In 2015, the Chamonix Valley will be celebrating the 150th
Anniversary of the year 1865 and the Golden Age of Mountaineering, an intense
period of alpine exploration and conquest that was pioneered by the Victorian
mountaineers.
1865 was an exceptional year in the Alps! It was
immortalised by 58 “first” ascents and 7 in the Mont-Blanc Massif, including
the Aiguille Verte, the Grandes Jorasses and
the remarkable Brenva Spur on Mont Blanc. 1865 was a bitter sweet year of
triumph and disaster, too – Whymper’s ultimate victory over the Matterhorn turned
rapidly to tragedy, when three mountaineers and Chamonix guide Michel Croz fell to
their deaths on the descent. It was the 14th July – Bastille day.
Next summer, between June and September, the valley will pay tribute
to the mountaineers, guides and artists of the Golden Age through a programme
of exhibitions, memorial climbs, events, films, conferences and book
publications. They will have the privilege of exhibiting the “treasures” of the
Alpine Club (the first club of its kind, founded in 1857) and other private
collections.
More information: http://1865.chamonix.fr/En
No comments:
Post a Comment