Jürg von Känel

13.5.1951 – 6.1.2005

Publishing House Founder and Author until 2004

Jürg published his first rock climbing guidebook “The Most Beautiful Sport Climbs Of The Bernese Oberland“ in 1986. Everything from the included topos, text, and overview maps was hand drawn by Jürg. The next guidebook to follow would be published in 1989, “Swiss Extreme”. This Climbing guidebook also included Para-gliding beta which was growing in popularity at that time.

The visionary and ever popular Plaisir Guidebook Series first appeared in 1992. For the first time, Jürg did the text and layout on the computer.

Years past, and by 2004, Jurg had published a total of 24 climbing guidebooks! The topos and overlays kept getting better and better and he worked more and more at his computer. He was an “All Rounder“ and he loved doing everything from climbing the routes, drawing the topos, establishing and equipping new lines, taking photos, and distributing the books.

In the summer of 2004, Jürg decided to write an “Alpine“ Guidebook and by the end of the year, this Alpine Topo Guide was nearly completed.

With his tragic death on the 6th of January 2005, we lost a wonderful and loving person. Jürg was a hard working, precise, creative, reliable, authentic, and humorous personality. He is an inspiration and role model.

The von Känel Family