Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix - History of the creation of the association of the Guides of Chamonix

La compagnie des Guides de Chamonix - version française

Beginnings

In 1741, two english aristocrats, Windham and Pockocke, looked for someone to accompany them on their excusions into the mountain while on visit to the Chamonix valley.
They managed to get two local men, a crystal seeker and a hunter, who were accustomed to walking in the mountains, to take them to Montenvers. This can be considered the beginning of tourism and the beginning of the profession of the mountain guide.

In 1786 on the 8th of August at 6pm a crystal seeker, Jacques Balmat and a doctor, Michel Gabriel Paccard, reach the summit of Mont Blanc thus giving birth to ‘alpinism’.

Solidarity from the beginning

1820. The valley of Chamonix is under Sardinian administration. Above the grand plateau, whilst en route for the Mont Blanc, an avalanche takes the life of three guides, Pierre Carrier, Pierre Balmat and August Tairraz. A collection is taken for the victims’ families. The king allocates pensions to their dependants.

1821. The Guide’s Company is created. The original ruling of the Company provides for members’ financial contribution to a kitty to serve as "aid for Guides, or the family of those who are stricken by accident, as well as for those guides who, no longer able to work due to their age or other circumstances, may be in need".

1863. Savoie passes into French administration. A society of mutual assistance or ‘friendly society’ is created. The aim of the above is :
a) to provide doctor’s assistance and medicines for infirm members,
b) to pay them an indemnity for the duration of their sickness,
c) to oversee their funeral costs.

The statutes regarding this matter are most elaborate. It is an English style social security system.

Creation of the Emergency Fund 1924.

The statutes of the Emergency Fund are annexed to the Statutes of the Guides’ Company. They will be maintained in all but a few details in their original form until today.

The main idea is that the funds amassed by the members of the company should be available to cover costs incurred by accident, illness, by death or taking retirement.

Up until the end of the 19th century the company had, amongst other things, considerable influence on the social well being and the general education of the population of the valley, (construction of public amenities, donations to the church, the creation of a language school). Following the great wars the situation changed and due to the modesty of the funds now available priority was accorded to the most exceptional cases.

The Emergency Fund, a social security fund for the town

Thus when the fire of Chamonix struck in 1855 the town’s administration was able to call on the solidarity of the Guides in this way : « In the past, the funds belonging to the Guides were allocated to anyone in need regardless of their situation or accident. This time the commune petitions for donations from the state and from abroad. »

The Emergency Funds and solidarity today

The Guide, as an independent, does not have access to the social advantages usual to other professions. Private insurance is still very expensive and often inadequate. The assistance given by the Emergency Fund today is the only way to compensate this lack of social protection.

Moreover, as one can see in the statutes (in annex in their entirety), the funds are maintained : « by donations and the profits from benefit events ; by quotas paid by the associate members, benefactors and other fees ; by interests on investments and any other means approved by the Guides" Company Council of Administration. »