Félicité Carrel Explained

Félicité Carrel was an Italian mountaineer, known for her 1867 attempt to climb Mount Matterhorn.[1]

Biography

Carrel was the daughter of Italian mountaineer Jean-Antoine Carrel. In 1867 Carrel and her father joined climbers Caesar Carrel, J.J. and J.P. Maquignaz in an attempt to scale Mount Matterhorn. Carrel climbed to 400 feet from the summit,[2] but was prohibited from going further by her skirts which had caught in the wind and returned with her father while the others continued on.[3]

Legacy

Carrel's 1867 climb attempt makes her the first woman to do so.[4] The point on Mount Matterhorn that she reached is named for her: Col Felicite.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hallam. Kate. 2017-09-23. Climbing the Matterhorn, 150 years after the first female attempt. 2021-05-05. sea2summits. en.
  2. News: Bill. Shirley. 17 Dec 1985. Getting to the Top Is What's Important : Mountain Climbing in Switzerland Tests One's Courage and Love of Adventure. LA Times.
  3. News: Jones. Susanna. 26 Mar 2012. For the female mountaineering pioneers, it was an uphill struggle. The Guardian.
  4. Web site: Carrel, Felicite (Fl. 1860s). May 6, 2021. Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia.