A literary critic, a judge and an explorer were in the small group of wealthy British who conquered the highest peaks of the European Alps for 150 years, ever hoping his hobby became a world-wide sport.
The mountaineering currently attracts people from all walks of life and places in the world, reaching well beyond the tops of the Alpine mountain range, where it all began in 1865.
“Everything changed in just two days” said Claude Marin, a guide who is organizing the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the conquest in Chamonix, one of the oldest ski and climbing ressortes of France, which is in the shadow of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps.
On July 14, 1865, explorer, author and illustrator Edward Whymper made history by reaching the 4478 meters of height Matterhorn mountain on the border between Italy and Switzerland.
On the way down, three other British and a guide, the climber legendary Chamonix Michel Croz, slipped and died. The accident released a strong debate in the UK about the possible ban of the practice.
The next day, however, another group has achieved a peak even higher, the Mont Blanc, which lies between France and Italy.
Although they have been the first to accomplish the feat – it took place in 1786 -. they were the first to do it the hardest route at Italian side
Currently, Mont Blanc attracts tens of thousands of climbers every year -. but only a small number reaches its top
It was gold
The year 1865 “was the beginning of mountaineering and the sport we practice today, “says Marin.
During the previous decade, the practice was treated as something to clubs, and mountaineering ceased to be as original motivation scientific exploration.
Of the 81 people who climbed for the first time the Alps and the Pyrenees that year, the British were the majority, according to local records.
Of the 63 climbers who conquered 65 mountain tops that year, 34 were British, followed by 13 Austrians, nine suuíços, six Italian and French. A total of 53 guides helped in climbing.
Eight years ago, a British elite group had formed the first mountaineering club with 28 people. They promoted the activity as many sports as cultural adventure, encouraging participants to immortalize the landscapes in text, photos and paintings.
For the 150th anniversary, some of these pieces will be displayed for the first time on the continent. In Charmonix will also be held the Climbing World Cup, between 11 and 12 July.
Technology
Since 1865, about 500 climbers have lost their lives in the region.
Currently, sport practitioners rely on sophisticated and high-tech equipment and is far from the reality of the pioneers who faced the tracks with a little more than their own power, judgment, and thick layers sheep skin to survive the low temperatures.
Cell phones allow climbers twenty-first century have well traced routes, leaving very little to chance.
“Climbing has become something democratic, mainly because of the mapping, “says the president of the association of Chamonix guides, David Ravanel.
Nevertheless, there are still many areas to be explored, the valleys of Pakistan to areas in Antarctica .
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