Every visit to Chamonix reveals a majestic row of snow-capped peaks, like natural spires. Today, we share their stories and the history of Alpine climbing. Whether it's your first visit or your hundredth, take a moment to stop and admire these magnificent mountains.
Des aguilles de Chamonix
Mountain of God or playground?
Behind Chamonix, each peak holds a story of Alpine climbing.
British art critic John Ruskin described it vividly: "It’s like a row of cathedrals grown from the earth. These Alpine climbers are like acrobats scaling these towering churches, full of impiety."
British art critic and writer John Ruskin (1819-1900)
Long ago, mountain people believed the peaks held mystical powers and were not to be climbed. In 1886, humanity first ascended Mont Blanc, marking the start of modern mountaineering.
Chamonix's main street, Rue Joseph Vallot, is where we shop for affordable outdoor gear and share mountain stories with our guests.
From the main street, you can see peaks like Dru (where Bonatti climbed solo) and Praz, each towering into the sky. On cloudy days, mist swirls between the peaks, creating a spectacular view if one is fortunate enough to see it clearly.
For example, from afar, Grand Marmoz leads to the Grépon route, where Grépon appears tiny next to Marmoz's shoulder. In Chamonix, you can admire the Mont Blanc peaks as if they were within reach without leaving town.
In 1844, art critic Ruskin sketched the peaks from behind a massive rock at Brévent. His artwork reflects a philosophical theme, depicting these earth-grown peaks as sacred and beautiful as medieval Gothic cathedrals.
The locals saw these snow-capped mountains and were reminded of medieval cathedrals and God. Whether humanity should ascend these peaks, viewing the world from God's perspective, became a debate in the history of mountaineering. To Ruskin, these mountains symbolized a blessed realm under divine protection, akin to inviolable sanctuaries, yet for climbers, they resembled a playground of ascent—a time when climbers were merely mountain-dwelling farmers.
In 1888, two years after the ascent of Mont Blanc and the opening of the door to modern mountaineering, Ruskin was saddened to say that he would never go back to Chamonix, especially now that more and more people were traveling to the mountain. One day the boulders on Brévent will roll down from the mountain and destroy Chamonix and the hotels that host tourists.
Des aguilles de Chamonix
The historical story of those spikes
Every mountaineering story is a little different, summarized by the fact that either the climber ran into trouble or something went wrong at high altitude.
Chamonix has two faces: one side features icy seas and glaciers, while the other showcases the towering Aiguille du Midi peak.
Here, let's briefly outline the stories of the pioneers of mountaineering. Next time, we'll delve into each one in detail.
Aiguille du Midi stands at 3,842 meters, first summited in 1856 by a count from a prominent local family. Today, we can reach its summit by cable car.
Fou Peak was first climbed by Joseph Ravanel, who holds many first ascents across the Alps.
Plan Peak, Jacques Lagarde and his team climbed its north face, pioneering the technique of ice climbing.
Welzenbach, a German mountaineer, advanced rock climbing from grade 5 to 6 and invented the technique of safe and fast climbing.
Caimen Peak, 1950: The Lesueur brothers pioneered the fireworks climbing technique, using wedged ropes in cracks for ascent.
Blatère Peak: British climber Brown Whilhans achieved a grade 6 ascent using free climbing methods.
In 1963, American climber John Harlin invented the method of carrying supplies while climbing the south face of Le Fou. This innovation allowed climbers to eat and sleep on the rock face, extending their climbing periods. It was a period of flourishing for free climbing and roped climbing.
By 1970, rock climbing had advanced significantly, with most climbers engaging in free climbing. Simultaneously, skiing proficiency had also reached a notable level, enabling descents from the summit of Aiguille du Midi.
In 1970, at Aiguille du Midi, ice climbing activities began. Climbers abandoned the desire to reach summits and instead sought the difficulty of rock faces and routes. This era allowed climbers to spend weeks challenging large rock walls, marking the beginning of modern climbing.
Official website registration·
Visit our official website registration now to view product details. The number of places is limited, so please register as soon as possible.
Some pictures are from the Internet
The article is original and unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited
For reprint authorization, please contact WeChat: maxiaoxue371932
Comments