Dragutin Brahm
Encyclopedia
Dragutin Brahm was a Croatian
mountain climber. He died while attempting the first ascent of the Anica kuk wall in the Paklenica
climbing area, making him the first casualty in the history of Croatian rock climbing.
, in the early 1930s Brahm bagged successfully the summits of Jalovec
, (Couloir route), Triglav
over the north face, and Grossglockner.
.
From there, they hired a car to Obrovac
where they boarded a boat for Starigrad. At 3 a.m. the next day, they hiked into Paklenica
gorge to the foot of the 350 m high Anica kuk face. After a six-hour climb and about 3/4 of the route completed, Brahm fell 8 metres (26.2 ft), his head bouncing off the rock and his body landed in squat position on the ledge where his belaying partner was. Despite the rescue effort - the other two went for help to Starigrad and came back with mule loaded with 300 metres (984.3 ft) of fishermans rope - it turned to be all in vain as Brahm was dead already due to severe skull fracture
.
Once his partner unbelayed Brahm's corpse, already dead Brahm leaned backwards and fell again, this time the entire length of the Anica kuk face.
In the two years following the accident, no another climbing attempt in Paklenica occurred. On the 2nd anniversary of Brahm's death (June 27, 1940), Marijan Dragman/Drago Brezovečki party completed the unfinished job. The route was named in honor of Brahm. These days, the Brahm route is considered the classic, and it is the oldest climbing route at the entire Paklenica climbing site.
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
mountain climber. He died while attempting the first ascent of the Anica kuk wall in the Paklenica
Paklenica
The Paklenica karst river canyon is a national park in Croatia. It is located in Starigrad, northern Dalmatia, at the southern slopes of Velebit mountain, not far from Zadar. It has two canyons: Mala and Velika Paklenica. Today there is no water flowing throughout Mala Paklenica...
climbing area, making him the first casualty in the history of Croatian rock climbing.
Life in brief
House painter and decorator by profession, Brahm was noted in his early age as table tennis player and skier. He obtained various positions with Zagreb-based Cepin Alpine Club. Apart from climbing in the western parts of the Dinaric AlpsDinaric Alps
The Dinaric Alps or Dinarides form a mountain chain in Southern Europe, spanning areas of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro....
, in the early 1930s Brahm bagged successfully the summits of Jalovec
Jalovec (mountain)
Jalovec is a mountain in the Julian Alps. With an elevation of 2,645 m, it is the sixth-highest peak in Slovenia. It stands between the Tamar, Koritnica, and Trenta Alpine valleys. Nearby peaks include Mangart to the west, Travnik and Mojstrovka to the east, and Ponce to the north.- External links :...
, (Couloir route), Triglav
Triglav
Triglav is the highest mountain in Slovenia and the highest peak of the Julian Alps. While its name, meaning "three-headed", can describe its shape as seen from the Bohinj area, the mountain was most probably named after the Slavic god Triglav. The mountain is the preeminent symbol of the Slovene...
over the north face, and Grossglockner.
Death and aftermath
On June 26, 1938, shortly after midnight, Brahm and three others took a train from Zagreb to GračacGracac
Gračac is a village and a municipality in the southern part of Lika, Croatia. It is located south of Udbina, northeast of Obrovac, northwest of Knin and southeast of Gospić...
.
From there, they hired a car to Obrovac
Obrovac
Obrovac can refer to:* Obrovac, Croatia, a town in Croatia* Obrovac , a village in Vojvodina, Serbia...
where they boarded a boat for Starigrad. At 3 a.m. the next day, they hiked into Paklenica
Paklenica
The Paklenica karst river canyon is a national park in Croatia. It is located in Starigrad, northern Dalmatia, at the southern slopes of Velebit mountain, not far from Zadar. It has two canyons: Mala and Velika Paklenica. Today there is no water flowing throughout Mala Paklenica...
gorge to the foot of the 350 m high Anica kuk face. After a six-hour climb and about 3/4 of the route completed, Brahm fell 8 metres (26.2 ft), his head bouncing off the rock and his body landed in squat position on the ledge where his belaying partner was. Despite the rescue effort - the other two went for help to Starigrad and came back with mule loaded with 300 metres (984.3 ft) of fishermans rope - it turned to be all in vain as Brahm was dead already due to severe skull fracture
Skull fracture
A skull fracture is a break in one or more of the bones in the skull usually occurring as a result of blunt force trauma. If the force of the impact is excessive the bone may fracture at or near the site of the impact...
.
Once his partner unbelayed Brahm's corpse, already dead Brahm leaned backwards and fell again, this time the entire length of the Anica kuk face.
In the two years following the accident, no another climbing attempt in Paklenica occurred. On the 2nd anniversary of Brahm's death (June 27, 1940), Marijan Dragman/Drago Brezovečki party completed the unfinished job. The route was named in honor of Brahm. These days, the Brahm route is considered the classic, and it is the oldest climbing route at the entire Paklenica climbing site.