The Oldest Mountaineering School

Pontresina is home not only to the oldest and still largest mountaineering school in Graubünden, but also to the Pontresina Mountain Guides Association, which was founded in 1871 as the third mountain guides association in Switzerland. With 94 current members, the original ambition to climb the peaks of the ice and snow giants of the Bernina Massif is still very much alive today.

The responsibilities of the Mountain Guides Association include not only guiding in the mountains, but also carrying out safety checks on high-altitude routes and installing safety features such as markings and chains. In addition, they invest heavily in the training of guests and the next generation of mountain guides. In July 2021, the association celebrated its 150th anniversary—an event that honored the long-standing importance of mountaineering in the Engadin.

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