220px, Christian Almer Christian Almer (29 March 1826 – 17 May 1898) was a

Swiss Swiss most commonly refers to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Swiss may also refer to: Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina * Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses * Swiss Café, an old café located ...

mountain guide and the first ascensionist of many prominent

mountains A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually higher ...

in the western

Alps The Alps () are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, stretching approximately across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. ...

during the golden and

silver Silver is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag () and atomic number 47. A soft, whitish-gray, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal. ...

ages of alpinism. Almer was born and died in

Grindelwald Grindelwald is a village and Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli (administrative district), Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Bern (canton), Berne. In additio ...

Canton of Bern The canton of Bern, or Berne (; ; ; ), is one of the Canton of Switzerland, 26 cantons forming the Switzerland, Swiss Confederation. Its capital city, Bern, is also the ''de facto'' capital of Switzerland. The bear is the heraldic symbol of the c ...

Life

During his lifetime, Christian Almer, like his contemporary Melchior Anderegg from Meiringen, was considered one of the best of the first generation of mountain guides. He guided his clients in the

Bernese Alps The Bernese Alps are a mountain range of the Alps located in western Switzerland. Although the name suggests that they are located in the Berner Oberland region of the canton of Bern, portions of the Bernese Alps are in the adjacent cantons of Va ...

, the Valais Alps, the Mont Blanc massif and the Dauphiné Alps. With his many first ascents or first winter ascents, he made a name for himself as a first-class alpinist of his time, guiding alpinists including Edward Whymper, W. A. B. Coolidge, Adolphus Warburton Moore,

Leslie Stephen Sir Leslie Stephen (28 November 1832 – 22 February 1904) was an English author, critic, historian, biographer, mountaineer, and an Ethical Culture, Ethical movement activist. He was also the father of Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell and the ...

, and Gottlieb Samuel Studer. Christian Almer was married to Margaritha Kaufmann from 1846. His son Ulrich Almer (8 May 1849 - 4 September 1940 in Grindelwald), with whom he went on many mountain trips together, also worked as a mountain guide. Christian Almer spent the summers of his childhood and youth as a shepherd and goatherd. As early as the 1840s, he accompanied tourists on their first mountain climbs. His first guiding activity was a failed attempt to climb the Jungfrau, which he tried to reach on 13 September 1851 from Grindelwald via the Mönch. In 1854 he climbed all three Wetterhörner within one year. Four years later, he and Charles Barrington with Peter Bohren were the first people to stand on the

Eiger The Eiger () is a mountain of the Bernese Alps, overlooking Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland, just north of the main watershed and border with Valais. It is the easternmost peak of a ridge crest that extends ...

summit, which at that time was considered as unclimbable as the

Matterhorn The , ; ; ; or ; ; . is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the Main chain of the Alps, main watershed and border between Italy and Switzerland. It is a large, near-symmetric pyramidal peak in the extended Monte Rosa area of the Pennine Alps, ...

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

Climbing career

Almer gave his dog ''Tschingel'' to the 17-year-old W. A. B. Coolidge after a failed attempt on the Eiger.

Golden wedding anniversary

On 20 and 21 June 1896 Almer and his wife Margaritha ("Gritli") celebrated their golden (50th) wedding anniversary by climbing the Wetterhorn:

First ascents

*1857 Mönch (

) *1858

(

) *1862 Gross Fiescherhorn (

) *1864 Barre des Ecrins ( Dauphiné Alps) *1865 Aiguille Verte ( Mont Blanc Massif) *1865 Grand Cornier ( Pennine Alps) *1865 Pointe Whymper on the

Grandes Jorasses The Grandes Jorasses (; 4,208 m; 13,806 ft) is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif, on the boundary between Haute-Savoie in France and Aosta Valley in Italy. The first ascent of the highest peak of the mountain (''Pointe Walker'') was by H ...

( Mont Blanc Massif) *1865 Nesthorn (

) *1867 Kleines Schreckhorn (

) *1870 Ailefroide ( Dauphiné Alps) *1874 Mont Thuria, ( Graian Alps) *1876 Les Droites west summit ( Mont Blanc Massif) *1877 Pic Coolidge ( Dauphiné Alps) *1878 Aiguille Arves Méridonale ( Dauphiné Alps) *1878 Aiguille de l'Epaisseur ( Dauphiné Alps) *1878 Les Bans ( Dauphiné Alps) *1879 Aiguille de Chambeyron ( Cottian Alps) *1881 Visolotto ( Cottian Alps) *1884 Pointe de Soliette ( Graian Alps)

Death and Grave

Christian Almer died in Grindelwald on 17 May 1898. His gravestone reads: Hier ruht der besten Führer einer CHRISTIAN ALMER geb. 29. März 1826. gest. 17. Mai 1898

Galt’s Berge zu bezwingen, Gab’s keinen bessern Mann; Wer mit dir stritt und siegte, Dich nie vergessen kann. Jetzt darfst du auf den Zinnen Der ewige Berge stehn. Wohin dich Christus führte. Dort Freund auf Wiedersehn Deine alten treuen Fahrgenossen.

Here rests one of the best guides CHRISTIAN ALMER born 25 March 1826, died 17 May 1898.

Were mountains to be conquered, There wasn't a better man; Whoever struggled with you and won, Can never forget you. Now you may stand on the summits Of the eternal mountains. Where Christ led you. There friend goodbye. Your old, loyal companions.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Almer, Christian 1826 births 1898 deaths People from Interlaken-Oberhasli District Alpine guides Swiss mountain climbers People from Grindelwald