Mountain Pioneers

Level: C1

What was the main objective of early mountain climbers? Modern alpinists try to climb mountains by a route which will give them good sport, and the more difficult it is, the more highly it is regarded. In the pioneering days, however, this was not the case at all. The early climbers were looking for the easiest way to the top, because the summit was the prize they sought, especially if it had never been attained before. It is true that during their explorations they often faced difficulties and dangers of the most perilous nature, equipped in a manner with what would make a modern climber shudder at the thought, but they did not go out of their way to court such excitement. They had a single aim, a solitary goal – the top!

It is hard for us to realize nowadays how difficult it was for the pioneers. Except for one or two places such as Zermatt and Chamonix, which had rapidly become popular, Alpine villages tended to be impoverished settlements cut off from civilization by the high mountains. Such inns as there were generally dirty and flea-ridden; the food simply local cheese accompanied by bread often twelve months old, all washed down with coarse wine. Often a valley boasted no inn at all, and climbers found shelter wherever they could – sometimes with the local priest (who was usually as poor as his parishioners), sometimes with shepherds or cheese-makers. Invariably, the background was the same: dirt and poverty, and very uncomfortable. For men accustomed to eating seven-course dinners and sleeping between fine linen sheets at home, the change to the Alps must have very hard indeed.

From Matterhorn Man by Walter Unsworth

Glossary

accompanied by- served with

accustomed to- used to; familiar with

alpinist- a mountain-climber, especially in the Alps

attain- to succeed in achieving something after trying for a long time

boast- to have something that is very good

coarse- rough

court- to behave in a way that makes danger, death, excitement, etc. more likely

cut off- separated

equip- to provide a person with the things that are needed for a particular kind of activity or work

except for- used to introduce the only person, thing, action, fact, or situation about which a statement is not true

flea-ridden- full of fleas; infested with fleas

go out of your way- to do something with more effort than is usual or expected

impoverished- poor; very bad in quality

inn- a small hotel or pub, especially an old one in the country

invariably- always; without exception; all the time

linen- cloth made from the flax plant

objective- goal

parishioner- someone who lives in a parish, especially someone who regularly goes to a Christen church there

perilous- very dangerous

pioneer- one of the first people who travel to a new country or area and begin living there, farming, etc.

pioneering- introducing new and better methods or ideas for the first time

regard- to think about someone or something in a particular way

route- a way from one place to another

seek- to try to achieve or get something

settlement- a group of houses and buildings where people live, especially in a place where few people have lived before

shelter- protection from danger or from wind, rain, hot sun, etc.

shudder- to think that something is very bad or unpleasant

solitary- single; just one

tend- if something tends to happen, it happens often and is likely to happen again

wash something down- to drink something with or after food or with medicine to help you swallow it

Collocations

the main objective of something

give someone good sport

regard something highly

in the pioneering days

seek a prize

attain a prize

it is true that

face difficulties/dangers

be equipped with something

shudder at the thought (of something)

court excitement

a solitary goal

impoverish settlements

cut off from civilization

boast no inn

find shelter

be accustomed to something/doing something

sleep between linen sheets