Christian Almer

 ( 1826 Births ) 

Christian Almer (29 March 1826 – 17 May 1898) was a Switzerland mountain guide and the first ascent of many prominent mountains in the western Alps during the golden and silver ages of alpinism. Almer was born and died in Grindelwald, Canton of Bern.

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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 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, 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 Wetterhorn within one year. Four years later, he and Charles Barrington with Peter Bohren were the first people to stand on the Eiger summit, which at that time was considered as unclimbable as the Matterhorn 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.

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

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

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First ascents

• 1857 Mönch (Bernese Alps)
• 1858 Eiger (Bernese Alps)
• 1862 Fiescherhorn (Bernese Alps)
• 1864 Barre des Ecrins (Dauphiné Alps)
• 1865 Aiguille Verte (Mont Blanc Massif)
• 1865 Grand Cornier (Pennine Alps)
• 1865 Pointe Whymper on the Grandes Jorasses (Mont Blanc Massif)
• 1865 Nesthorn (Bernese Alps)
• 1867 Kleines Schreckhorn (Bernese Alps)
• 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)

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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.

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