The Ascent of the Matterhorn

"The Ascent of the Matterhorn" by Edward Whymper is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book primarily focuses on the author's ambitious attempts to conquer the Matterhorn, one of the most formidable mountains in the Alps, as well as other peaks in the region. Whymper shares his journeys and encounters with fellow climbers, guides, and the treacherous landscapes, providing insight into the trials and tribulations of early mountaineering. The opening portion of the book sets the stage for Whymper's passion for mountaineering, detailing his initial ignorance and subsequent experiences as he travels through the Alps in 1860. He describes a series of scrambles, encounters with various mountains, and the challenges posed by each ascent, all while painting vivid imagery of the stunning landscapes around him. There is an emphasis on his first experiences, mistakes, and the drive that propels him toward the Matterhorn, culminating in an eagerness to prove its accessibility or to confirm its reputed inaccessibility. The narrative establishes his thirst for adventure and foreshadows the dramatic and historic events that will follow throughout his climbing endeavors. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Edward Whymper FRSE was an English mountaineer, explorer, illustrator, and author best known for the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865. Four members of his climbing party were killed during the descent. Whymper also made important first ascents on the Mont Blanc massif and in the Pennine Alps, Chimborazo in South America, and the Canadian Rockies. His exploration of Greenland contributed an important advance to Arctic exploration. Whymper wrote several books on mountaineering, including Scrambles Amongst the Alps.