Orienteering in Switzerland

---

Update 23.Sept.2010. Diesen Artikel gibt es jetzt auch auf o-wiki.net. Es wäre cool, wenn zumindest meine regelmässigen Leser aus Slowenien, Norwegen und den U.S.A. etwas im selben Stil betragen würden. Link zur Übersichtsseite Orienteering in ... .

---

Update 2010 des Artikels Orienteering in Switzerland [Mai 2008, arua.ch // Mithilfe: Roger V.] Gedacht als Beitrag in einem OL Wiki oder in einem Lonely O-Planet

---

Here are some basic informations on orienteering in Switzerland. For further or more specific questions, feel free to contact me

Maps

In Switzerland Maps are called 'OL-Karte' or 'Karte' in the german speaking part, 'cartina' in the italian speaking part and 'carte' in the french speaking part of switzerland

Finding maps

Here you can find a map, you can click on to get a list of all maps in a chosen distance from the click. Clicking on the name of a map you will be lead to the detailed information (DI) about the map. There clicking on the Link 'Link zu map.search.ch' (LMS) right of the name of the map you will be forwarded to a satellite-image showing the location of the map

Choosing a map

Some clubs provide samples of the maps on their website. Here you can find the list of all swiss clubs maintaining a website.

Getting a map

Every club has a person responsible for the clubs maps ('Bezugsstelle'). This person will send you the maps or you can pass at his/her home to pick them. You find his/her adress at the maps Detailed Information. The maps are basically printed on waterproof paper and cost between two and eight Swiss Francs a piece.

Public Transport

In Switzerland it is not necessary to have a car to get to the forests! Take the bus or the train and you even may get in contact with some nice swiss pepole :-).
Find out the nearby bus- or trainstops by activating the checkbox Verkehr at the lefthandside on MapSearch (follow LMS mentioned above). Placing your mouse over a bus, boat or train symbol you'll be shown a box with an actual timetable. Note the exact name of the bus- or trainstop and look after your connections here (timetable provided by swiss railway)

Restrictions

You are basically free to train in the Swiss Forests. Restricted and dangerous areas are signed at the map. Avoid crossing land agricuturally used. There are some voluntary restrictions settled between the map owning clubs, local hunters and the forestry department. For not spoiling good agreement between orienteers and the authorities inform the map seller on what you're up to.

Risks & Emergencies

Some terrains are quite steep. We have ticks here, check for them after training and be aware of symptoms of borreliosis and TBE (tick borne encephalitis).
In case of minor injury or illness, you will find drugs etc. at the pharmacy in any nearby town and there is a doctor in almost every town in Switzerland. If you need one, you will find the phone number of the nearest doctor here (Swiss Phonebook). Call the doctor before you go to see him and fix a date.
In case of severe injury, call the emergency department of a nearby hospital. The next hospital, you'll find by activating the checkbox Spitäler (Subbox of Öffentl. Gebäude) at the lefthandside on MapSearch (LMS). Zoom out until you see some red points on the map. Get the name, adress and phone number of the hospital by placeing your mouse over such a dot.
In case of life-threatening injury or illness, call the phone number 144 for an ambulance(if the location is accessible by car) or 1414 for REGA (location acessible only by helicopter or in case of acute life threatening disease). You have to be able to describe your position, preferably with Swiss Coordinates.
It is wise to carry the vaccination card (especially tetanus) and a list of your current and past (severe) illnesses/operations/allergies/drugs, etc. with you.
Note that in some hospitals (private hospitals) you will get treatment faster, but you will have to deposit a bailment of several hundred swiss francs.

Competitons

Most of the competitons are listed in the Swiss Orienteering Federations fixtures list (FL). At the end of the line you find a link to a map locating the competitions center. Clicking on the competitions name you will be linked to the competitions information.
Besides this most Swiss Clubs offer small competitions and all trainings are open. Check out the websites of the clubs in the region, you're visiting (Linklist of all Swiss Clubs again; Map of all active Clubs in Switzerland)