Part 12 (2/2)
After the first night on the Joch the feeling of breathlessness is reduced, and so long as all climbing is done slowly no bad effects need be expected by people in good health and condition. The Jungfrau Joch can be reached from London in twenty-six hours, and keen runners could enjoy a week or a fortnight of amusing Ski-ing on snow which lends itself particularly well to the practice of all turns.
The Jungfrau Joch branch of the Swiss Ski Club holds an annual meet on the Joch in the month of July, which is well attended by Runners and Jumpers from all parts of Switzerland.
First-Cla.s.s Guides and Ski Instructors can be found at the Joch.
People who would prefer not to sleep at so great a height could stay at the Scheidegg or Eiger Gletscher, at both of which places hotels exist.
In view of the shortness of Winter holidays, it seems a pity that more enthusiasts do not profit by the chance of practising which the Jungfrau Joch Railway offers in Summer time. I have twice spent two days up there and have enjoyed them immensely. The snow was very different to anything I ever met in Winter, but also very easy and filled me with confidence. In July and August the creva.s.ses show clearly and need not inspire anxiety in anyone, except after a new fall of snow, which may hide the smaller ones temporarily again.
There must be several square miles of perfectly safe Ski-ing on the glaciers behind the Joch, which provide Nursery slopes just as good as anything found in Winter. The gradients vary, but it is easy to find stretches of 10 to 30 unbroken by creva.s.ses.
Anyone coming out to ski on the glaciers in Summer time should bring with them their own Skis or arrange to hire these at some Winter Sports centre in the valleys. They should also be provided with all the Ski-ing equipment they may need. A few pairs of Skis are kept for hiring purposes on the Jungfrau Joch, but they are not very good ones and it would be better not to depend on them.
REGULATIONS OF THE BRITISH SKI TESTS
AS APPROVED BY
THE FEDERAL COUNCIL OF BRITISH SKI CLUBS. 1923.
GENERAL REGULATIONS.
1. The British Standard Ski Tests have been drawn up by the Federal Council of British Ski Clubs, hereinafter referred to as ”The Council.” _The Council represents the following clubs, which are named in the order of their foundation: The Davos Ski Club, the Ski Club of Great Britain, the Alpine Ski Club, the British Ski a.s.sociation, and the Ladies' Ski Club_.
2. The British Standard Ski Tests are of two kinds: Cross Country Ski-ing Tests and Jumping Tests. There are three Tests of each kind, a First Cla.s.s Test, a Second Cla.s.s Test, and a Third Cla.s.s Test.
3. The Tests are open to all ski-runners without payment, but successful candidates will only receive a certificate and badge if they are members or prospective members of one of the Clubs represented on the Council. A candidate who has been proposed and seconded for a const.i.tuent Club, and who has paid a year's subscription, and whose election is pending, will be deemed a prospective member for the purpose of this rule. The following sums will be payable for the badges. These sums may be paid through the members' Clubs or direct to the Hon. Secretary of the Council.
First Cla.s.s Badge 35s.
Second Cla.s.s Badge 3s.
Third Cla.s.s Badge 2s.
4. In Switzerland francs will be accepted instead of s.h.i.+llings in payment of badges.
5. Certificates and badges will be awarded to any person who has pa.s.sed the Cross Country Ski-ing Tests: First Cla.s.s, a gold badge; Second Cla.s.s, a silver badge; Third Cla.s.s, a bronze badge.
Certificates will be issued to those who have pa.s.sed the corresponding Jumping Tests, and these certificates will ent.i.tle the holder to receive a Jumping badge when the Council authorizes the issue of new badges.
6. Application for the badges, accompanied by a certificate signed by two judges, shall be made either to the local representative of the Club or to the Hon. Secretary of the Council, K.R. Swan, Esq., 1 Ess.e.x Court, Temple, within three months of the pa.s.sing of the Test.
7. Certificate holders will alone be recognized as having pa.s.sed the tests. _No certificate will be recognized as valid unless issued to a member of one of the const.i.tuent clubs of the Council_. A list of those certified as having pa.s.sed any of the tests will be issued periodically by the Council.
8. _Judges_.--No candidate can be judged for any test nor for any part of a test unless two qualified Judges are present. No candidate can be pa.s.sed for any part of a test except by being judged formally and knowing that he is being judged.
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