Summer 2011: Thematic packages

Our thematic packages are intended for anyone interested in journeying through time and space in our mountain world. They are designed for enthusiasts who love or live in alpine regions but would like to know more about the fascinating history of the landscape, plants and rocks hidden beneath their feet. They are also for people looking for communion with nature and who are sensitive to its benefits to mind and body.

Contributors

Madeleine Wiget Medical doctor FMH – qualified DUFA (Diploma of Advanced Studies for Adult Training) trainer, who established the Swiss training for the Saint-Jean (Val d’Anniviers) Swiss mountain guides. Based on keys for understanding the body and mind, her health philosophy encourages us to take advantage of the mountain environment as our natural ‘fitness centre’! She enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge of how the human being ‘works’ which she has been able to perfect as a practitioner of general, sports, manual and mountain medicine in Anniviers.

Rose Panchard A herbalist who qualified at the school of medicinal plants in Lyons, France, and middle mountain guide trained at the St-Jean school, Rose is from the valley and grew up in total harmony with plants. She enthusiastically shares her ancestral plant knowledge with us.

Bernard Crettaz, Curator at the Musée d’Ethnographie in Geneva, professor of sociology at Geneva University, Bernard Crettaz has retired and lives in Zinal where he devotes most of his time to publishing his numerous works.

Jean-Claude Pont A qualified Doctor of mathematics from the Ecole Polytechnique in Zurich, professor of History and the Philosophy of Science at Geneva University, Jean-Claude Pont launched the Sierre-Zinal race and was one of the creators of the Chemin des Planètes and the Observatoire François-Xavier Bagnoud at St-Luc. He has first-hand experience of the typical Anniviard way of life known as ‘remuage’ or transhumance, and fascinates us with his descriptive and sociological account of the traditional way of life.

Michel Marthaler, geologist, professor at the faculty of Geoscience and Environment at Lausanne. While working on his PhD thesis in 1983, he discovered the remains of plankton fossils in the Valais Alps. He is the author of « Le Cervin est-il africain » (Is the Matterhorn African?).

Philippe Campignion Physiotherapist, trainer, Director of GDS Method training. This method is both a preventive and a therapeutic approach, focussing on the relationships between our physical ‘machinery’ and our behaviour.

Jean-Luc Tordeur, a VAPKO (Swiss Association for Mushroom Control) mycology expert, currently training at the middle mountain guide school in St-Jean.

Louis-Fred Tonossi Former company director and mayor. He holds the « Patrimoine et Tourisme » certificate from Geneva University.