When you think about retirement, many envisage living in a charming little cottage, taking the occasional stroll to the shops, tending to the garden and having a nice read. While it may seem idyllic for most, one 79-year-old Swiss citizen has decided to smash this perception, having recently completed his 6.000th accent of a Swiss mountain.

Armin Schelbert ascends the Great Mythen 6.000 times

At 11am on July 14, Armin Schelbert - nicknamed “The Man” - began his 6.000th ascent of the Great Mythen mountain in Canton Schwyz. The climb to 1.900 metres above sea level has earnt him a place in the history books as the person who has climbed the so-called "lonely mountain" the most, just as he approaches his 80th birthday.

Our story starts 24 years ago, when Schelbert joined volunteers in helping a hut keeper carry material up to the top of the mountain; "That awakened joy and ambition in me”, he told 20 Minuten. The efforts of him and the other volunteers turned into what would be called the “100 club”, a group reserved for people that climb the mountain at least 100 times a year.

Here's him speaking in May 2019, after he had just passed the 4.600 mark:

Schelbert: These mountains are a piece of life

24 years later, the resident of Moutathal is known for climbing the mountain several times before noon, even starting at 3am when the weather is good. “For me, these mountains are a piece of life. The Great Mythen is my home…It's not an addiction, it's just my form of exercise," he explained.

With the record now broken, 20 Minuten calculated that since he started Schelbert has climbed more than 3 million metres and spent around seven months of his life hiking up the mountain. The peak of his form was in 2018 when he - as a spritely 74-year-old - ascended the mountain 486 times during the summer alone. 

79-year-old Swiss hiker to keep moving on up

"This record stands for eternity. It's extraordinary that someone has such a will and can still climb smoothly at the age of 80, [Schelbert is] simply a person with passion," noted Hans Reichmuth, president of the Friends of Mythen organisation. For his part, Schelbert said that even though he isn’t as sure-footed as he once was, “As long as I can, I will continue" - maybe the 7.000 record is only a few years away...