So you're coming visiting the land off cuckoo clocks, chocolate and handy, dandy pocket knives.
Welcome!!
Do you already know where in Switzerland you want to go?
Buses and trains
Yes, they do go all over. And I mean ALL over. There actually used to be a law here stating that every and all village should be connected to the pos-bus routes. Even though that law is no longer there, you can still get almost everywhere with the bus. It might only run once a day in some places, but anyway.
And added to that, you can rely on the time schedule, so it's easy to plan. In fact, if you can use the internet during or before your trip, I strongly advise you to use
this link to get all the timetables you need. Choose the "Advanced search" for a more comprehensive choice.
Free camping
Well, here they call it (directly translated) "Wild camping". Which gives you a slight idea what the official standpoint on it is. Designated areas...
However, if you handle it nicely and don't go camping in someones back yard or are too noisy or turn your chosen spot into a rubbish dump (i.e. basically you use your common camping sense), there's normally no problem. Discretion is a key word.
I've followed this "code" all over Switzerland, and never had any problems. I guess it's the same all over the world - handle the people who live in the area with friendliness and respect, and you'll get the same back.
Good that you bring a tent as well as hammock/tarp. If you're up above the treeline, a tent is definitely to be recommended. No trees to put up the hammock, and the weather does change
quickly sometimes. Believe me... I've seen it happen all too often. But nother beats hammocking below the treeline. Besides, in some areas it might be hard to find ground that's not leaning too much for a tent...
Camp fires
Again, officially it's not allowed outside designated areas. And again, if you handle it with common camping sense, it's ok in most places. However, at the end of August the forest and the fields are (some years) very dry, and there might be a complete fire ban for a while because of that.
Hiking paths
When hiking, you'll surely stumble upon some of the superbly signposted hiking paths. Yellow for the flat-land hikes, red-and-white for the mountainous paths and blue-and-white for the hard-core difficult alpine paths. At least along the yellow ones, and on some of the red-and-white ones, you will find proper barbecue places which are excellent for your fire. Sometimes there will even be a wood storage there,
intended to be used by the hikers passing buy. Also, in many of these places you will find a water source with pure drinking water. No need to boil or filter or iodine or whatever it. Pretty nifty if you ask me.
Fishing
Well, there's not much fishing around to be honest, and what's there isn't very good.
I actually don't know if I would bother.
Carrying sharps
You don't really see people carrying sharps in the open around here, so if you wear a sheath knife in your belt, people will most likely stare at you. But carry it all in the rucksacks until you hit camp, and you don't have any problems. Around camp no-one really cares if you carry a knife in your belt.
The sharps laws aren't as strict here as they are in Britain, and so carrying sharps here aren't really a problem. Just don't flash them on the train station just as the police are clamping down on the footie "supporters"...
Sharps on the plane
Put all of the sharps in the checked-in luggage, and you're fine.
Fuel bottles on the plane
If you're talking gas bottles - They're an absolute no-no on the plane. You'll have to buy what you need when you get to Switzerland. If you're going to Basel, there are a couple good outdoors shops there. At least one is only 5 min. walk from the train station: Outdoors shop "Transa", situated at Aeschengraben 13.
If you're talking fluid fuels - Make sure you empty the bottle(-s), wash them out with plain water and air them. Shouldn't be a problem after that.
Your stove, however, could be a matter of discussion. I've been in hard discussions with the check-in personnel at airports, where they at first have refused to let me take it on board the plane. If it happens to you, just stand your ground - you
are allowed to bring it in your check-in luggage. They might want you to sign a paper saying you take the responsibility, but then so be it.
Free thoughts and advice
Try the cheeses - they're excellent!!
Happy bushcrafting in Switzerland
/ Karl
