Placidus a Spescha
Encyclopedia
Placidus a Spescha was a benedictine monk and early Alpine explorer born in Trun
, near Disentis, in the valley of the upper Rhine in Graubünden
. He became a monk in 1774 in Disentis and went to Einsiedeln to complete his education.
The rest of his life was spent in serving various cures in his native valley, though he suffered much at the hands of his brother monks, who could not understand his scientific tastes. In 1799 he was accused of being a spy (his climbs and maps were held suspicious) in favour of the French invaders
, and, when the French did come, he had to give up to them all his scientific collections. In addition he had the dreadful experience of learning, soon after his departure, that his monastery, with all its most precious archives, including his own original collection, had been burnt by order of a French general so as to punish the peasants who dared to resist his advance.
Despite all these disadvantages, Spescha achieved an extraordinary amount of success in his mountain explorations around his native valley. It is true that Spescha failed to attain the very highest summit, the Tödi
, although in 1788 he ascended the Stockgron (11,214 ft), close to it, and only 673 ft lower, while in 1824, sitting on the depression (close to the Stockgron and 863 ft lower than the Todi), now called the "Porta da Spescha", he had the satisfaction of seeing the two local chamois hunters that he had sent forward actually attain the loftiest point. Here are the names of some of his principal climbs -in 1789, the Rheinwaldhorn
(11,149 ft), the highest summit around the sources of the Hinter Rhine, and, in 1806, the Güferhorn
(11,132 ft.), the second summit of that region; in 1792, the Oberalpstock
(10,926 ft), the highest point anywhere near Disentis; in 1793, the Piz Urlaun
(11,060 ft), near the Todi; in 1801, Piz Aul
(10,250 ft) and Piz Scharboda
(10,250ft); and in 1802, Piz Terri
(10,338 ft), these three mountains being the culminating points in the ranges that rise to the north of the Rheinwaldhorn group. Oddly enough, he does not seem to have visited any of the higher peaks of the Medel
group, but only its outliers, here again the dread of glaciers probably holding him back. It is noteworthy that in the course of all his climbs he rarely set foot on a glacier, though in 1812, on occasion of his second ascent of the Oberalpstock, he did cross the easy glacier Brunni Pass (8977 ft).
The Raetian Museum in Chur
contains part of his geological collection.
Trun, Switzerland
Trun is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-Geography:Trun has an area, , of . Of this area, 23.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 34% is forested...
, near Disentis, in the valley of the upper Rhine in Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
. He became a monk in 1774 in Disentis and went to Einsiedeln to complete his education.
The rest of his life was spent in serving various cures in his native valley, though he suffered much at the hands of his brother monks, who could not understand his scientific tastes. In 1799 he was accused of being a spy (his climbs and maps were held suspicious) in favour of the French invaders
Switzerland in the Napoleonic era
During the French Revolutionary Wars, the revolutionary armies marched eastward, enveloping Switzerland in their battles against Austria. In 1798 Switzerland was completely overrun by the French and became the Helvetic Republic. The Helvetic Republic encountered severe economic and political problems...
, and, when the French did come, he had to give up to them all his scientific collections. In addition he had the dreadful experience of learning, soon after his departure, that his monastery, with all its most precious archives, including his own original collection, had been burnt by order of a French general so as to punish the peasants who dared to resist his advance.
Despite all these disadvantages, Spescha achieved an extraordinary amount of success in his mountain explorations around his native valley. It is true that Spescha failed to attain the very highest summit, the Tödi
Tödi
The Tödi , or Piz Russein, is the highest mountain in the Glarus Alps and the highest summit in the Canton of Glarus, Switzerland. It is located on the border between the cantons of Graubünden and Glarus...
, although in 1788 he ascended the Stockgron (11,214 ft), close to it, and only 673 ft lower, while in 1824, sitting on the depression (close to the Stockgron and 863 ft lower than the Todi), now called the "Porta da Spescha", he had the satisfaction of seeing the two local chamois hunters that he had sent forward actually attain the loftiest point. Here are the names of some of his principal climbs -in 1789, the Rheinwaldhorn
Rheinwaldhorn
The Rheinwaldhorn is the highest point in the Swiss canton of Ticino at 3402m. It lies on the border between the cantons of Graubünden and Ticino, in the Adula massif, part of the St. Gotthard massif of the Lepontine Alps in southern Switzerland....
(11,149 ft), the highest summit around the sources of the Hinter Rhine, and, in 1806, the Güferhorn
Güferhorn
The Güferhorn is a mountain in the Lepontine Alps, located between the valleys of Vals and Hinterrhein in Graubünden. At 3,379 metres above sea level it is the highest summit of the Lepontine Alps lying east of the Rheinwaldhorn. The northern side of the massif is covered by the Güfergletscher, a 2...
(11,132 ft.), the second summit of that region; in 1792, the Oberalpstock
Oberalpstock
The Oberalpstock or Piz Tgietschen is a mountain in the Glarus Alps between the cantons of Uri and Graubünden. Its massif separates the valleys of Maderanertal and Surselva near Sedrun ....
(10,926 ft), the highest point anywhere near Disentis; in 1793, the Piz Urlaun
Piz Urlaun
Piz Urlaun is a mountain in the Glarus Alps, located on the border between the cantons of Glarus and Graubünden. It lies on the ridge between the Tödi and the Bifertenstock. Both sides are covered by glaciers.-External links:*...
(11,060 ft), near the Todi; in 1801, Piz Aul
Piz Aul
The Piz Aul is a mountain in the Lepontine Alps in Switzerland.-External links:*...
(10,250 ft) and Piz Scharboda
Piz Scharboda
Piz Scharboda is a mountain in the Lepontine Alps in Switzerland.-External links:*...
(10,250ft); and in 1802, Piz Terri
Piz Terri
Piz Terri is a mountain in the Lepontine Alps, located on the border between the cantons of Ticino and Graubünden. At 3,149 metres above sea level it is the highest summit lying on the chain between Greina and Soreda Pass. Piz Terri overlooks Lake Luzzone in Val Blenio on its west side, Val Sumvitg...
(10,338 ft), these three mountains being the culminating points in the ranges that rise to the north of the Rheinwaldhorn group. Oddly enough, he does not seem to have visited any of the higher peaks of the Medel
Piz Medel
Piz Medel is a mountain in the Lepontine Alps, located on the border between the cantons of Ticino and Graubünden. At 3,210 metres above sea level it is the highest summit on the chain between Lukmanier Pass and Crap la Crusch...
group, but only its outliers, here again the dread of glaciers probably holding him back. It is noteworthy that in the course of all his climbs he rarely set foot on a glacier, though in 1812, on occasion of his second ascent of the Oberalpstock, he did cross the easy glacier Brunni Pass (8977 ft).
The Raetian Museum in Chur
Chur
Chur or Coire is the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden and lies in the northern part of the canton.-History:The name "chur" derives perhaps from the Celtic kora or koria, meaning "tribe", or from the Latin curia....
contains part of his geological collection.