Christian Almer

Christian Almer ( born March 29, 1826 in Grindelwald in the Bernese Oberland / Switzerland, † May 17, 1898 same place ) was a Swiss mountain guide.

Life

Christian Almer was, like his contemporary Melchior Anderegg from Meiringen, as one of the best and legendary in his lifetime mountain guides of the first generation. He led his men not only in the domestic Bernese Alps, but far beyond their summit success. Centers its activities have included the Bernese mountains of the Valais Alps, the Mont Blanc area and the Dauphiné Alps. With many first ascents or first winter ascents he made his first-class mountaineer as a name. He took the Who -is-who of his time, including Edward Whymper, WAB Coolidge, Adolphus Warburton Moore, Leslie Stephen and Gottlieb Samuel Studer.

Christian Almer was married with wraparound merchant since 1846. His son Ulrich Almer ( born May 8, 1849 in Grindelwald, † September 4, 1940 in Grindelwald), with whom he undertook many mountain trips together, also worked as a mountain guide.

The summer of his childhood and youth spent Christian Almer as sheep and goat herd. Already in the forties of the nineteenth century, he accompanied tourists in first ascents. As the first leader activity is a failed attempt Ascension of the Virgin, which he tried to reach over the Mönchsjöcher on September 13, 1851 by Grindelwald. In 1854, he climbed all three weather horns within a year. Four years later, he and Charles Barrington stood with Peter drilling the first men on the Eiger summit, as well as unclimbable was at that time as the Matterhorn in the Valais.

After a winter ascent of the Virgin beginning in 1885 Almer had to be amputated all toes of the right foot. Nevertheless, he continued his activity leader. Even in 1895, with almost 70 years, he led a rope team on the Bietschhorn. His golden wedding he celebrated with his wife, two sons and a daughter on 22 June 1896, the Wetterhorn. The following year he finished his mountaineering career again with an ascent of the Wetterhorn, the summit, with whom he so much. His strength left him suddenly and rapidly. Almer died on 17 May 1898 in Grindelwald.

First ascents by Christian Almer (excerpt)