Werner Munter (born 1941 in Lohnstorf, Switzerland) is a mountain guide, author and safety-expert for Alpine

climbing Climbing is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or any other part of the body to ascend a steep topographical object that can range from the world's tallest mountains (e.g. the eight thousanders), to small boulders. Climbing is done ...

Life

Munter, who lives in Vernamiège near

Sion, Switzerland , neighboring_municipalities= Ayent, Conthey, Grimisuat, Grône, Les Agettes, Nax, Nendaz, Saint-Léonard, Salins, Savièse, Vernamiège, Vex , twintowns = Sion (; german: Sitten ; it, Seduno; la, Sedunum) is a Swiss town, a mun ...

, introduced the 'Halbmastwurf' as a

belay Belaying is a variety of techniques climbers use to create friction within a climbing system, particularly on a climbing rope, so that a falling climber does not fall very far. A climbing partner typically applies tension at the other end of t ...

hitch for climbing. English-speaking climbers know this knot as the

Munter hitch The Munter hitch, also known as the Italian hitch, mezzo barcaiolo or the crossing hitch, is a simple adjustable knot, commonly used by climbers, cavers, and rescuers to control friction in a life-lining or belay system. To climbers, this hitc ...

. Munter became especially well known during the 1990s by his books on avalanches. These led to a shift of paradigm in the practical assessment of avalanches. The so-called '3 × 3 Filter- und Reduktionsmethode' is a probabilistic strategy of decision for winter mountaineers (especially skiing mountaineers) for the assessment of

avalanche An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope, such as a hill or mountain. Avalanches can be set off spontaneously, by such factors as increased precipitation or snowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, animals, and eart ...

risks in unprotected alpine areas. Munter's works triggered intensive discussions among mountaineers and mountain guides. Meanwhile, his 'Reduktionsmethode' (method of reduction) or similar decision strategies (Engler, DAV: Snowcard, Larcher/OeAV: Stop or Go) are now routinely taught by the Alpine Clubs (Alpenvereine). , Munter is employed at the 'Eidgenössisches Institut für Schnee- und Lawinenforschung' (Swiss institute for research on snow and avalanches) in Davos'. In 1995, he was proclaimed 'Ehrenbergführer' (honorary mountain guide) by the Swiss association of mountain guides for his merits. In 1997, he received the 'Eybl-Sicherheitspreis'.

Published works (in German)

* 3×3 Lawinen - * Berner Alpen - * Bergsteigen I Bergwandern und Felsklettern - * Bergsteigen II Hochgebirgsklettern und Tourenskilauf -

Literature (in German)

* Beiträge zur strategischen Lawinenkunde
Berg&Steigen 4/2001 (Hrsg: OeAV)

External links

1941 births Living people Alpine guides Swiss mountain climbers {{Switzerland-sport-bio-stub