The Golden age of alpinism was the period between Alfred Wills's ascent of the Wetterhorn in 1854 and Edward Whymper's ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865, during which many major Alpine peaks saw their first ascents.
Its start slightly predating the formation of the Alpine Club in London in 1857, the golden age was dominated by British alpinists accompanied by their Swiss and French guides. Prominent figures of the period include Lord Francis Douglas, Florence Crauford Grove, Charles Hudson, E. S. Kennedy, William Mathews, A. W. Moore, Leslie Stephen, Francis Fox Tuckett, John Tyndall, Horace Walker and Edward Whymper. Well-known guides of the era include Christian Almer, Jakob Anderegg, Melchior Anderegg, J. J. Bennen and Michel Croz.
First ascents in the golden age
- Ostspitze, Strahlhorn (1854)
Dufourspitze , Mont Blanc du Tacul, Weissmies (1855)- Lagginhorn (1856)
- Pelmo (1857)
- Dom, Eiger, Nadelhorn, Piz Morteratsch, Wildstrubel (1858)
- Aletschhorn, Bietschhorn, Grand Combin, Grivola, Rimpfischhorn (1859)
- Alphubel, Blüemlisalphorn, Gran Paradiso, Grande Casse (1860)
- Castor, Lyskamm, Monte Viso, Schreckhorn, Weisshorn, Wildspitze (1861)
- Dent Blanche, Gross Fiescherhorn, Monte Disgrazia, Täschhorn (1862)
- Dent d'Hérens, Parrotspitze, Piz Zupò (1863)
- Aiguille d'Argentière, Balmhorn, Barre des Écrins, Marmolata, Mont Dolent, Pollux, Presanella, Zinalrothorn (1864)
- Aiguille Verte, Grand Cornier, Matterhorn, Ober Gabelhorn, Piz Roseg (1865)
See also
References
- Braham, Trevor, When the Alps Cast Their Spell: Mountaineers of the Golden Age of Alpinism, In Pinn, 2004
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