BEST IN CLASS series:
If you want to explore and learn about the natural wonders of the Saanenland landscape, a mountain leader is a good option. Marianne Moratti spoke to GstaadLife about how a hike with a mountain leader is so much more than just a hike.

What’s the difference between a mountain leader and a mountain guide?
A mountain leader is about connecting with nature. I take guests into the mountains – winter and summer – for hikes, but unlike a mountain guide, I am not permitted on the glacier or to put clients on the rope. Think hiking, not climbing.

A large part of my training was about safety, especially in snow. I’ve since taken additional training on ornithology, flora and fauna as well as geology – anything and everything to do with nature and the earth that I can share with my clients. It’s so diverse, and I love it.

Why did you decide to become a mountain leader?
I was a ski instructor for many years but qualified as a mountain leader in 2022 because I wanted to do more. Ski tourism has been changing, and people want to do something other than skiing. I still love skiing, but it’s good to have options.

How do you decide where to take people?
Here in Gstaad, we work a little differently than my colleagues in other regions. Mountain leaders usually plan a hike and then make up groups of people to take on it. Whereas here we will get a call from a hotel who say they have some guests who’d like to go on a hike.

I have a number of hikes that I take people on, but how I decide depends on the guest, what they’d like to see and how far they’d like to hike. I also consider the weather and, in the winter, snow levels. If we have great weather and sunshine, I will try to go higher so we can get a view. If there’s wind and snow, I might try to stay by a river or in the valley so that we’re protected from gusts. I know the region well so before heading out, I will see where the snow is and check if there are areas of danger we should avoid. It’s a bit like a puzzle.

Do people need a certain level of fitness?
You definitely have to be fit to go snowshoeing on fresh snow; it’s quite hard work! But you can also snowshoe on tracks, which is also nice and not so hard. It depends on what the client wants.

I’ve read you do full moon hiking with fondue at an alpine hut?
This has been a fun project! I wanted to find a way to encourage people to visit the mountains during the “off-season.” We have such a beautiful region and so much to offer. Plus, if the guests aren’t here, I don’t work!

I have rented and renovated a 400-year-old mountain hut from a farmer, which I can use for retreats. I can host up to 18 people. The hut is even accessible in the winter, so I can offer short or evening hikes.

What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you?
I remember one guest asking me how the waterfalls get turned off and on and another who asked how the mountain flower seeds get planted. This shows me that some people don’t understand nature. They think everything that happens is up to humans, not realising that the earth would be perfectly happy without us. I think we have a responsibility for nature – to keep it clean and to be really aware of how we use resources.

Where’s your favourite place in the region?
It really depends on the weather and on my mood. I may go to a place where I don’t take guests because it’s too hard to access or somewhere that has fascinating geological features. I have no specific place that’s my happy place. My happy place is everywhere.

ANNA CHARLES