Climate Witness: Dario Schwoerer, Switzerland

My name is Dario Schwoerer. I am a father of two and a qualified ski and mountaineering guide, river-rafting guide, canyoning guide, skipper, diver, hang-gliding pilot and a Youth and Sports leader for sailing, mountain climbing and skiing.

As a result, I feel equally comfortable in the Himalayas and on the ocean. During my training in outdoor activities, I studied geography and have become an expert on the impact of climate change in the Alps.

Born in the canton of Graubünden (Grisons), I grew up in Sargans, Landquart and Vilters. Graubünden is one of Switzerland’s Alpine cantons. Together with my sister and my brother I had a fabulous childhood—already in those days I spent a large part of my spare time in nature.

And in kindergarten I already knew that I wanted to become a mountain guide. I love nature and sports, and as a mountain guide I can help people appreciate both and make them happy.

The Roseg Glacier begins disappearing

At age 11 I stood on the Roseg Glacier in the Bernina massif for the first time. The Bernina is a group of mountains in the central Alps located between the Upper Engadine (Switzerland) and the Veltlin (Italy). Also part of the Bernina massif is the famous Bianco Ridge. For me it’s the most spectacular ice ridge in the Alps. It leads upwards like a stairway to heaven…

At that time, the glacier reached Coazhütte, a mountain hut in the Valley of Rosegg. Today, the glacier has shrunk by more than 100 m. The observations from mountain guides in the Bernina massif clearly indicate changes in the natural environment, affecting rocks, permafrost and glaciers.

In the Bernina massif, there is an increased danger of rock fall and higher risks of falling into crevasses. The principal causes of these changes are glacier shrinkage and the thawing of permafrost.

The deadly impacts of glacier retreat

I have been witness to the dramatic impacts of such changes. In 1997, while passing through the Gouter Couloir (a gorge between mountains) on Mont Blanc with my clients, an Italian rope team was hit by falling rock. One climber was flung onto the lower glacier and died, while the other one was stuck in the couloir, badly injured.

As rocks kept falling, all I could do was throw him a rope to secure him. Later, when the helicopter was trying to winch the rescuer and the injured climber aboard, a big piece of rock plunged directly at them, and it was only the pilot’s quick reaction that prevented another accident.

On Piz Badile (also the canton of Graubünden) two climbers were extremely lucky when a huge chunk of wall collapsed. The same thing happened on the Dru in the Mont Blanc massif. Since then, the famous classic route “Direct American” no longer exists.

These days, the visible signs of climate change such as rock slides and instable terrain due to permafrost loss are increasing. Therefore, the best “insurance” for hikers and climbers is a local mountain guide who knows the terrain as well as his own pocket and recognizes the changes right in front of his door.

Glaciers in the Alps are retreating faster today than a few decades ago

The Trift Glacier, for example, lost 500 m or 10% of its previous length within only 4 years, from 2002 to 2005. The Great Aletsch Glacier, at 22.9 km the longest glacier in the Alps, has retreated almost 2,800 m since 1870. Its rate of retreat has also increased. Since 1980, 965 m have melted away, and in 2006 alone the glacier shrank by almost 115 m.

Changes in weather driving tourism away

Most mountain guides report that the demand for guided tours in the Bernina massif has dropped. They attribute this decrease to the recession, along with changes in the natural environment.

A majority of mountain guides have responded to this situation by not using hazardous routes. Today some of my colleagues organize fewer alpine tours, focusing more on canyoning and climbing instead. The reason for this is that the situation in the mountains is increasingly dangerous. As the permafrost melts, the rock mass loses stability, and good conditions, especially on ice and north faces, are increasingly hard to find.
 
Moreover, the winter tourism season has adjusted to the climatic changes, especially for activities such as ice-face climbing, combined mountain climbs, ski, and high mountain ski tours due to shorter winters. This means that the peak season for tourists is shorter, which impacts revenues in this economic sector.

Top to Top Expedition, turning the page on climate change

In 2001, my wife and I spent our honeymoon hiking the 2,600 km St. Jacob’s Trail. This old pilgrim’s route leads across Europe to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This was where we both decided to dedicate a few years of our lives to charity. We wanted to act as role models for climate protection, travelling the world without fuel and inspiring children to lead their lives in partnership with nature.

In 2003, we launched our Top to Top Expedition, which is meant to take us across 7 oceans and up to the world’s 7 highest peaks with our own steam. With wind or muscle power—and without harming the environment or warming the climate—we demonstrate that even extreme expeditions are possible in harmony with nature.

The journey leads from the far north in Alaska to the far south in Australia, from seashores to 8,800 m high peaks. We aim to reach as many people as possible to create solidarity for the victims of climate change, and to collect information on the impacts of climate change globally along our journey.

I believe that global warming is the biggest problem our planet faces today. Thanks to our Top to Top Excursions I have been able to see and gather many great project ideas, innovations and solutions. I am very optimistic that we will overcome this challenge.

Being away from your family and friends can be hard at times. But working for the climate, developing solutions and meeting people makes the effort worthwhile.