Kurt Albert
Encyclopedia
Kurt Albert was a climber
and photographer. He started climbing at the age of 14. Before he wholly committed his life to climbing in 1986 he was a mathematics and physics teacher.
At the age of seventeen he climbed the Walkerpfeiler in the Grandes Jorasses
and one year later he climbed the north face of the Eiger. After a visit to the Saxon Switzerland
climbing area in Saxony, Germany in 1973 he recognized the potential of free climbing
(free climbing was practised in Saxony
since the early 19th century). He started to free climb in his home climbing area, the Frankenjura. In the routes he would now try to ascend while free climbing, he would—in between attempts—paint a red 'X' on the rocks near pitons he did not need as holds or steps. Once he could place a red 'X' on all the pitons and hooks in the route, and was thus able to free climb
the entire route, he would paint a red dot at the base of the route. From this comes the English term "redpoint", which is derived from the German Rotpunkt, meaning "red dot" or "red point". In many ways this was the origin of the free climbing movement that led to the development of sport climbing
some years later.
Albert was severely injured in a climbing accident on the 26th of September 2010. Albert fell 18 metres (59.1 ft) while demonstrating climbing techniques at a via ferrata
close to Hirschbach, Bavaria
. Albert died two days later while hospitalised in Erlangen
.
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
and photographer. He started climbing at the age of 14. Before he wholly committed his life to climbing in 1986 he was a mathematics and physics teacher.
At the age of seventeen he climbed the Walkerpfeiler in the Grandes Jorasses
Grandes Jorasses
The Grandes Jorasses is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif.The first ascent of the highest peak of the mountain was by Horace Walker with guides Melchior Anderegg, Johann Jaun and Julien Grange on 30 June 1868...
and one year later he climbed the north face of the Eiger. After a visit to the Saxon Switzerland
Saxon Switzerland
Saxon Switzerland is a hilly climbing area and national park around the Elbe valley south-east of Dresden in Saxony, Germany. Together with the Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic it forms the Elbe Sandstone Mountains....
climbing area in Saxony, Germany in 1973 he recognized the potential of free climbing
Free climbing
Free climbing is a type of rock climbing in which the climber uses only hands, feet and other parts of the body to ascend, employing ropes and forms of climbing protection to prevent falls only....
(free climbing was practised in Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
since the early 19th century). He started to free climb in his home climbing area, the Frankenjura. In the routes he would now try to ascend while free climbing, he would—in between attempts—paint a red 'X' on the rocks near pitons he did not need as holds or steps. Once he could place a red 'X' on all the pitons and hooks in the route, and was thus able to free climb
Free climbing
Free climbing is a type of rock climbing in which the climber uses only hands, feet and other parts of the body to ascend, employing ropes and forms of climbing protection to prevent falls only....
the entire route, he would paint a red dot at the base of the route. From this comes the English term "redpoint", which is derived from the German Rotpunkt, meaning "red dot" or "red point". In many ways this was the origin of the free climbing movement that led to the development of sport climbing
Sport climbing
Sport climbing is a form of rock climbing that relies on permanent anchors fixed to the rock, and possibly bolts, for protection,...
some years later.
Albert was severely injured in a climbing accident on the 26th of September 2010. Albert fell 18 metres (59.1 ft) while demonstrating climbing techniques at a via ferrata
Via ferrata
A via ferrata or klettersteig is a mountain route which is equipped with fixed cables, stemples, ladders, and bridges. The use of these allows otherwise isolated routes to be joined to create longer routes which are accessible to people with a wide range of climbing abilities...
close to Hirschbach, Bavaria
Hirschbach, Bavaria
Hirschbach is a municipality in the district of Amberg-Sulzbach in Bavaria in Germany....
. Albert died two days later while hospitalised in Erlangen
Erlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
.