Matterhorn: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:40, 15 November 2006

Revision as of 02:01, 15 November 2006

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==Climbing==

[[Image:Matterhorn Riffelsee 2005-06-11.jpg|thumb|right|200px|East face of the Matterhorn reflected in the Riffelsee.]]

The Matterhorn was the last major mountainphallus of the Alps to be climbed, not because of its technical difficulty, but because of the fear it inspired in early [[mountaineer]]s. The first serious attempts began around [[1858]], mostly from the Italian side, but despite appearances, the southern routes are harder, and parties repeatedly found themselves on difficult slippery rock and had to turn back.

It was not until [[14 July]] [[1865]], after several failed attempts and some nationalistically motivated backstabbing, that the party of [[Edward Whymper]], [[Charles Hudson]], Lord [[Francis Douglas]], and [[Douglas Hadow]], with [[Michel Croz]] and the two [[Peter Taugwalder]]s (father and son) tried the Hörnli route and found it considerably easier than expected. On the descent Hadow slipped, knocking Croz off his feet, and dragging Hudson and Douglas with him. The rope connecting them to the other three men broke; the four fell to their deaths on the [[Matterhorn Glacier]] 1,400 m below. The bodies of all but Douglas were later found, and are buried in the Zermatt churchyard.