Gear fairies for Girls* on Ice Switzerland
Girls* on Ice spends 8 days in tents next to the Findelen Glacier, and for such an expedition it takes a lot of material and food. The participants pack their backpacks full, but still we need women* to help us bring the rest of the gear to the base camp at the beginning of the expedition and bring it all down again in the end. Here you can get involved as a 'gear fairy'!
The material is distributed in Visp at the station, then we go together by train to the station Riffelalp above Zermatt. From here it is about 8.5km and 770 vertical meters to the base camp at 2900 m.a.s.l. First, you walk 2/3 of the way on trails, the last 1/3 is partly on trails and partly without trails on the moraine of the glacier. The ascent takes about 3 hours, the descent another 2.5 hours.
To help as a gear fairy you need a big backpack (65L is ideal, at least 45L) and hiking equipment. Good footwear is especially important as part of the way is off trail and through scree. We do not go onto the glacier, so you do not need special equipment. Hiking poles are highly recommended, especially because of the weight of the backpack. We also have some extra backpacks and poles that you can borrow. Everybody can pack as much weight as they like, usually around 15kg per person.
Every year we need gear fairies on three days: on the second day of the german-speaking expedition, in-between the two expeditions and on the third to last day of the french-speaking expedition. The helpers are only needed for these individual days, so you go up and descent in one day. With a full backpack on the way up, or full backpack on the way down. Especially for people with a long journey to Zermatt it is a very long day, if you want you can of course plan a night in Valais. The helpers are, for the most part, among themselves, but we try to have a break on the way so you get to know the participants and instructors at least shortly.
As it stands, we don’t usually have the possibility to compensate our helpers financially. However, this year we are trying something new by offering the possibility for people to support the gear fairies directly by donating towards their train tickets. If we are successful in this fundraising, we hope to offer you a partial refund for your transport by covering an equal percentage of your travel expenses based on the total amounts of funds we raise. In the meantime, everyone is responsible for their own travel costs and food. For the train ride, it is worth asking the municipality early if they still have discounted day tickets (approx. 45.- CHF). In any case, we will buy the ticket for the Gornergratbahn for you! Please tell us your date of birth and if you have a SBB discount (Half-Fare/GA).
For Girls* on Ice Switzerland 2025 the gear fairy days are:
- 20 July with a full backpack up and an empty backpack down (german-speaking expedition)
- 27 July with a full backpack up and an empty backpack down (both expeditions)
- 6 August with an empty backpack up and a full backpack down (french-speaking expedition)
If you are interested in helping as a gear fairy, please fill in this form. We are happy to answer any questions sent to swissvolunteer@girlsonice.org. Without our gear fairies these expeditions are not possible. We are always grateful for your support!
*cisgender and transgender women, agender, nonbinary, intersex, and genderqueer
If you can’t make it but would like to show support, we would be extremely grateful to receive donations towards the Gear Fairies’ travel costs by Twint. Please feel free to share this fundraising initiative!
Use the QR code to donate via TWINT - thanks!