Christian Almer


Christian Almer was a Swiss mountain guide and the first ascensionist 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.

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, 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 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.

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 celebrated their golden wedding anniversary by climbing the Wetterhorn:

First ascents

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.