The Foundation
The King Albert I Memorial Foundation goes back to Walter Amstutz, former director of the tourist board of St. Moritz and long-time climbing companion of King Albert I. It was established in 1993 as a foundation under Swiss law. The aim of the foundation is to grant the Albert Mountain Award to persons or institutions who have rendered exceptional, sustainable services in connection with the mountains of the world.
To date, 67 persons and institutions have been granted the Albert Mountain Award. Among them are, for example, outstanding mountaineers and rock climbers, geographers and geologists, photographers and writers, publishers of alpine literature, doctors specialising in high-altitude medicine, or persons and institutions who have dedicated themselves to the protection of mountains. They have all made an important contribution towards preserving the mountains as a majestic, beautiful and safe place – as a living environment for mountain people, a leisure environment for mountaineers and as a heritage of our world.
Freedom, ethical and responsible conduct and respect for the alpine environment are the criteria that determine the granting of a Albert Mountain Award – and will continue to do so in future.
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The King at Refuge Albert Ier, Mont Blanc Range
The Founder
Walter Amstutz (1900–1997)
When Walter Amstutz established the foundation in 1993 he could look back on a long and successful life. He was active professionally both as Director of the Tourist Office of San Moritz and as a publisher (Amstutz & Herdig, de Clivo Press). In the mountaineering world he was co-founder of the Swiss Academic Ski Club, co-organizer of the Anglo-Swiss Race in Mürren, and inventor of the “Kilomètre lancé” (Speed-Skiing). He made the first ascent of the Blüemlisalp North Face, and was the first person to ascend the Eiger on skis. In 1984 he received the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his promotion of Anglo-Swiss relations.
King Albert I and Walter Amstutz met in 1929 at the banquet of the Anglo-Swiss Race in Mürren. Amstutz later recalled, “Over hors d’oeuvres the king asked me if I would accompany him on a small ski-tour in the Schilthorn region.” Thus began a friendship that would extend beyond mountaineering.
The King of Belgium and the son of the hotelier from Mürren undertook many tours together, especially in the Bergell and in the Engelhörner. “The world mourns for a great aristocrat,” wrote Amstutz after the king’s fatal accident. “Many climbing and skiing tours in Switzerland and the Tyrol connected me with this great and noble personage, at whose bier I mourn with great sorrow. We were privileged to share six years of partnership on a rope with King Albert.”
The Board (left to right): Frank-Urs Müller, Beat Hächler, Marc Schnyder, Lucie Wiget, Dominik Siegrist (until 2024), Alexandra Gozon (until 2024), Lode Beckers, Jörg Balsiger, Anne Roches. Missing on the picture: Daniel Anker
The Board
- Marc Schnyder (President), tourism economist (since 2022)
- Frank-Urs Müller (Secretary), former judge, former president Swiss Alpine Club SAC (since 2014)
- Daniel Anker, journalist, author and historian (since 2002)
- Jörg Balsiger, associate professor (since 2023)
- Lode Beckers, Li.D, M.A. Pol. Sc., Belgium, mountaineer, company director, association director (since 2018)
- Beat Hächler, curator, director of the ALPS Swiss Alpine Museum (since 2014)
- Anne Roches, environmental engineer and scientist (since 2016)
- Lucie Wiget, biologist, teacher, collaborator free access & nature protection at the Swiss Alpine Club SAC (since 2019)
Former board members:
- Walter Amstutz (1993–1998)
- Albert Eggler (1993–1998)
- Jean-Francis Sierro (1993–2002)
- Raoul Imseng (1993–2003)
- Jürg Marmet (1993–2007)
- Yvonne Gozon-Amstutz (1998–2003)
- Christoph Jezler (1998–2015)
- Herbert Trachsler (2002–2014)
- Freddy Widmer (2003–2004)
- Bruno Messerli (2003–2015)
- Hans Peter Danuser (2005–2013)
- Peter Rieder (2005–2015)
- Oswald Oelz (2007-2015)
- Marco Volken (2012-2021)
- Wilfried Haeberli (2014-2022)
- Johan Swinnen (2021-2022)
- Alexandra Gozon (2003-2024)
- Dominik Siegrist (2007-2024)
Donors
The historical donors of the Foundation were:
Alpine Club, London • Amstutz, Dr. W., Männedorf • Barbey, F., Bruxelles • Beekley, M., USA • Bigler, Spichiger & Cie, Biglen • Bon, H., St. Moritz • British Friends of King Albert I, United Kingdom • Climbing companions of King Albert I, Zürich • Coninx, Dr. O., Zürich • De Grunne, Comte Xavier, Bruxelles • De Launoit, Comte Arsene, Liège • Engadin Kollektiv, St. Moritz • Gauchat, M., Zürich • Gozon, Y., Adligenswil • Graf, F., Zürich • Huber, Dr., Zürich • Illi, H., Zürich • Ingenieur Tiefbau AG, Zug • Kartenaktion 1934-1936 Orell Füssli, St. Moritz / Zürich • Keller, Dr. E., Frauenfeld • Konzert G. Sajani, M. Mastronardi, W. Pasotto, St. Moritz • Kur- und Verkehrsverein Pontresina • Kur- und Verkehrsverein St. Moritz • L'Indépendance Belge (Contribution collective), Bruxelles • Maison Picard • Ponselle, R., Milano • Rotary Clubs der Schweiz • SAC Sektion Pilatus, Luzern • Schoch, Dr. M. A., Bern • UBS AG, Zürich • Schweiz Tourismus, Zürich • F. Schwitter AG, Basel • Union des Suisses au Congo, Kinshasa • Graubünden Ferien, Chur • Dr. Wander AG, Bern • Zeitschrift «Sport», Zürich.
The Foundation welcomes further contributions. Please feel free to contact us.
Bank account: IBAN CH10 0023 0230 6727 2501 P (CHF), UBS AG, Bahnhofstrasse 45, CH–8098 Zürich