Celebrating 150 Years of the Golden Age of Alpinism in Chamonix-Mont Blanc
- Jul 25, 2015
- 3 min read
It is not hard to imagine why man, for hundreds of years now, has attempted summit after summit of the Alps - French, Swiss, Italian. It would be odd to think that human beings in all their curiosity did not contemplate, while looking at these massive mountain peaks, "Why not?"
1865 was the year that the stars aligned for mountaineers and mountaineering in the Alps. The nexus of improvements in cartography and photography aided the spread of curiosity among adventure-seekers in Europe, the British especially, to scale peaks in the Alps. In 1865 alone, there were 65 first ascents of various peaks in the Alps, 7 of which happened in the Mont Blanc massif.
To celebrate this century and a half of mountaineering history, there are a series of exhibits in the Chamonix valley through next year (that means you have time to make your travel arrangements!). Below are a couple of exhibitions we were able to see while visiting. More information can be found on their official website here.
The Treasures of the Alpine Club: On Exhibit at Musee Alpin in Chamonix
The Musee Alpin in Chamonix has an exhibit of the treasures of the Alpine Club in London. It is the first time it has left London and therefore has so much profound significance that they are on exhibit in Chamonix at the moment.
My fascination and nerdiness for the mountains and those who summit them are simultaneously indulged at the exhibit. It provides an inisght to how such spirit and curiosity have paved the way for mountaineering as we know it today. It was a insightful peek into a world I am madly fascinated with and to see mountains the way mountaineers see it is pretty special.
It was also particularly mind-blowing to imagine how men (and women!) have climbed mountains 150 years ago without the use of sophisticated gear, tools and contraptions. So much in mountaineering technology has advanced today and it merely adds to the undeniability of mountaineers conquering mountain peaks with the most basic of equipment.
Alpine French Fête
At the invitation of the Chamonix-Mont Blanc Office de Toursime, we witnessed the opening of this exhibit where we experienced French alpine hospitality and culture. It was a beautiful warm summer day and it was fitting that the mountains in periphery watched silently.
If you're obssessed with mountains, I believe it's inevitable that you will one day find yourself in the French Alps. If that day comes soon, celebrate the Golden Age of Alpinism by visiting the exhibits in the Chamonix Valley. The Treasures of the Alpine Club, including 19th Century art surrounding it, is a well curated exhibit worth seeing at Musee Alpin in Chamonix through April 2016. More information can be found here.
Mountain Guides and their Clients
An homage to the professional guides who lead clients to summits, mountains would not be otherwise claimed without mountaineering guides. Michael Croz, hailing from the Chamonix valley, was one of the most celebrated guides with a roster of some of the most impressive first ascents never before seen. He guided Edward Whymper up the first ever ascent up Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps which ironically ended in tragedy on the descent, killing Croz. Whymper survived.
These stories and more await of the sometimes unsung heroes that are the mountain guides at the Maison de la Montagne, also in Chamonix through September 2015.
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