The “Après-Lift” exhibition at the Alpine Museum in Bern illustrates the various causes of death in mountain railways with six examples. Of course, the fate of the Breitenebnet ski lift in Trogen should not be missing. “You immediately think of climate change and the resulting lack of snow, but the main reasons are mostly structural,” found out Beat Hächler, director of the Alpine Museum.
Safety regulations were greatly tightened by the ski lift boom in the 1970s and concessions have expired. Now investments should be made that would push these small elevator operators to their limits. If there’s no way to get bigger and more profitable or join a mass tourism company, then you have money problems. “The lack of snow has only made the situation worse,” adds Beat Hächler.
Devoted pioneers are frustrated
The museum director spoke to many former ski lift managers. Thousands of volunteer hours have been put into here with a lot of heart and soul, both in technology, maintenance and operation, yet they have gotten nowhere. Those frustrated people. A former elevator operator tells the story.
Lots of effort. The public sector has never wanted to participate and now we are on the verge of collapse.
What runs through all projects, even in Trogen, is the phenomenon that they were ski pioneers, committed inventors, often fathers who found a ski lift somewhere, set it up and put it into operation for the ski club, for the village community. Even the construction was a social event, the operation even more so.
Also various interviews with Trogen clearly show how this system was anchored in the village population. Not just an opportunity to ski cheaply without long journeys, but great social values have been lost. The teased youngsters Jula Flury and Paulina Flückiger can be heard in the exhibition with their personal memories. “Always super fun!” they inspire
herself “You never had to agree, they were all there anyway.” They say: “The blow from the last descent came to the front door.”
Great passion
The Alpine Museum wants to capture this phenomenon. “We have created an overview and documented the various reasons for the death of small local elevators.” Melancholy but not accusatory, the exhibition pays homage to those who have allowed entire generations to find a place for their skiing roots with so many stories and emotions. “I felt so much passion from these pioneers and so much gratitude that someone cared about them. That got me thinking, why is there no support here?” Beat Hächler wonders and adds:
Social engagement is otherwise highly valued.
It’s a small room used in the museum on Helvetiaplatz in Bern, but it’s filled with red brackets, signs, even a rescue sled. Trogner artist Karin Bucher made the connection and personally transported the material to be cleared from the Trogen Skilifthüsli to Bern. She is also enthusiastic: “I never forget the night skiing together on the not so small slope. Here we met for sport and fun and for après-ski at the Sand restaurant.
