Silver age of alpinism

The Silver age of alpinism is the name given to the era in mountaineering that began after Edward Whymper and party's ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865 and ended with W. W. Graham and party's ascent of the Dent du Géant in 1882. [ [http://www.geographical.co.uk/Features/Alpine_club_Dec_07.html Alpine history] ]

Whilst the Golden age of alpinism (1854–1865) was characterised by the first ascents of many of the Alps's most dominant mountains, the subsequent silver age may be seen as consisting of the first ascents of those few worthwhile peaks left unclimbed, although these peaks were – and remained – largely unknown to the wider public.

Once these peaks had been climbed, many ambitious alpinists turned their attention to more distant and loftier ranges, such as the Caucasus, the Andes, the Rockies and, latterly, the Himalayas.

Prominent alpinists and guides of the period include Christian Almer, Melchior Anderegg, Alexander Burgener, W. A. B. Coolidge, Clinton Thomas Dent, D. W. Freshfield, Paul Güssfeldt, A. W. Moore, Albert F. Mummery and William Penhall.

First ascents in the silver age

*1865 Tschingelhorn
*1866 Piz Cengalo
*1866/1868 Piz Palü
*1867 Civetta, Piz Badile
*1868 Bellavista, Grandes Jorasses
*1869 Hohberghorn
*1870 Ailefroide, Cimon della Pala, Lenzspitze
*1871 Portjengrat
*1876 Les Droites, Mont Collon
*1877 Piz Scerscen, Pic Coolidge
*1878 Aiguille du Dru, Les Bans, Mont Maudit
*1879 Dürrenhorn
*1880 Grands Charmoz, Olan
*1881 Aiguille du Grépon
*1882 Dent du Géant

References