Rudolf Rother was born in 1927 in Munich. He dedicated his life to the mountains and died in 2023 at age 96. After fighting in the war and being taken prisoner by the French, he started an apprenticeship as typesetter and publishing manager. From 1951 through 1953, he attended the "Meisterschule für Deutschlands Buchdrucker" at Munich. His journeyman years took him to Frankfurt, Zurich, Düsseldorf, New York and Springfield, Illinois. After his return to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1956, he joined the publishing company "Bergverlag Rudolf Rother", established by his father in 1920.