Opening of the Special Exhibition, June 1, 2023

125 Years of the Grindelwald Mountain Guides Association

I'm sorry, I cannot recognize who is in the picture.

I was recently invited to the opening of the special exhibition "125 Years of the Grindelwald Mountain Guides Association." Although I'm a young "Bhend ice axe" from 2022, my ice axe ancestors have witnessed the entire history of the Grindelwald Mountain Guides Association. Karl Bhend came to Grindelwald in 1870 and soon began forging ice axes for mountaineers in his blacksmith and wagon workshop. Fortunately, the Grindelwald Museum exists, allowing me to learn about these past times!

The oldest group photo of the Grindelwald mountain guides dates back to 1880, taken eighteen years before the association was founded.

Old photo in a black frame shows a group of people with hiking sticks in front of a building.

Whether my ancestors were part of the first ascent over the Mittellegi Ridge, I can't say for sure. At that time, Jörg in Zweilütschinen, Häsler in Lütschental, and Schenk in Grindelwald were also forging ice axes.

Four men in traditional clothing stand next to a train, surrounded by mountains.

In the past, Bhend ice axes occasionally participated in parades. This was also the case in 1973, when the Grindelwald Mountain Guides Association celebrated its 75th anniversary.

Group of people in traditional clothing with hiking sticks on a road in front of cars.

Occasionally, my ancestors were also given to prominent people. For example, in 2006, when the Grindelwald Mountain Guides Association organized the "100 Years of the Swiss and Bernese Mountain Guides Association" anniversary, they presented a Bhend ice axe to Federal Councillor Joseph Deiss.

Three men in suits on a stage with microphones and a banner in the background.

I was also interested in the development from the former mountain guide office in 1963 to the company OUTDOOR in the special exhibition. Mountain guide office, mountaineering school, mountaineering center, GrindelwaldSports, OUTDOOR - so many names! It's simpler for me: for about 150 years, I've been called the same: Bhend ice axe!