A hiking boot that looks like a mountain with a cable car running along it – so, literally a mountaineering boot: “The popular sport of hiking” special stamp has a special design. This proposal won the day against around 600 entries in a public vote held as part of a design competition open to the general public.

The high level of interest is no coincidence – among the Swiss public, hiking is the most popular sporting activity:

– 57 percent of the resident population aged over 15 hike regularly. That equates to around 4 million Swiss people.

– The average age of hikers is 50, making hiking a lifetime sport across the generations.

– More than 65,000 kilometres of well-maintained hiking trails provide access to Switzerland’s most magnificent landscapes – from local recreational areas to Alpine mountains.

– The routes are signposted at around 50,000 signpost locations. The look of the yellow signposts is recognized by 96 percent of the Swiss population.

This globally unique network is one of the Swiss Hiking Trail Federation’s major achievements. With its 26 cantonal organizations, the federation has been working since 1934 to ensure that signposting on hiking trails is attractive, reliable and uniform. This is only possible thanks to the commitment of 1,500 volunteers, a favourable regulatory framework and the financial support of patrons, members and companies.