On June 29, 2019, the Swiss Alpine Museum will open the “Matterhorn Ladies” pop-up exhibition on Gornergrat. The exhibition tells the adventures that alpinists from all over the world experienced on the Matterhorn over three centuries. Today we introduce you to the most important protagonists.
Some of the first women made what we can only marvel today: The young Zermatt women Josephina Aufdenblatten and Martha Inderbinen, for example, climbed 1921 on their first mountain tour right on the Matterhorn - on the rope of their brothers. The Frenchwoman Alice Damesme and the US-American Miriam O'Brien climbed 1932 as the first women's sailing company in the world-famous mountain. And finally, a woman managed what no one else has managed to do: The Frenchwoman Géraldine Fasnacht flies 2014 in the wingsuit from the summit.
1867 - The first woman on the Matterhorn
The 18-year-old Italian Félicité Carrel from Valtournenche is the first woman on the Matterhorn. But she has to give up over 4300 meters, because the wind drives into her skirts and almost blows her into the abyss.
1871 - The first women on the Matterhorn
When British mountain climber Lucy Walker hears that Meta Brevoort from the USA - her biggest rival - is planning to climb the Matterhorn, she gets together within a day and reaches the top of the 22. July 1871. According to that time, in flannel-skirt. Brevoort is not discouraged by Walker's success and climbs the 5. September 1871 as the second woman on the Hörnligrat to the top - and on the Liongrat down, making her succeed as the first woman crossing the Matterhorn.
1932 - The first women-only ascent
The French Alice Damesme and the US-American Miriam O'Brien climb at the 13. August 1932 as the first pure women's society the Matterhorn over the Hörnligrat.
1965 - First ascent of the north face by a woman
"The Eiger is imposing and austere, the Matterhorn as elegant as a flame," answers Yvette Vaucher when asked about the difference between the two most famous Swiss north faces. The Geneva woman knows both from her own experience. She is the first woman to succeed in climbing the Matterhorn North Face. And what does a woman wish after having conquered a north face? "I wanted a hairdresser's visit and a big green salad. Back in Zermatt below, I got a coupon from the barber, and the landlord made me a salad. Une grande salade verte », says the Geneva-based 2001 with a grin in an interview.
1967 - First all-women ascent of the north face
Japanese women Michiko Imai and Yoshiko Wakayama climb the 18./19 as a female rider. July 1967 through the north wall.
1993 - First single ascent of the north face by a woman
Englishwoman Alison Hargreaves joins 29. June 1993 through the North Face - the first solo women's walk.
2014 - The first wingsuit flight from the summit
"It was not the most dangerous and not the most difficult flight of my life, but certainly the most beautiful," notes the happy Vaud woman in an interview: The Lausanne Géraldine Fasnacht flies at the 7. June 2014 as the first human in the wingsuit from the summit of the Matterhorn.
Information about the exhibition on the Gornergrat
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Credits: picture and text Alpine Museum Switzerland