Swiss Valley - Conversation with a Farmer
In the Horner there are two posts on the wall. One says to land in the fields with windsocks. The other says to land in the mowed fields. I read both and they are in conflict. Other jumpers would recommend one or the other or both, no one seems to know exactly what is expected. Last month, two of us jumped a "Swiss Base Landing Card" exit.
One landed in the very freshly mowed field thinking, "this one is just mowed, it would make the farmer happy for me to land there". I landed next to the windsock in the field with very long grass as I flew a wingsuit and could not get back to the mowed field.
Unfortunately, the field that was mowed still had the grass laying on it to dry, so my friend was trampling what had not been raked up yet - but from the exit where we talked about landing options, it just looked mowed so he committed to it.
The farmer was very upset at my friend who landed in the freshly mowed field. I thought he would be upset at me for landing next to the windsock in very tall grass, but that is what he wanted so I got a get out of jail free card.
We tried to chat, be nice, etc - for a long time. We apologized. We explained why we did it, as the sign in the Horner recommends mowed fields. Just when we thought he was turning friendly and the conversation was turning positive, he turned it around against us and made a jab against out of country visitors, specifically why people in other countries put up no trespassing signs then feel they can land in his field.
Well long story short, the farmer said that in all the years of BASE jumpers jumping, he only received three gifts or official thank you tokens, and no one even smiles or says hi. He felt legitimately taken advantage of, and it is clear he felt that we did not appreciate the gift of the valley.
People from our group purchased some beer the next day and put it on his tractor behind his shed. The day after the gift of the beer, I jumped again, landed right next to the windsock, and looked over and saw the farmer. I waved and yelled "thank you". He held up the beer in his hand with a huge smile and waved back to both of us acknowledging the gift.
Long story short... The farmers in the landing area are humans too. Go out of your way to yell thank you, wave after landing, walking up to them and shaking their hands, drop off some beer or wine, send a post card from home, do something! I love the Swiss Valley and want to jump there for years.
The BASE landing card is all well and good - but it should be the bare minimum we do. I am posting this because in another thread I read 1 in 5 people are buying the card, and I am pissed at the people who don't!
To the locals... In the Horner, consider revising the instructions to include what the farmers want. This farmer said he always wants people to land next to the windsock and to ignore what is or is not mowed. Do others want the same?
