1) G. Dematteis, edited by, 2011
Piles of stones block the mule track, the dry
left: Famiglia Vercella, Grand Halt (ph. L. Di Nozzi)
GOOD FOR ALPS
GUIDES
Shepherds and Alpine guides. Worlds apart? Shepherds and Alpine guides have to contend with today’s changing world and to be true to themselves, have to change their vision and have the courage to follow their passions. GOOD FOR ALPS MOUNTAIN TALES
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Towards the second half of the 19
century when mountaineering really began to take off in the Alps, the shepherds who used to take their flocks to the high pastures became the first highly respected Alpine guides – together with hunters, smugglers and prospectors. th
At Cason de Foses, the alp that lies at the foot of Croda Rossa in the Ampezzo Dolomites, flocks have grazed on the high pastures since time immemorial. In 1891 a young shepherd called Angelo was keeping watch over his sheep. One day, at a loose end, he decided to explore a cave called “el buš de ‘l oro” that lies below the summit of Caštel de Foses. According to an old shepherds’ tale, the cave held a treasure and Angelo wanted to find out what it was. He left the peaceful meadows, climbed the vertical rocks, reached the cave but found nothing. He started to make his way back down but his descent proved too difficult and he had to give up, cutting across to a heaven-sent ledge, which led him to safety. Angelo Dibona “Pilato” was just twelve years old and had completed his first ever climb. He would later become a symbol of the mountain guides of Ampezzo and one of the greatest mountaineers of the 20th century. Although for many years Alpine guides and shepherds were considered to have many things in common, today we think of them as two very different professions. Yet this is not strictly true. Nowadays, just like a hundred years ago, Alpine guides and shepherds are responsible for finding the right way; their job requires the utmost care and attention because nothing can happen to the people they accompany or the animals in their care. Anyone in either profession must be driven, first and foremost, by a genuine love for their job. In the past the job was passed down from generation to generation, whereas today more and more people are choosing it as a way of life, often irrespective of their sex. It is a choice whose beauty lies in the large open spaces; whose strength is in its love for small things; whose poetry is in the silences, smells, colours and lights of the seasons as they pass. If shepherds stop taking their flocks to graze on the mountain, it gradually begins to run 7
Val di Livigno
VALLE D’AOSTA
TRENTINO ALTO-ADIGE
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA
Val Sesia Lombardia
VENETO
PIEMONTE
left: Angelo Moltrer, Pale di San Martino (ph. A. Malacarne) up: Association of Alpine skiing guides Alto Adige
wild again, flowers stop blossoming and a wealth of biodiversity is lost. Similarly, the presence of Alpine guides means someone is always keeping an expert eye on the mountains; Alpine guides also provide us with technical knowledge, they show us how to behave and heighten awareness of our surroundings: basic requirements if we are to enjoy the mountains in a responsible manner.
«An Alpine guide’s first priority is to assure his client’s safety. You have to deal with emotionally charged situations, which often stay with you forever»
o Andrea Einenzi guide
Alp - Italy Val Sesia - Vercelli
ttini Mario MAlpoine guide
rio - Italy
Val di Livigno - Sond
Andrea Enzio and Mario Mottini are two Italian Alpine guides. Enzio lives in Alagna Val Sesia, on the slopes of Monte Rosa on the border with Switzerland; Mottini, instead, lives in Livigno in Alta Valtellina, a short distance from the Bernina range and the Ortler Alps. «I became a mountain guide out of love for the job» says Mottini, «my uncle was the first guide in Livigno and he passed on his passion to me». Enzio was also originally «motivated by a long tradition of guides in my family». According to Mottini, being an Alpine guide is not easy: «We have to adapt to our clients’ continuously changing requests, from skiing on pristine snow to knowing the names of flowers». «An Alpine guide’s first priority is to assure his client’s safety» states Enzio. «Sudden changes in weather conditions call for greater care nowadays. My toughest moments? When I am working with the rescue services. You have to deal with emotionally GOOD FOR ALPS MOUNTAIN TALES GUIDES
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Valle del Biois
TRENTINO ALTO-ADIGE
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA
Val dei Mocheni VALLE D’AOSTA Lombardia
VENETO
PIEMONTE
oner Celestino FrShe pherd
- Italy Val dei Mocheni - Trento
charged situations, which often stay with you forever». As we have seen, being an Alpine guide is also a family tradition: «If my daughters had chosen the same profession as me, I would have been happy but they made different choices» says Mottini, «but I do have a nephew who has just become a guide». «I think people should do what makes them happy» is Enzio’s opinion, «and if my children were prompted to do this job out of real passion and not because they wanted to follow in my footsteps, I’d be happy». The mountains are also the scene of great adventures, experiences and encounters. For Enzio the mountains mean «skiing on fresh snow with my father, paragliding with my brother, but also watching the sun rise and set in silence from the Margherita hut». Mottini’s vision may not be as romantic but it is just as effective: «The mountains are like a television set that is always tuned into a new programme». GOOD FOR ALPS Mountain tales GUIDEs
As our eyes soar to the top of the mountains, we see the Alpine pastures and we wonder who will be taking care of them fifty years from now. «I hope the future of the Alpine pastures sees a return to their origins and that the same passion of our ancestors prevails, even if it is assisted by technology». Enzio’s hope is Mottini’s confirmation: «In fifty years’ time the Alpine pastures in Livigno will be managed by the young, just like now. The dairy business in Livigno has provided new opportunities. The average age of the breeders is, I think, under thirty with a horde of kids in the pastures and there are lots of youngsters who study agriculture with a view to setting up a farm. Here the local authorities have managed to integrate breeding and farming with tourism, dairies have become a tourist attraction and we all benefit. We call the farmers the “gardeners of the Alps”».
anz Renzo G Shepherd
- Italy Valle del Biois - Belluno
«A shepherd’s responsibility is to his flock. It’s the flock that tells the shepherd what he should do and he must do everything in his power for the animals’ wellbeing» Summer has come and the sheep are back in the pastures. At long last the shepherds can rest. Renzo Ganz (known as Trifase) and Celestino Froner are two transhumant shepherds from the Eastern Italian Alps. Ganz lives in Falcade in the Veneto Dolomites and Froner in Roveda, a small village of just twelve inhabitants in Val dei Mocheni in the Lagorai range. «I have been a shepherd for twenty-five years» says Ganz, «as a young lad I used to help my parents on the mountain dairy farm 8
1 Association of Alpine skiing guides Alto Adige // 2 Celestino Froner, Fruili lowlands (ph. A. Malacarne)
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in the Valles pass and San Pellegrino (in the Agordine Dolomites on the border between the provinces of Trento and Belluno, editor’s note)». Froner, whose parents were also shepherds, has followed in their footsteps for twenty-seven years: «A shepherd’s responsibility is to his flock. It’s the flock that tells the shepherd what he should do and he must do everything in his power for the animals’ wellbeing» and he continues: «My toughest moments are when we move to the valley in winter, down on the plains in Veneto and Friuli: moving the sheep from one place to another is made harder and harder because of the traffic, the more built-up countryside, the scarcity of grass, especially in February, relations with farmers which are often strained». Ganz agrees theirs in not an easy job, especially: «At the beginning of the winter with the cold, often the rain, snow and fog, the short days, not to mention the restrictions to rights 9
of way and grazing». Over the years Froner’s sheep have grazed on the mountains of the Lagorai range and the eastern mountains of the National Park of the Belluno Dolomites in the summer and autumn. «There are more sheep on the mountains nowadays than twenty or thirty years ago» says Froner, «the number of flocks has gone up and they have more sheep than in the past. In some places the pastures are actually overcrowded». Ganz begins his seasonal migration in Pian de Fontana and Busnich in the National Park of the Belluno Dolomites: «The mountain is in a constant state of flux. In many ways the changes have been for the better, like improvements in technology, safety. The last few years I have hired a helicopter to transport my material to the dairy farm, whereas before that would have been unthinkable». Sheep farming is enjoying a period of renewed interest but the sector has been hit hard by many problems. «The future of transhumant sheep farming looks rosy only as far as keeping the flocks on the mountain in summer and autumn is concerned» is Froner’s opinion and he goes on to add: «A lot of people would like to see sheep in the mountains but not on the lowlands. If we continue to be hampered by restrictive laws and regulations, only sedentary sheep farming will survive». Ganz shares his uncertain vision of the future of sheep farming: «Due to the endless restrictions in our work, growing bureaucracy, especially when applying for licences for right of way, which keeps us away from our flocks for long periods of time» and then adds: «Now sheep have microchips, even technology has entered the shepherd’s life. In the future I think shepherds will “lean on” laptops rather than their staffs». The mountains conserve memories, values and dreams, which help people in their lives. «A shepherd’s time in the mountains is the best time for him» says Ganz, «it’s a peaceful place, free of the restrictions and constraints of the lowlands. It’s the time for you to “pamper” your dogs who have worked hard throughout the winter and spring. It marks a return to the old world. I think of my home, the dairy farm, the fireside». Froner has a dream too: «To return to the simplicity and freedom of the past, with fewer restrictions».
// Andrea Enzio Alpine guide of Alagna (Vercelli) Italy, www.guidealagna.com // Mario Mottini Alpine guide of Livigno (Sondrio) Italy, www.guidealpine.info // Renzo Ganz (Trifase) Falcade (Belluno) Italy // Celestino Froner Roveda, Val dei Mocheni (Trento) Italy With the collaboration of Adolfo Malacarne author of Transumanze. Sulle tracce degli ultimi pastori del Triveneto Agorà Libreria Editrice, 2009.
The book may be purchased on the website: www.libreriaagora.com
MONTAGNARD GTX Andrea Enzio (Alpine guide, Alagna) is a member of the AKU team of professional testers who contributed to the creation of the new MONTAGNARD GTX model.
UPPER Perwanger 3.0 mm | LINING DESCRIPTION GORE-TEX® Insulated Comfort | OUTSOLE Vibram® Nepal | MIDSOLE double density PU | WEIGHT 1020 g
A shoe designed for classic mountaineering on glaciers and icefalls. It is ideal for working in cold environments, thanks to the waterproof and insulating Gore-Tex® Duraterm membrane. The IMS3 sole made of PU in diverse densities, distributes an ideal cushioning effect on all types of terrain, while the Exoskeleton construction provides stability and protection. The TPU heel cap and the rubber cap define the crampon-compatible equipment of the MONTAGNARD GTX, a precise shoe, which is durable and reliable for mountaineering and work use in the mountains. GOOD FOR ALPS Mountain tales GUIDEs
REPAIRERS
The mountains: a tough yet fragile world that needs our care and attention GOOD FOR ALPS MOUNTAIN TALES GOOD FOR ALPS STORIE DI MONTAGNA
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Life in the mountains has always been difficult and arduous, a delicate balance between nature and the presence of man. Now this balance appears to be under threat. We have always believed that the
mountains are the personification of strength and eternity, so when we hear about rock faces crumbling, we can hardly take it in, and the thought that even the Torri del Vajolet may one day come down is unthinkable. Yet hand-inhand with natural phenomena of erosion, we are seeing more and more events attributable to man and his actions. First, the increase in the earth’s temperature, caused by greenhouse gas emissions, threatens the balance of the mountain ecosystem which is extremely sensitive to variations in external and internal factors. The mountains are a bit like “sentinels of the climate” and their state of health is a good indicator of the general health of the planet. The temperature in the Alps rose approximately 2°C in the 20th century, compared to an average of 1°C in the surrounding areas. Heavy rainfall is increasingly frequent and the permafrost (the ice contained in the rock or between the debris) continues to melt, causing floods and landslides. Furthermore, the rise in temperature triggers change in vegetation and also conditions agriculture and forestry, threatening Alpine biodiversity as a whole. Climate change is just one of the critical issues affecting the mountains, which include excessive exploitation of the soil, urbanisation, fires, deforestation and, most important of all, depopulation. These aspects highlight the contradictory nature of this fragile environment, threatened by both the excessive presence of man and his abandonment. Even the people charged with looking after the mountains have changed: farmers-breeders have given way to the institutions which, in turn, commission companies specialised in the construction industry. The action taken to “repair” the mountains is very varied: it ranges from restoration and consolidation of the mountainsides to water management involving bioengineering techniques. Alpine guides are often employed by these companies as, thanks to their training and experience, they are able to carry out the most difficult jobs like working on cables and intervening when mechanical means are not an option.
«I managed to juggle my job as an Alpine guide with that of rock-climber/worker, but the consortium gradually took up more and more of my time. I still take clients on expeditions, although only occasionally. I am currently the prevention and protection manager at the consortium and am also part of the Research and Development team». Although all the staff at the consortium are highly qualified and experienced, there is always an element of risk to the job and Narci is well aware of this: «In highly exposed vertical environments, our workers take great care and know full well that even the smallest mistake could have serious, if not fatal, consequences. This is why there are so few accidents. In challenging but not vertical environments, on the other hand, it is easier to come away with minor injuries. The skill of a worker is often dictated (or at least it was in the past) by where he is from: if they are mountain folk born and bred, they usually have that intuition and care towards hidden dangers on site which life in the mountains teaches you». Many left: Gualtiero Colzada, bell tower in Piuro in Valchiavenna (ph. E. Gianera) 1 Covering a slope with wire netting (ph. CTR archive)
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TRENTINO ALTO-ADIGE
Val Codera
One of the first companies in Italy to work in this particular sector at the end of the ’70s was the Consorzio Triveneto Rocciatori: it is still a leader in its field, employing around fifty people and is also specialised in the production of rockfall and avalanche barriers. Narciso (Narci) Simion is an Alpine guide and works for the Consorzio Triveneto Rocciatori. «When I started working thirty years ago» says Narci Simion, 11
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA
Valle di Primiero
VALLE D’AOSTA Lombardia
VENETO
PIEMONTE
ion rciso Sim Colzadar Na e and repairer guid Gualtiero ne Alpi - Italy guide and repaire Alpine Val Codera - Sondrio - Italy
Valle di Primiero - Trento
GOOD FOR ALPS MOUNTAIN TALES REPAIRERS
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1 Dislodging a boulder (ph. G. Colzada) // 2 Work site in Courmayeur (ph. CTR archive) // 3 Working at high altitude on Monte Disgrazia, 3678 m (ph. M. Nesa)
jobs call for special attention, as Narci explains: «Some of the more dangerous things we are asked to do include deforestation on rock faces, the removal of large boulders from slopes using pistons and loading and unloading material with the helicopter on inaccessible slopes». Companies like the Consorzio Triveneto Rocciatori are always on the lookout for qualified workers and this is a great opportunity for youngsters looking for work but, as Narci points out, the job is not for everyone: «Our work is athletic, tiring, you are always outdoors at the mercy of the elements. Some jobs take us far from home where we have to live in hotels (not five-star) and you miss your private life, especially at the end of the working day. Despite this, on the whole it is well paid and gives you a chance to see new places and meet new people, if that is what you’re interested in». There are around sixty companies in Italy which provide the same services as Consorzio Triveneto Rocciatori and they employ approximately 1100 people (regular employees and hired workers). Then there are several teams of craftsmen and mountain guide associations, which mainly carry out the smaller jobs. In Novate Mezzola, at the foot of Val Codera
in the province of Sondrio, on the border between Val Bondasca and Val Masino, we find Gualtiero Colzada. Colzada is also an Alpine guide (he is the director of the guides and the School of Alpinism in Valchiavenna) and has extensive experience of working on cables: «This work takes up about a quarter of my time. It is tiring and I don’t mind doing it every so often when work as a mountain guide is slow» says Colzada while he is on duty with the helicopter rescue services. «We get called out on a variety of jobs: sorting out pathways and via ferrata, removing loose material from slopes in quarries or on rock faces over roads or houses, fixing rockfall nets, taking engineers out to sites destined for land reclamation. Our work sometimes takes us into towns where we check, reinforce and clean bell towers, buildings, silos. We also run training courses for workers in the sector and in the past we have even pruned large trees». The work often involves masking and environmental restoration but, in Gualtiero Colzada’s opinion: «such projects are still very much dependent on the awareness of organisations and designers». // NARCISIO SIMION ctr@consorziotrivenetorocciatori.it
// Gualtiero Colzada Alpine guide of Valchiavenna (Sondrio) Italy www.guidealp.it
TERREALTE GTX Gualtiero Colzada (Alpine guide of Valchiavenna) is a member of the AKU team of professional testers who contributed to the creation of the new TERREALTE GTX model.
UPPER Suede + air 8000® 1.8 mm | LINING DESCRIPTION GORE -TEX ® Insulated Comfort | OUTSOLE Vibram® Mulaz | MIDSOLE double density PU | WEIGHT 810 g GOOD FOR ALPS MOUNTAIN TALES REPAIRERS
The “Terrealte”, where “Terre Alte” means high lands, already anticipate with their name the range of utilization of this new model in the mountaineering product line. A lightweight and precise shoe for classic mountaineering and challenging treks up to high altitudes. The hybrid crampon compatible TERREALTE GTX proves to be an ideal model also for work use in the mountain environment, thanks to an immediate and long-lasting comfortable fit. 12
FARMERS
The mountains are not an amusement park. They are first and foremost our home and our livelihood
Farming in the mountains has taken on a new role, promoting the local economy and having positive effects on the environment and society. GOOD FOR ALPS MOUNTAIN TALES
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1500 metres up, the path emerges from
the woods and our eyes roam freely over the sloping meadows which cover the northern sides of Piz Zorlet, just in front of the Marmolada. It is mid-July and the mountains appear to be daubed in red and purple spots. It is the spectacular flowering of the rhododendrons, which takes place every summer. For visitors from the valleys and cities, these flowers epitomise the beauty of the wild mountains, untouched by shameless tourism, but if we looked closer at what it means for the mountain folk, we would see its tragic destiny. Throughout the Alps, rhododendrons are gradually reclaiming the pastures and abandoned meadows; their growth is proof that nature is taking back the space previously taken by man. With around 4500 flowering plants, the Alps play host to three sevenths of all European flora. Farming in the mountains is a key element of this wealth, but if it had not been for the grazing of livestock and cutting of the meadows, this habitat would have as good as disappeared.
ta, which has over 200 members, grows and produces local specialities such as beans from Lamon and Gialét, Sponcio maize flour, Agordino barley, potatoes from Cesiomaggiore and Great Alpine spelt. All these products owe their revival to renewed interest in traditional age-old varieties from the Belluno mountains and are cultivated in compliance with eco-compatible, integrated and organic regulations and production methods. The cooperative was founded in 1977 and over the past ten years the number of members has more than doubled, as has their fruit and vegetable production. This growth has been guided by the chairman Eugenio Garlet and Stefano Sanson, who teaches agrotechnical studies and was the person behind the decision to focus on the agricultural biodiversity of Belluno. «The bulk of our members are small-scale producers, the sons and grandsons of farmers who have inherited land and buildings which they somehow want to put to good use» says Sanson. «So production is concentrated in small businesses, which have often been split up by inheritances and whose vegetable production could bring in an interesting income.
After decades which saw the partial abandonment of large farmed areas on the Alps, the ’90s heralded the revival of farming and the pioneers of this change have mainly been the young. And so the mountains are slowly changing: the farmers who farmed for tradition are being replaced by those who choose to farm, whose lives and livelihoods are often very different from those in the mountains. Even the city’s opinion of the mountains is gradually changing and today, on the educational farms and the model dairy farms, town dwellers are learning from the mountain farmers.
«Strong emotional ties, the idea that you can make a living from farming and tourism in the mountains, do a job you like, where hard work and hardships take second place»
This social and cultural transformation is of prime importance for the mountains and despite some failures and difficulties encountered in implementing this on a wide scale, more and more new farmers are enjoying positive experiences and have successfully combined culture and experience, tradition and innovation. In the area of the National Park of the Belluno Dolomites, the farming cooperative La Fiori-
However, no one works full time in the business yet». Following the seasons, the members bring their produce to the cooperative and they are directly packed and sold. «We aim for the shortest production chain possible» points out Sanson, «so we sell to restaurants, shops in the local vicinity and in neighbouring provinces. We are also on good terms with some fairtrade purchasing groups and we even promote our products at trade
GOOD FOR ALPS MOUNTAIN TALES FARMERS
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previous page: Ploughing at Larzonei, Livinallongo del Col di Lana (ph. S. Sanson)
shows». The future of farming in the mountains is increasingly linked to the ability to share experiences and opportunities and, according to the chairman Garlet, this is the way forward for the cooperative: «In today’s world we have to know how to work together as a team, but if we want to grow we have to increase our professionalism, training and business flair». All these skills can be found in Daniele Landra’s story who, at the age of twenty-seven, has brought together all his passions 14
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immediately realise nothing can be achieved without such passion: «We renovated our grandparents’ house following the same philosophy of who built it over a century ago, respecting the land and the local architecture, using clean and renewable energy sources, like wood heating and solar panels». Daniele’s farm is a model of multi-functional agriculture, which integrates production with the landscape and facilities. «Ours is a family run business which concentrates mainly on organic beekeeping, but we also grow vegetables, small fruit and we rear farmyard animals. We can accommodate about twenty guests, we organise educational workshops, photographic exhibitions, music evenings and Occitan cookery courses.
«We aim for the shortest production chain possible. So we sell to restaurants, shops in the local vicinity and in neighbouring provinces»
TRENTINO ALTO-ADIGE
Val Belluna
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA
VALLE D’AOSTA Lombardia
VENETO
Valle Maira
Daniele Landra 1 Daniele Landra (ph. G. Luigi) // 2 - 3 Organic farm and accommodation Al Chersogno (ph. D. Landra) 4 Bike rest stop in Busche, coop La Fiorita (ph. S. Sanson) // 5 - 6 Potatoes in Cesiomaggiore (ph. S. Sanson)
under the one roof. And that roof is the roof of his great-great-grandfather’s house in the Maira Valley (in the province of Cuneo on the border with the French Ubaye Valley), which Daniele and his family have transformed into stunning farm accommodation. His passions instead are: Occitan music, beekeeping, photography and hiking in the mountains. After studying Forestry and Environmental Studies, Daniele became a nature guide and decided that the wood and stone house, the scene of his childhood games, would be a 15
son Stefano Sanechni cal
Agrot Val Belluna - Belluno - Italy
PIEMONTE
good starting point for a new adventure. After more than four years of intense work, at the end of 2012 Daniele officially opened Al Chersogno: organic farm and accommodation immersed in the natural setting of the Cozie Alps. «I’ve always kept in touch with the places and history of my land» Daniele proudly says. «Strong emotional ties, the idea that you can make a living from farming and tourism in the mountains, do a job you like, where hard work and hardships take second place». One look at Daniele and you
Farmer and tour operator Val Maira - Cuneo - Italy
Eugenio Garlet Fiorita
Farmer and La Coop’s Team Manager Val Belluna - Belluno - Italy
Here keen walkers can enjoy numerous hikes and climbs, ranging from family walks to peaks over 3000 metres high». The coherence of Daniele’s project amazes when he explains the traceability of his beekeeping products: «We put a QR code on each jar which you can read with your mobile phone and which is linked to a video on the Internet. The video shows what is inside the jar, from the place of production to processing; in this way the product is linked to the land and we convey our passion for our work». GOOD FOR ALPS MOUNTAIN TALES FARMERS
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TREKKER LITE II GTX The TREKKER LITE II GTX model, a hardwearing lightweight boot, ideal for day hikes, is one of the symbols of AKU’s manufacturing tradition, a “classic” for trekking at mid mountain height and off path, with guaranteed, immediate and long-lasting comfort, stability and outstanding breathability. TRENTINO
ALTO-ADIGE Val Imagna
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA
VALLE D’AOSTA Lombardia
VENETO
PIEMONTE
ernizzi Giacomo InvDepu ty Mayor
Farmer and Val Imagna - Bergamo - Italy 3
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UPPER Suede + air 8000® 1.8 mm | LINING DESCRIPTION GORE-TEX® Performance Comfort | OUTSOLE Vibram® Winkler | midsole double density die cut EVA | weight 620 g
1 Cows in the Imagna Valley (ph. Dimitri Salvi) // 2 Stracchino cheese from the coop Il Tesoro della Bruna (ph. D. Salvi) // 3-4 Celina Carminati (ph. D. Salvi)
In the province of Bergamo, in the Imagna Valley in the Orobie Alps, there is a village which plays host to a number of integrated and coherent mountain farming projects. The village is Corna Imagna, 800 metres above sea level and with just under one thousand inhabitants. The project originated from the Casa dello Stracchino, a small but functional cheese farm founded by the members of the farming cooperative “Il Tesoro della Bruna”, six small companies all with one love: the milk of the brown Alpine cow. In just a couple of years, the cheese farm has been joined by a hostel, a camp site, a shop with a small educational museum and, recently, an inn which is unsurprisingly called “Locanda dello Stracchino”. And, if that were not enough, there is also a series of trails along the old local footpaths (all georeferenced and with downloadable apps), other farms in the area have gone online (selling small fruit, vegetables, apples) to meet the needs of fairtrade purchasing groups and a busy market has GOOD FOR ALPS MOUNTAIN TALES FARMERS
been opened selling locally sourced produce. Giacomo Invernizzi, deputy mayor of Corna, is one of the members of the farming cooperative. «In the past, Lo Stracchino constituted most of the farming economy in the Imagna Valley» says Invernizzi, «then, in more recent times, it became a family run business which symbolised the decline in farming whose economy was insignificant». Driven by the desire to restore some dignity to the small local farms and make them sustainable, and convinced that tending the land can provide a basis on which other economies could flourish, the local authorities in Corna Imagna started talks with the farmers: «And so the farming cooperative “Il Tesoro della Bruna” was founded» continues the deputy mayor Invernizzi. «We strove to adopt a business model that was compatible and sustainable for the mountains, creating a local production set-up where the environment and cultural resources gave the area a new boost. The Casa dello Stracchino and
the farming cooperative are a symbol of the valley which, thanks to its self-awareness and self-determination, is trying to build a future for itself».
// La Fiorita farming cooperative www.cooperativalafiorita.it // Al Chersogno FARM www.chersogno.it // Il Tesoro della bruna farming cooperative www.iltesorodellabruna.it
In cooperation with Davide Torri, Association: www.gentedimontagna.it BRESCIA WINTER FILMFEST
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GUT (2,1) Men’s model
Ausgabe 8/2013
13NF19
Im Test: 15 Paar Trekkingstiefel
AKU Trekker Lite II GTX
- QUALITY ASSESSMENT 100% Good (2,1) WEARING COMFORT AND FUNCTIONALITY
70% good (2,2)
Putting on and taking off Fit and comfort Breathability and quick-dry performance Resistance to penetration of water
+ + + ++ + + +
Stability and protection of feet Cushioning and foot roll Grip DURABILITY 25% good (1,9) Outsole Lining Fastening system and eyelets Processing POLLUTANTS 5% very good (1,2) Perfluorinated surfactants (PFOA) / PAH / Phthalate / Chrome VI / FEATURES / TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Available shoe size 3 to 13 670 Weight per shoe (grams) 156 Shaft height (millimetres) Leather, SynUpper (predominantly) thetic Gore-TEX® Membrane 4 hooks, Fastening system 3 eyelets
++ + + +
TREKKER LITE ii GTX FUNCTIONALITY AND SAFETY
Stiftung Warentest is a German foundation established in1964 by decision of the German Parliament with the aim of providing advice on products to end users by means of comparative testing. A test conducted in July 2013 on 15 of the most important brands on the German market resulted in TREKKER LITE II GTX being recognised as the best product in the trekking footwear category. The result of the laboratory test for any toxic substances in the main product components was particularly reassuring. TREKKER LITE II GTX proved to be the safest footwear with regard to this parameter, obtaining a coefficient of 2,1 (very good).
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++ + ++ ++
Women’s model
Trekker Lite II GTX W’s
Shoe size (Women’s model)
3 to 8
GOOD FOR ALPS STORIE DI MONTAGNA
WALKERS
A long journey of discovery Walking is part of everyday life but it is also a way of thinking and our freest and deepest thoughts come to us as we walk. GOOD FOR ALPS MOUNTAIN TALES
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TRENTINO ALTO-ADIGE
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA
VALLE D’AOSTA Lombardia
VENETO
PIEMONTE
Val Maira
Maria Schneider
left: Forte Diamante, Genova (ph. A. Beltrame) // 1 Borgata San Martino, Val Maira (ph. A. Beltrame) // 2 - 3 Val Maira trails (ph. A. Beltrame)
M
ore haste, less speed. This Latin motto, attributed to Emperor Augustus, with its obvious contradiction, encourages efficiency and care in what we do. Precisely the opposite to what is happening in today’s society, geared towards continuous acceleration, to the extent that slowing down appears to be a luxury afforded to few. But it is in the tension between these two attitudes, rather than their opposition, that our humanity can emerge. We have come to accept that speed is an inevitable part of our lives but we need to slow down and, at times, even stop. Slow movement allows us to listen and experience, and if we just stopped running for a moment and started walking, we would realise how much of ourselves we are missing. After all, walking is the easiest thing in the world, we have been doing it since we were little, but only recently has it become an unexpectedly attractive, transgressive and alternative pastime, at least for some of the world’s population which, although more well-off, are slaves to technological progress. Many studies have shown that when we walk, we produce a healthy dose of substances like serotonin and endorphins which make us feel good. But walking also allows us to free our minds and become one, body and soul, with our surroundings. When we walk in the countryside, or even in the cities, every step we take opens a window onto the outside world. Even our senses are stimulated by smells, colours, noises, flavours, the heat and the cold. And our sense of touch is heightened: our feet on the ground, the wind on our skin, the rain or snow on our face. As we walk, our awareness of our body is heightened and we breathe in the place we are immersed in; each time is like the first, even if we have already been there, because the sensations we experience are different. 19
Percorsi Occitani association’s Vice President Val Maira - Cuneo - Italy
Walking allows us to get a better understanding of the land and its people, we notice details that would otherwise escape us. But in order to really see things, you have to go at the right pace, otherwise it would just be like going from A to B and we would miss more things than we would notice. The right pace does not necessarily mean walking slowly, if anything it means walking with awareness so we can relate better to the countryside and local culture. Hiking, trekking, alpinism and gentle running are all forms of walking we can do with awareness, without being overwhelmed by speed, stopping when we want to, when something piques our interest, enjoying the causal nature of our encounters. Maria Schneider is deputy chairman of the association Percorsi Occitani, a group of small businesses which has run the most popular hiking trail in the Maira Valley for almost twenty years. Together with her husband Andrea Schneider, at the beginning of the ‘80s she was one of the pioneers who helped give the valley a new lease of life. «We ended up here quite by chance at the end of the ‘70s; we were actually headed for Provence on our holidays but took a wrong turning» says Maria Schneider. «We were taken aback by this valley and decided to settle here. The first business we set up was an Italian language school for foreigners in Prazzo. Lessons were held by Italian teachers and in our spare time my husband and I took the students hiking in the mountains». In 1990 the Schneiders moved to the town of Stroppo and founded the Centro Culturale Borgata San Martino, which later became an important centre for cultural and gastronomic events and hiking expeditions. In the meantime a plan was taking shape: to revive the old footpaths linking the villages in the valley and make them into one great circular trail. «The Percorsi Occitani owe their existence to so GOOD FOR ALPS MOUNTAIN TALES WALKERS
TRENTINO ALTO-ADIGE
VALLE D’AOSTA
Roppolo PIEMONTE
Lombardia
Milano
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA
VENETO
EMILIA-ROMAGNA
Alberto Conte
il Movimento Lento association’s Team Manager Roppolo (Biella) - Italy
Roberto D’Agostino
Trekking Italia association’s Team Manager Milano - Italy
vacca Gianluca MigliaCoord inator
Trekking Italia association’s Milano - Italy
many people. The idea undoubtedly came from the Grande Traversata delle Alpi» continues Mrs Schneider. «People love the trail because it has given rise to a special kind of accommodation: you can walk for an entire day without meeting anyone, but at the end you are guaranteed a Posto Tappa (place to stay over), offering tasty traditional fare». Walkers on the Percorsi Occitani trail spend 7-10 days in the valley, they stay over at a different Posto Tappa every day and 95% of them speak German (Germans, Austrians and Swiss). An estimated 4000 people visit the valley every year, creating seasonal employment for about 50 people. Tourism linked to hiking has brought significant economic benefits throughout the valley and the flood of people leaving has been halted, as Maria Schneider tells us: «Thanks to the Percorsi Occitani, new accommodation has sprung up, lots of houses have been renovated, the footpaths are well signposted and winter hiking (Alpine skiing and walking with snowshoes, editor’s note) is becoming more and more popular every year». Mrs Schneider knows exactly what the future has in store: «The Maira Valley is a niche for a special kind of person. It cannot survive with tourism alone. If it is to have a future, we need to develop different activities in the agricultural and artisan sectors. Plus, with today’s communication tools, lots of professional people (translators, architects, engineers, etc.) could work here. But it is a life choice and there are still not enough people who decide to come and live here».
«More and more people are going out for a walk to take important decisions, or to clear their heads at a difficult time» GOOD FOR ALPS SMOUNTAIN TALES WALKERS
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1-2 Festival della viandanza (ph. A. Conte)
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According to the figures, walking is undergoing a transformation, from a physical outdoor activity to a life style. Alberto Conte has been involved in promoting slow travel for more than thirteen years, he is one of the founders of the Festival della Viandanza and is chairman of the association il Movimento Lento. Who better than him then to tell us how keen people are on walking. «As Rebecca Solnit says in the History of Walking, “the human mind works at three miles an hour”» says Alberto Conte, «more and more people are going out for a walk to take important decisions, or to clear their heads at a difficult time, or because they unexpectedly lose their jobs and they see a long journey on foot as the realisation of a dream they could never have achieved previously». But the dream is not for everyone, some have no choice and have to walk to get to school, to a well, to flee war. «I’ve often seen people living in poverty and hardship who looked a lot happier than most of us, pampered as we are by the comforts of “civilised society”. I like to think walking somehow contributes to the peace of mind I have seen in their eyes» muses Alberto Conte and then he adds: «There is no doubt in my mind: it is a hundred times better to walk to school, even covering several miles every day, than being driven there in a powerful SUV by a rich but pissed off father». The growing popularity of tourism linked to “pilgrimage walks” and the rise of events dedicated to slow walking, such as the Festival della Viandanza, are a clear indicator of ongoing social change. «The recession has been a real wake-up call, showing us the limits of materialism, which a lot of us have grown up with, and pilgrimage walks meet a growing need for spiritualism» says Alberto Conte. «The success of the pilgrimage to Santiago is first and foremost a social phenomenon, a collective ritual which has definitely become a fashion. Even though I am not a fan of fashion, I am particularly fond of this one because it brings a lot of people closer to an activity which is good for them and the whole of society». One of the first associations in Italy to break away from the traditional hiking trails in the Alps was Trekking Italia. Since 1985 it has been 20
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1 Porretta Terme, Bologna (ph. Mucci) // 2 San Peyre di Stroppo, Val Maira (ph. A. Beltrame)
TRANSALPINA GTX Associazione Amici del Trekking e della Natura Milano.Genova.Torino.Firenze.Bologna.Venezia.Roma
Tested and approved by Trekking Italia 2
promoting walking with awareness in myriad settings: seashores, hills, rivers, plains, lakes, the mountains of course, and more recently even in cities. «I think Trekking Italia has contributed to a decisive change in direction in mountaineering enthusiasts » says Roberto D’Agostino, recently appointed chairman of the association which takes more than 30,000 people a year walking. He goes on to say: «Not just because it has identified a number of places which hikers do not usually get to see, but because it has also acted to protect in cases of abuse, and it has gathered and built on the experiences of its thousands of members. All our members are encouraged to contribute to the network of footpaths and relations which are the real heart of the association». Network and itineraries also intertwine on the social networks and a new phenomenon is emerging: “social trekking”. «It is the continuation of social advancement, of meeting others. Our main interest» continues chairman D’Agostino, «lies in uncovering forgotten places. The Via Francigena is the “crème de la crème” of all footpaths but how many other paths lead off it, how many small and new economies meet? This discovery of places is a political precondition to increasing knowledge about the area and looking after it». One of the members who works closely with the chairman D’Agostino is Gianluca Migliavacca, a long-standing member of the association who has also been its chairman. He coordinates the Milan office and was the person behind the creation of “Sentieri Metropolitani” (Metropolitan Trails). What exactly is this new initiative? «It’s many things but it’s also meant to be a provocation» says Migliavacca. «Going slowly is even more provocative if we apply it in our towns and cities. If anything, I would say that when we explore our cities on foot, we are in for even more of a surprise than if we were visiting a desert or glacier. Considering the “green roads” in and out of our towns as “high slowness” (where high is also an indication of the value) is a great challenge to speed». 21
“On the trail you can find all the values that underlie what we both do”. The teamwork between AKU and Trekking Italia grew from this consideration, creating a mutual space for design and development by combining the relevant experiences of manufacturer and aware user. Some members of Trekking Italia helped improve and refine the new TRANSALPINA GTX model, putting it through its paces in the field during each stage of its development.
UPPER Suede + AIR 8000® 1.8 mm | LINING DESCRIPTION GORE-TEX® Performance Comfort | OUTSOLE Vibram® Cloud | MIDSOLE EVA/PU | WEIGHT 600 g
Shoe for modern hiking activities, Transalpina gtx combines values of traditional manufacturing skills with new technical solutions. The upper combines suede with AIR 8000® in a functional and modern design, coupled with an innovative IMS³ triple density outsole and an Exoskeleton system for an optimal cushioning of the arch.
// PERCORSI OCCITANI ASSOCIAtion www.percorsioccitani.com // TREKKING ITALIA ASSOCIAtion www.trekkingitalia.org // il MOVIMENTO LENTO ASSOCIAtion www.movimentolento.it
Associazione Amici del Trekking e della Natura Milano.Genova.Torino.Firenze.Bologna.Venezia.Roma
GOOD FOR ALPS MOUNTAIN TALES WALKERS
World PS FOR AL GOOD
“Stories from around the world” embody a way of thinking and acting which AKU shares with many friends throughout the world: men and women striving to achieve a balance between man and nature, production and life. Both the town and the countryside are home to aware users who have (re)discovered their rightful living and working space in the natural world.
Alpine fever by Pia Kommer
Packing and organisation: notoriously the greatest challenges you will face when planning an out-of-the-ordinary trip. And that is exactly what I found myself up against in spring 2012 when I decided to throw myself and my four-year-old daughter into a new world, that of shepherd and Alpine cheese maker. For the next few months our home would be a mountain farmhouse 1500 metres up in the Oberland Bernese (Swiss Alps). This was where I wanted to spend the whole summer with my daughter and learn to make cheese, butter and lead a simple life. It would also be a chance for my daughter to enjoy a special summer, surrounded by nature and animals. The dairy farm belongs to a keen organic farmer who is a staunch believer in Swiss Alpine culture and old-world farming techniques. The building still has its original structure that will never be replaced by any other construction and everything is still as it was in our grandparents’ day. Cheese is still made on the fireplace, butter is produced in an original barrel and pressed in the traditional Buttermödeli, in pats of 200 grams. The cows are not fed cattle feed but just the grass in the meadows. It is not a highly efficient dairy farm but just normal cows of different breeds living a harmonious life in the mountains.
GOOD FOR ALPS stories from around the world
Bernese Oberland Swiss Alps
After the first month I was used to the hard work and apparent difficulties. Occasionally my fingers would hurt me, but that was all and, although the manual work was strenuous, I was thankful for this way of life. My body got stronger and this was a Godsend for me and my daughter. For me because I was feeling more and more at home in the Alps and a blessing for my daughter as I was now able to carry her more on my shoulders as I worked in the mountains. My AKU boots were a great help at times like this. Just like a mountain goat, my feet always had enough grip and my ankles were stable, even on the steepest slopes. We had planned to spend four months on the farm but we actually stayed a little longer. The cows had already been taken down to the valley so we stayed on with the pigs, which would join them later. We cleaned up the farm and made jam from the fruit we had picked in the valley. We had our first snow in October and the water froze. So we left the farm and walked down over the fresh snow with a heavy rucksack on my back. What was in there? It was full of wonderful memories: times when I was tired but felt strong, times of deep emotions and beauty, times when I loved the animals and mountain life. Every spring, when the sun lights up the peaks and melts the snow, I will feel Alpine fever.
photos: Pia Kommer in the pastures
s from Storiend the u o ar
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by Agnieszka Szymaszek
When Michał sets out for work, he can sometimes be away from home for a couple of days or even a week. Once, due to a huge snow storm, he was completely isolated from the world, trapped inside his office. For thirteen years Michał Trzebunia has worked at the meteorological observatory high in the mountains at the very top of Kasprowy Wierch, 1987 metres above sea level in the Tatra Mountains. The observatory is the building standing at the highest altitude in the whole of Poland. To get to work, staff have to take the cable car at Zakopane and if it is closed, for instance in high winds, they have to cover the distance on foot, tackling a difference in height of 1000 metres. In winter, or when weather conditions are difficult, the climb can be a real challenge and it is actually quite easy to get lost in the fog or a blizzard. But Michał is not bothered by this, he is one of the best free riders in Poland, founder of the Freeskiing Academy and a climbing guide. So it is hardly surprising he feels at home on the mountains: the Tatra are his natural habitat. An office job or having to wear a smart suit would make him feel more awkward. The first meteorological observations taken on Kasprowy Wierch date back to 1935 and three years later the observatory, which is still oneof-a-kind, was built. Thanks to its position in this pristine unspoiled location, it plays an important role in climate research and the meteorological data are shared with the Polish and Slovakian Mountain Rescue Teams and the Tatra National Park. They are also used to increase the safety of the people who visit the Tatra Mountains.
Kasprowy Wierch Tatra Mountains - Poland
The meteorological readings at the Nival Research Station have to be taken every three hours and then transmitted to a weather centre in Cracow, which conducts observations on the transformations of the layers of snow over the years. «In winter I have to get up quite early, before six, quickly get dressed and go around taking the snow readings so the data are ready before seven o’clock» explains Michał. «We work in accordance with Greenwich time and all the stations send the data at the same time. I have to control how much snow has fallen, check all the thermometers and melt the snow in the rain gauge. In summer we take readings every three hours up to 8.00 pm and in winter until 7.00 pm. I have some spare time in the evening. I also check the meteorological measurement points outside the station, near the Liliowe pass, at Lake Morskie Oko and in the Chochołowska valley». The workers in the station have to do housework just like at home: keep the fire burning on the stove, clean, cook, wash and shovel the snow. Spare time is spent in front of the computer, watching the TV or reading a book. The station is a fairly comfortable place with a lot of amenities. Yet in his spare time Michał rarely uses the modern technologies available to him. He usually takes his skis or his camera and goes out into the mountains. He often goes up to Kasprowy Wierch. Near the station is a mountain hut where he can meet up with his climbing friends. When his shift comes to an end, he packs up his things, ready to go home or on another expedition in the mountains. «Nothing can beat the feeling of putting on your boots and setting out for the peaks» says Michał.
The staff at the observatory have to check the instruments day and night, irrespective of whether it is snowing or raining outside or if a storm is blowing. «The data collected on Kasprowy Wierch» explains Michał Trzebunia, «together with a handful of stations in Poland, are part of the international forecast system and after just five minutes they are sent to Cracow and Washington». Michał currently works at Hala Gasienicowa, at the foot of Kasprowy Wierch. It is home to the Nival Research Station, which belongs to the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. To get to his office, Michał has to take the cable car to the summit of Kasprowy Wierch and then walk down to the station. «It takes me about forty minutes to get down in the summer but in winter I can do it on my skis in just three minutes. Our job is to measure the snow. We did it for years using traditional methods, like digging snow profiles. A year ago our station invested in an ultra-modern piece of equipment, which allows us to examine the snow without ruining the layers. The device is buried under the snow and measures the humidity, temperature, weight and other characteristics» explains Michał.
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GOOD FOR ALPS stories from around the world
Michał Trzebunia at work at the meteorological observatory (ph. Studio Amo Vitam)
Working in the Tatra Mountains
Michael Schott, father and Alpine guide AKU met Michael Schott
He currently lives in Bolsterlang in Hörnerdörfer, in the southernmost corner of Bavaria, just a couple of kilometres north of Oberstdorf. Three years ago he and his wife came back to the mountains where he was born, they built a house and Max was born. Now Michael’s main job is as an Alpine guide with the Oberstdorf Alpine School and he is also a freelance consultant for sports equipment manufacturers. «I’ve loved living close to nature both in summer and winter for more than 40 years. I love the Alps. Here I can find all kinds of hiking and mountaineering right on my doorstep» says Michael. «The Alps are the ideal natural space to practise all the outdoor activities I’ve learnt to love over the past decades» Michael goes on to say. «Whether you enjoy rock climbing in the Dolomites, mountaineering in the Vallesi Alps, Alpine skiing or snowshoes, the easiest and best way to be free from the digital and automated world is to walk in the natural and cultural settings of the Alps and the mountains around the world».
Michael’s experience in extreme and high altitude locations is vast and he is well aware that if you want to take up these activities, you need the appropriate technical skills, you have to be in good mental and physical shape and, last but not least, you have to give yourself a holiday. «Compared to high-altitude expeditions or climbing great rock faces, hiking is the only way of getting away from it all. You can devote a bit of time to yourself and your thoughts and you are surrounded by nature» explains Michael. «You can set off for a hike directly from your front door; in the sun, rain, snow or storm, thanks to the equipment available today, you can enjoy a genuine, sustainable experience even when you are pushed for time. At the moment the best way for me is to take my son Max in the morning and stay out until late. If he’s tired, he can sleep under a tree or in his child carrier. If the footpath is interesting, he loves walking and discovering everything that smells, sounds, feels and moves differently from anything he has known up to now». photos: Michael Schott with his son Max
Michael Schott worked in Munich in Bavaria for fifteen years as a marketing and product manager with one of the leading hiking holiday firms on the German market. His CV boasts a diploma in chemistry and one in business studies in the tourism sector. But his true love lies with the mountains. Michael has been an Alpine guide for thirty years, a job he has always done alongside his “day” job.
Bolsterlang Bavaria - Germany
Max sits near his father and his eyes are suddenly drawn by a snow bird flying in the sky. «I wish we could all see the small things through a child’s eyes. Hiking in the Alps is the best way to enjoy this experience»: wise words from father and Alpine guide Michael Schott.
The Alpinschule Oberstdorf is a mountaineering school that for years has been among the friends of AKU. Today a longstanding partner, they use our products in all situations in which a mountain guide finds himself on the job: an important testing ground for all the models of the AKU collection. The guides of the Alpinschule Oberstdorf operate everywhere in the Alps offering organized and customized tours, that range from hiking to backpacking, or even the mountaineering-style ascent of several four-thousanders.
www.alpinschule-oberstdorf.de
GOOD FOR ALPS stories from around the world
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Vitalpina Hotels S端dtirol
jung.it jung.it
Vitalpina Vitalpina Hotels Hotels S端dtirol S端dtirol
www.vitalpina.info
Vitalpina Hotels South Tyrol is a hotel consortium, consisting of the best hotels in South Tyrol that specialize in walking holidays in the mountains. Hiking is the core theme of the Vitalpina philosophy, alongside healthy eating and spa treatments with the use of local natural products. All hosts are hikers themselves and can guide you in summer and in winter through the fascinating world of the South Tyrolean Alps. From Ortles to the Dolomites, Vitalpina professionals are at your service for an into-the-nature hiking holiday in South Tyrol. VITALPINA HOTELS and AKU: a common inspiration, a common enthusiasm for life in the mountains. www.vitalpina.info www.vitalpina.info
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MOUNTAIN REALISM Hunting for “Volti d’alpeggio” GOOD FOR ALPS MOUNTAIN TALES
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popular songs (in Italian, German and the Titsch language), can be found in the photographic book by Lorenzo Di Nozzi “Valsesia. Volti d’alpeggio”. The black and white photos – an effective choice of colour to enhance the pureness of the shapes – are also the poetic expression of everyday life which the author has dedicated to the people of the Alpine pastures around Alagna Valsesia and Riva Valdobbia. It is a priceless book, testimonial of the modern way of life in the Alpine pastures, far removed from any rhetorical expedient, a photographic record of the present. However the past is somehow part of the present and is revealed in the old faces of the Alpine folk, even though their clothes, especially those of the younger generation, are a definite nod to modern day. Their faces are clearly the faces of “mountain folk” par excellence, an Alemannian people who settled in the pastures around Monte Rosa in the 12th - 13th century after one of the most significant transalpine migrations. «The Alpine pastures are the beating heart of the Alpine culture» writes Lucia Bonesio, lecturer in Geophilosophy, «[...] a widespread and extraordinary monument not only of dedication, work, constructive and environmental wisdom, but more importantly an expression and guarantee of that mutual identity - the landscape - the result of the incessant collaboration between man and nature [...]». The “heart of the Alpine culture” is captured in the faces photographed by Lorenzo Di Nozzi, images that are so much more than just documents but which speak of the land: the beauty of the countryside combined with the tough mountain life of the people who had to settle at such high altitude, pushing survival to the very limit. Not only is photography a way of seeing something, but in expert hands it becomes a way of listening and showing us what is around us, conveying the deepest of feelings which touch all the senses and prompt the reader to turn back to the faces he has just seen. Lorenzo Di Nozzi is a stills photographer and divides him time between Spain and Lago d’Orta. He is currently the official photographer of the Palau de la Musica in Barcelona and the International Jazz Festival of Barcelona. It seems a huge leap to go from the theatrical stage to the mountain stage. «Well, they really are two very distant worlds» confirms Di Nozzi,
// LORENZO DI NOZZI www.lorenzodinozzi.com Valsesia. Volti d’alpeggio, photo by Lorenzo Di Nozzi, by Paola Riccardi, 99 photo b/w, 120 pp, ril. 21x29.7, 2012. The book may be purchased on the website: www.valsesiavoltidalpeggio.com
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«nevertheless I have discovered they actually have many things in common: I have always tried to enter the Alpine pastures as I do the theatre, on my tip toes, trying not to interfere with that harmony, that balance you breathe there. Looking at the photos now, I see I have tried to recreate the same light I work with in the theatre. I only used natural light in the pastures but the contrasts and the soft effect of the light are the same you find on the stage». Di Nozzi grew up in Valsesia where his father taught him to love the mountains and, in particular, Monte Rosa. «I owe so much to these mountains and their people. It was a chance for me to give something back, although I must admit that this project has been so rewarding on a human level that I now feel even more indebted. During my journey in this world» continues Di Nozzi, «I was lucky enough to meet a whole host of extraordinary people and experience moving episodes which will always be close to my heart. I have listened to as many stories as I have taken photos. Difficult stories, tales of sacrifice and hardship, but also of love, selflessness and dedication». Throughout the 20th century, the number of Walser communities shrank dramatically and their traditional economy and cultural heritage was prematurely depleted. «When I embarked on this project, I thought the world I was going to explore was on its last legs. And, to tell you the truth, they are having a hard time of it» Lorenzo Di Nozzi states but he goes on to say: «But there are lots of young people, shepherds’ sons who have chosen to follow in their fathers’ footsteps or who have returned to the mountains after a disappointing experience in the city. These youngsters give us hope». The publication of Di Nozzi’s book coincided with another happy event in his family, the birth of his first child, Romeo. His thoughts go to his son: «I dearly wish that one day he will be as privileged as me to be able to experience these worlds. I am a born optimist and I believe that not only will he get this chance, but that the world will be a better place to live in. A world where men will have realised that we have to go back to Mother Earth and that we need each other if we are to survive. Sharing, that is the word that will be our salvation and it is a word that still echoes in the Alpine pastures, like in so many smaller places». Then he adds: «The world as we know it is over, it’s gone. We have hit rock bottom and are ready to rise again, to create a new world. We have learnt from our experiences and our mistakes and are ready to turn back to nature with graciousness and respect. It’s time to go home!»
(1) Poem by Anna Maria Bacher from her book “Wê im ä Tröim - Vecchie e nuove poesie”, Ed. Walservereinigung Graubünden
This is one of the lovely Walser poems which, together with prayers and
photos: Lorenzo Di Nozzi
Away mist, away from the stream, skim its water and take its glistening tears with you. Then fly mist, fly over the firs and spin your silk between its needles. Run mist, run northwards and take man’s sadness with you. Then climb mist, climb the mountain; and may all worry vanish with you up there. (1)
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