Hans Frei (mountaineer)

Hans Frei (* 1910 in Zurich ; † May 30, 1937 at the Ruchenfensterturm in the Urner Alps ) was a Swiss mountaineer , first-time climber of difficult routes and the like. a. in Bergell .

Life

Frei trained as a typographer at Orell Füssli in Zurich and began climbing during his apprenticeship. He was soon one of the strongest Swiss climbers of his time. Member of the Naturfreunde Tourist Association and the Swiss Alpine Club .

With Jürg Weiss he succeeded on 27/28. July 1935 the first ascent of the "iron" at Pizzi Gemelli in Bergell . During this friction climb he used shoes with stiff rubber soles for the first time. Based on his experience, the Italian Vittorio Bramani developed the famous Vibram sole.

On May 20, 1937, Hans Frei crashed on the Ruchenfensterturm in the Windgällen area in the Urner Alps , together with Félix Tharin and Henri Trachsel.

Literature and Sources

• Jürg Weiss: Hans Frei † . In: The Alps 7, 1937.
• Jürg Weiss : Two climbs in the Forno: Hans Frei in memory. In: The Alps. 8/1937.
• Jürg Weiss: Cliffs and crevices. Orell Füssli, Zurich 1942.
• Oskar Hug , Jürg Weiss (ed.): Mountain comrades. WAC members tell. Orell Füssli, Zurich 1939.
• Marco Volken : The invention of the Vibram sole. In: The Alps 7/2007.

First ascents (selection)

• August 27, 1932 Piz Badile Nordkante on the ascent and descent. With Hans Graf.
• July 20, 1933 Lenzspitze north-northeast face . First solo ascent.
• August 24, 1933 Punta Rasica , Bergell, western summit, north face. With Mathys Margadant.
• August 27, 1933 Torrone Centrale , Bergell, direct north face. With Mathys Margadant.
• 27./28. July 1935 Pizzi Gemelli Nordkante, iron. With Jürg Weiss .