The Swiss Army: Precise like a watch, and with all the nice features like date, time, and the ability to go up hill with the flip of a switch

This was the scene yesterday in Crans-Montana (though technically the race ends in Barzettes) as the Swiss Army did their thing in helping to prepare the venue for World Junior Champs.  Lots going on in these photos, so we'll leave it to you to interpret for us in the comments.  But let me just say: compulsory military service is one thing, but setting b-net from the bottom up?  That's just cruel.  Incidentally, the people carrying the fences up the very steep trail were also waiting on a helicopter to drop off more supplies at the bottom.  A beautiful analog watch ticking away in a Timex world with an Indiglo sun.

On another note, and a pretty awesome one at that, a pair of Stockli skis appears to be standard issue for these men (no female soldiers were seen). In America we have some law that government vehicles have to be American-made.  Switzerland appears to have a similar law regarding military ski equipment. A little different from the old 210cm matte white rides of the 10th Mountain era, but not much, the Pit Pro appears to carry an all-metal top sheet, has a convenient hole to latch your skins into, and, made in Switzerland, a nice pair of classic Fritschi bindings, adjustable to fit anyone from Captain Morgan to Lieutenant Dan. Incidentally, helmets in the Swiss Army are apparently neither standard issue nor mandatory.  Live free and/or die.