Christian Almer

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

Christian Almer

Life

Christian Almer, like his contemporary Melchior Anderegg from Meiringen , was considered one of the best and already legendary first-generation mountain guides during his lifetime. He led his masters not only to the Bernese Alps at home , but also far beyond to their summit successes. In addition to the Bernese mountains, the centers of his activity were the Valais Alps , the Mont Blanc region and the Dauphiné Alps . With many first ascents or first winter ascents , he made a name for himself as a first-class alpinist . He led the who-is-who of his day, including Edward Whymper , MCAS Coolidge , Adolphus Warburton Moore , Leslie Stephen and Gottlieb Samuel Studer .

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

Christian Almer spent the summers of his childhood and youth as a shepherd and goat herder. As early as the forties of the nineteenth century, he accompanied tourists on their first mountain ascents. His first activity as a guide was a failed attempt to climb the Jungfrau , which he attempted to reach on September 13, 1851 from Grindelwald via the Mönchsjöcher . In 1854 he climbed all three weather horns within a year. Four years later, he and Charles Barrington and Peter Bohren were the first to stand on the summit of the Eiger , which at that time was just as impassable as the Matterhorn in Valais .

After a winter ascent of the Jungfrau in early 1885, Almer had to amputate all of the toes of his right foot. Nevertheless, he continued his leadership role. In 1895, when he was almost 70 years old, he led a rope team over the Bietschhorn . He celebrated his golden wedding anniversary with his wife, two sons and a daughter on June 22, 1896 on the Wetterhorn. The following year he ended his alpine career again with an ascent of the Wetterhorn, the summit with which he had so much in common. His strength left him suddenly and quickly. Almer died on May 17, 1898 in Grindelwald.

First ascent by Christian Almer (excerpt)

Christian and Ulrich Almer, Meta Brevoort and their nephew WAB Coolidge

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Commons : Christian Almer  - collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Almer, Christian
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss mountain guides and mountaineers
DATE OF BIRTH March 29, 1826
PLACE OF BIRTH Grindelwald , Switzerland
DATE OF DEATH May 17, 1898
Place of death Grindelwald , Switzerland