Only the best make it to the top

They are a rare breed. At most, 35 people make the grade each year to become certified Swiss mountain guides. To start with you have to be a proficient mountaineer to be accepted into the demanding three-year programme.

If you pass the series of tough tests, it’s unlikely you’ll make a living from guiding. Only one in seven works full time. (Raffaella Rossello, swissinfo.ch/SF)