Paul Etter

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Paul Etter (born September 17, 1939 in Walenstadt , † February 10, 1985 ) was a Swiss mountaineer and mountain guide . Even during his apprenticeship as a baker in Wildhaus , he felt drawn to the mountains. In 1961 he passed the mountain guide exam. He became known through his first winter of the Matterhorn -Nordwand with Hilty von Allmen 1962. In December 1963 he hid at the first Winter descent through the Eiger North Face, the bodies of two Spanish mountaineers.

He lived with his wife Brigitte and two daughters in Walenstadt at the foot of the Churfirsten . He made several first ascents there. The first winter ascent of the south face of Brisi he succeeded in 1958 together with his alpine mentor Seth Abderhalden , the 11-meter-long roof on Chäserrugg u. a. with his wife Brigitte. Etter was also a member of the Alpstein climbing club .

In addition to his mountain guide profession, Paul Etter also worked as a filmmaker, photographer and lecturer. Some of his mountain films were shown on television. His autobiography «Gipfelwärts» enjoyed several editions.

He died from an avalanche while practicing his profession as a mountain guide on a ski tour in the Piz Beverin area .

First ascents (selection)

February 2, 1958 Brisi south face . First winter ascent with Seth Abderhalden
July 7, 1961 Frümsel Südkante. First inspection with Hans Frommenwiler
3./4. February 1962 Matterhorn north face. First winter ascent with Hilty von Allmen
10./11. June 1962 Schibenstoll -West summit. Direct south wall. With Ueli Gantenbein
16./17. June 1955 Brisi south face. Grubenmann memorial trail with Ueli Gantenbein
December 3, 1968 Hinterrugg -Hohwand. Etter direct route with Brigitte Etter.
September 5, 1971 Chäserrugg roof route with Brigitte Etter, Paul and Andreas Scherrer.

Individual evidence

  1. Paul Etter: Nothing but air between us and the entrance. In: Emil Zopfi : Churfirsten. AS Verlag, Zurich 2006
  2. Paul Etter: Peak bagging. A young mountain guide tells. Publishing house Huber, Frauenfeld 1968

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