GstaadLife

 
In order to move things along the following people - Hanspeter Grundisch-Matti, Gstaad; Fritz Würsten-Seewer, Gstaad; Peter Matti-Siegenthaler, Saanen; Urs Schwenter-Wolff, Saanenmöser - have initiated an petition for a new hospital in Zweisimmen. In their petition they request the commune of Saanen not to give any land to the hospital authorities, as they believe that the only solution is to a new hospital in Zweisimmen. They need 440 signatures to even get heard.

A delegation from the cantonal council recently engaged in talks with members of the hospital interest groups from the Simmental. The delegation is currently seeking talks with the responsible people in Saanenland as well. Maybe they can talk some sense into both groups so that finally the hospital location can be settled. Otherwise if things don't get sorted by the end of next year, the possibilities for government funding go away, they'll claim there are no funds to realize anything new or even maintain the existing facilities, and we'll all be off to Thun or Bulle for anything more than trip to the family doctor. Come on people, enough already.

If you cannot get enough during the day then you can also ski at night. Asides from the usual Eggli Thursday night program, there are two other night skiing possibilities: Wispile is open (weather permiting) January 13, 20, 27, February 3, 10, 17, 24, March 3 from 19h00 to 22h00. Prices are SFr 10 for adults, SFr 5 for kids 10 to 16 years old. Rinderberg is also putting in some nightshifts this year: February 6, 10, 13, 20, 27 from 18h00 to 22h00, with prices SFr 15 and SFr 7 for adults and teens respectively. Enjoy!

The Rotary Club of Gstaad-Saanenland recently honored the following local personalities with its Paul-Harris-Fellowship award: Klaus Burkhalter, Zweisimmen, Bill Lovell and Peter Hänni, Saanen, Herbert Messerli, Lenk and Ernst Niederhauser, Gstaad.

Pictured above: Herbert Messerli, Ernst Niederhauser, Klaus Burkhalter and club president Ruedi Minnig

The season has started - Saanenmöser-Saanerslochgrat-Hornberg and Schönried-Horneggli are already open and here are the opening times of the other ski areas in our region: Zweisimmen-Rinderberg, Gstaad-Wasserngrat, Château-d'Oex-La Braye will all open next weekend December 12. Gsteig will open on December 14, St Stephan-Parwengesattel, Gstaad-Eggli, Schönried-Rellerli, Gstaad-Höhi-Wispile and Rougemont-La Videmanette all open on December 18 and Lauenen is up on December 19. All of that said, it's all very weather dependent right now, and as we write rain is falling again. Check the map in the right column of this page for the latest. Enjoy!

Did you know that there are 18 public places where you can barbecue in Gstaad-Saanenland? They are run by Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus, don't cost anything, and you do not have to sign up for them in advance. You just have to be the first there. So pack your Bratwurst and head out to one of these beautiful spots: GL.com recommends the ones around Arnensee and Lauenensee.

Rope bridges, zip lines/ flying foxes, rope ladders, daring leaps and fast-paced accelerations: the new adventure park in Zweisimmen offers everything the heart desires to increase the adrenalin level. The operating company is Swiss Adventures, located in Gstaad. Höigümper (grasshopper), Eichhörenchen (squirrel) and Specht (woodpecker) are the names of the three courses (see map below) that have been equipped during the last weeks and months. Each course has 20 bridges but the height and difficulty varies. "Höigümper is the easiest course, designed for children from 120 centimeters high or beginners. The platforms are at a maximum height of 10 meters,” explains Hans Allemann, manager of Swiss Adventures. Technically more demanding and higher is the Eichhörnchen option, which is closed to children measuring less than 140 centimeters. The platforms of this more demanding course are up to 20 meters high. 

Let the summer season begin - here are the opening dates for the region's cable cars:
01.5.09 Zweisimmen–Sparenmoos (weekends, from 20.6. daily)
04.5.09 Col du Pillon–Glacier 3000
16.5.09 Schönried–Rellerli
13.6.09 Gsteig–Sanetsch
13.6.09 Château-d‘Oex–La Braye
20.6.09 Zweisimmen–Rinderberg
20.6.09 Schönried–Horneggli
20.6.09 Gstaad–Wispile
27.6.09 Rougemont–La Videmanette
04.7.09 Reusch–Oldenegg
30.7.09 Gstaad–Wasserngrat, Thursday thru Sunday

Saanen (above) and Zweisimmen hospital will keep their acute care for the moment.

A couple weeks back we reported, with more than a hint of ennui, that there was to be a feasibility study conducted this summer on whether the region should have two health centers in Saanen and Zweisimmen, or one shiny new hospital in Saanenmöser (see Green light for Saanen and Zweisimmen hospital plans). While the survey was being conducted, the hospitals were to be turned into health centers with intensive care in Saanen. Well, the Spital STS AG decided otherwise last week: the hospitals are now not going to be turned into health centers until the feasability study is complete and they will be run as usual until that time, which is said to be this fall. So back to the status quo until they figure out whether a new hospital in Saanenmöser is doable. The good thing about this is that the elderly people staying in Saanen now do not have to move and can still spend their time in familiar surroundings maybe even until the new old people's home is built in a few years - maybe the status quo is not such a bad idea after all... For all of you who are here and would like to know more - and support the friends of Saanen hospital - there is a general assembly on Thursday March 19 at 17h00 at the Saanen hospital at which everybody is welcome.