History
The South Tyrolean history most likely begins with the first ascent of Mt. Ortler on the 17th September in 1804. Later on, other summits were reached. First by hunters, then those seeking minerals, and shepards. During the middle of the 19th century there was a regular “run” to the highest and best known summits. One of the reasons was to map the landscape exactly. Mainly British mountaineers and well-heeled guests explored the South Tyrolean mountains. They reached several summits first, eg the Kesselkogel and the Rosengartenspitze. Approximately 60 summits in the Ortler- region were attempted from 1865 to 1868 by the Austrian officer and geographer Julius Payer together with the mountain guide from Sulden, Johann Pinggera. In the Dolomites Paul Grohmann from Vienna accompanied by local mountain guides had many summit “firsts” credited to his name. One of the most outstanding mountain guide of this time was Michel Innerkofler from Sexten. Around 1870, the highest and most famous summits of South Tyrol were ascended. At that time the foundation of alpine associations was formed and therewith began the organisation of lodges and mountain guides.
- Becherhaus August 1932
- Januar 1934
- Januar 1931
In 1869 the foundation of the German Alpine Association created two further sections - one at Bozen and one at Niederdorf. The alpine organisations considered it essential to qualify “escorters” to become mountain guides. In 1871 the mountain guide regularity reached legal status. In 1873 the German and the Austrian Alpine Associations were united to the great German- Austrian Alpine Association, which trained and qualified mountain guides. During the following 36 years three hundred and fifty-two mountain guides were trained in Bozen for the region of South and Welsch Tyrol. Until the outbreak of World War I tourism prospered and the mountain guides were busy.
In 1923, after the end of World War I, German speaking associations were forbidden. Thus mountain guides, who wanted to be in an organisation, joined the Italian Alpine Association (Club Alpine Italiano, CAI). The vocational training of the mountain guides was exclusively organised by the CAI until 1978. Every year the licence had to be renewed through the regional authorities. Around that time two mountain guide groups existed, one of the CAI and one of the South Tyrolean Alpine Association (AVS).
The South Tyrolean mountain guides were accepted into the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA) beginning in 1976. The first law governing the mountain and ski guide regulatory was enacted in 1978, and the Association of South Tyrolean mountain guides was established. From that time on, the South Tyrolean mountain guides are organised independently. Together with the state office for Tourism and Alpinism they realise the vocational and continuation training. In 1991 the law was revised and is in force to date.
South Tyrolean mountain guides enjoy internationally an excellent reputation. Without any doubt part of this reputation derives from the high quality of the vocational training.