Swiss army battles snow at Davos Summary Box: Swiss army battles snow at Davos CREATING BARRIERS: Thousands of Swiss soldiers and police have been shoveling snow to erect a "ring of steel" against unwelcome demonstrators hoping to gatecrash the annual meeting of political and economic elites in the Swiss Alps at Davos. SNOW JOB: A Swiss army spokesman said Tuesday that heavy snowfall over the past two weeks made putting up 11 miles (18 kilometers) of security barriers around the heart of Davos an arduous task. AVALANCHE THREAT: Davos saw 16 inches (40 centimeters) of fresh snow overnight, with roadside mounds already reaching heights of more than 8 feet (about 2.5 meters).