View Point: Getrudspitze

The Engelhörner are one of the most versatile limestone climbing areas in Switzerland. The chain comprises a total of 31 peaks high above the Reichenbach valley. In the late 19th century only individual peaks were climbed. Then Gertrude Bell appeared on the scene. At a time when alpinism was dominated almost exclusively by men, the British women, born in 1868, was considered one of the world's best and boldest climber. The extraordinary woman descended from a wealthy industrial dynasty. She  abhorred the prospect of a "career" as the wife of a square, therefore she took up her studies in Oxford as one of the first women of her time. Afterward she traveled extensively in the Orient. In the late summer 1901 she engaged in the Haslital, two mountain guides from Innertkirchen, the brothers Ulrich and Heinrich Fuhrer. Within a few days she performed with the two guides eight first ascents. According to the custom the first climber had the privilege of rewarding his name to the peak. In this way, Gertrude Bell immortalized her name in the 2633 m high peak called Gertrudspitze.