YES. A climbing trip with a co-worker.
My office neighbour is a passionate rock climber, and he even teaches climbing courses. He often talks with fascination about his weekend trips and can really lift the mood in the team on an unpleasant Monday morning. I’ve been in the mountains myself many times, but I’ve never hung from a cliff at dizzying heights. When I told him this, he offered to take me on a climb as my instructor. I jumped at the chance.
Working together towards a common goal
Hungry for action, the three of us started out on our mountain adventure. We hiked to the climbers’ hut on the Fählensee lake in the Alps. There, my office neighbour taught us the essentials of rock climbing in about two hours. He also taught us climbing newbies how to abseil on our own. The hike to the hut and the training went very well, and now it was time for the relaxed part of our first day. We spent the evening in the nearby mountain inn ‘Bollenwees’ with fine rösti potatoes and refreshing beer. As coincidence would have it, we even had the chance to share a round with another colleague from CHT. Early the next morning, we began the ascent to our planned expedition. We climbed the distance of five taut rope lengths for around three hours along the broad south rib to the summit of the third Kreuzberg (elevation 2,019 m). Step by step, breathing consciously and calmly, we fought our way up. Above us was bright blue sky, and to our right, a drop of several hundred meters into the Rhine Valley. The climb was a tough challenge for body and mind alike. When we reached the summit, we were absolutely elated.
Elated at our joint accomplishment, at the great fun we had and at the view we were able to savour from this breathtaking mountain peak. It was an unforgettable shared experience. This adventure will remain etched in my memory forever. My office neighbour has my heartfelt gratitude.
Trust is the basis of good work
To me, a mountain to be climbed is the perfect metaphor for a challenge. The different parts of the mountain face symbolise the easier and harder passages. And on the way to the summit, everyone is part of a community. Although I’m climbing as an individual, giving all that I’ve got to reach the summit, my partner and I also form a unit – because you have to be courageous, have an incredible level of trust in your climbing partner and assume responsibility for one another. These things are similar to many aspects of our everyday work in teams. I’m really glad that our collegial relationships at CHT Switzerland AG are so good. After all, mutual trust can move mountains. And it helps you get through the more stressful work days more easily.
