Martin Engler - an obituary

The Allgäu mountain guide and well-known avalanche expert Martin Engler died unexpectedly at the age of 52 on the night of March 2, 2014. After returning from a course, he did not wake up the next morning. The loss of Martin Engler has not only hit the alpine and avalanche scene hard. In addition to his undeniable technical expertise, Martin Engler will be remembered above all as a great and lovable person. Martin Engler was born in 1962. According to his own statements, he actually wanted to emigrate to the south, but got "stuck" in the beautiful Allgäu and the snow. He lived in Rettenberg in the Allgäu with his wife and two children until the end. Martin was incredibly talented and interested in many things: he was a state-certified mountain guide, naturopath and was passionate about working as a craftsman. His avalanche book "The White Danger" is part of the canon of avalanche reading. Alongside the Swiss avalanche expert Werner Munter, Martin Engler is regarded as one of the key developers and enforcers of strategic avalanche awareness. His risk management system Factor Check and in particular the SnowCard he developed have made him one of the most deserving avalanche experts of our time. I was lucky enough to meet Martin Engler in person about 15 years ago. We spent a relaxed summer evening around the campfire behind his house in the Allgäu and talked about the avalanche book projects we were planning at the time. Although we were still pretty greenhorns at the time, Martin was impressively helpful with advice and support. Our later contact was limited to e-mails and occasional phone calls, but it was always clear that Martin was a person who never forgets anyone and who you can always turn to. Martin's unexpected and very early death leaves a huge gap and leaves us deeply saddened. We wish his family and friends the strength they need to get over this painful loss. In grateful memory... Tobias Kurzeder