Talk:Exploration of the High Alps

How high is the Taschhorn —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.18.47.16 (talk • contribs) 23:40, January 15, 2004 (UTC)

Englishmen

I have moved this text to the Talk page as it is interesting but a bit whimsical and unencyclopedic.

'As a proof of the rapidly-growing activity of Englishmen, it may be pointed out that while before 1858 only four summits (the Mittelhorn, or central peak of the Wetterhorn, the highest point of Monte Rosa, Laquinhorn and Pelmo) were first ascended by Englishmen, in the case of the second list only six (Grand Combin, Wildspitze, Marmolata, Nadelhorn, Langkofel and Meije) were not so conquered (if the present writer, an American, be included among the English pro hac vice.).'

Ericoides 11:21, 11 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It's a quote from W. A. B. Coolidge, an early American climber who was distantly related to the US President, Calvin Coolidge. He was commenting on the fact that the British had made the first ascents of many of the mountains in the area - all Britons were referred-to as 'English' in Europe back then.