On Wednesday (9 October) we woke up early and were in the coach at 05.00 o’clock. That brought us to a park & Ride near Brienz. There we went into another bus to the Axalp Windegg cable at 1,546 meters. After a 1,100 meter ride we arrived at the mountain station at 1,926 meters. This all happened in the dark and the serene silence of the early morning. At the mountain station of the cable car a big puddle of mud was visible from the people who preceded us that day, even that week. There the climb began to the top via a route that was marked with red / white ribbon. The group went upwards individually, each at their own pace. The route took us over meadows, which are normally populated by Milka cows and thereby also showed deep holes, and rocks. Due to the humid weather of the previous days the route was slippery.
For one of the participants disaster struck. On a steep slope he fell and felt a popping sensation in his left ankle. Luckily there was someone of the organization with him very quickly and a few minutes later the tour guide of the group was also on the spot. After administering first aid they were waiting for the troops. We were on top of a mountain, the weather too bad for a helicopter. Meanwhile, it was also clear that exercise was cancelled the first day. The tour guide got in touch with the 4Aviation home base so everyone would be informed about the situation. After some time four additional men arrived with a stretcher. After a few checks the victim was put thereon, the tour guide took the luggage and they slowly ascended the slippery mountain. On the nearest road a military ambulance took us to the foot of the cable car. Another car was waiting and brought us to the hospital in Interlaken In the car we heard that the second day was also cancelled, all very unfortunate. The victim was helped in the hospital and soon found out he suffered a compound fracture in the ankle associated with a fracture just below the knee. The doctors suggested operating immediately to get all the bones back to the right spot as soon as possible. That happened in the afternoon.
The group had meanwhile gathered back at the bus and returned to the hotel feeling disappointed. We had travelled to Switzerland for nothing and one participant had a compound fracture. The tour guide had gone back to the hotel during the surgery and discussed the current situation with the group. We looked at our options and decided not to sit down, but make something of the rest of the day. It was no use to stay longer and the next day we would leave early to go home.
In the afternoon we visited a beautiful resort, the Trümmelbachfälle, and on the way to the hotel we stopped at a small helicopter company to we could make a few pictures. The evening ended with a nice meal.
