The imposing limestone west face of the Tour d’Aï (2,331 m, 7,648 ft) is a classic alpinist's destination and training site for the International School of Mountaineering based in Leysin, a sunny Swiss alpine village and centre to a thriving international climbing community over the past five decades.
The twin Tour de Mayen appears in the backdrop. Situated in the Vaudois Alps above Aigle and the lower Rhone Valley. Digital snapshot film scan, Summer 1967.
Renowned British climber, Dougal Haston, formally took on the directorship of the mountaineering school soon after an audacious but successful first ascent (with four German climbers) on a direct route of the Eiger North Face in the winter of 1966.
Dougal, along with instructor Davie Agnew, led the school's classic climbs on the Tour d’Aï above Leysin and the ice fields of Charmonix in France just 90 km from Leysin - coveted perks for anyone who had a chance to climb with these elite mountaineers at the time.
Other leading American and British alpinists were drawn to Leysin 'basecamp' in the early years, including the school's founder, John Harlin, Royal Robbins, Gary Hemming, Layton Kor, Don Whillans, Chris Bonnington, Pete Bordman and Canadian Chic Scott.
Leysin was also home to the legendary Club Vagabond, a vibrant countercultural foyer and nexus of activity for a mix of young backpackers, elite climbers and mountain-sports enthusiasts during its heyday in the 60’s and 70’s.
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Tags: Leysin Vaud VaudoisAlps Suisse Schweiz Switzerland climbing alpinism hiking alps landscapes ascent analog film summit mountaineering alpiniste alpine Rappelling quarry limestone rock landscape mountains nature rappel Abseiling abseil sports Outdoors Dougal Haston International School of Mountaineering Club Vagabond trekking Sky DavidSchweitzer DocumentaryPhotography Movement
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Rappelling off the Chamois quarry wall with the International School of Mountaineering based in Leysin, a Swiss alpine village and centre to a thriving international climbing community over the past five decades. Digital film scan, Autumn 1967.
Leysin was also home to the legendary Club Vagabond, a vibrant countercultural foyer and nexus of activity for a mix of young backpackers, elite climbers and mountain-sports enthusiasts during its heyday in the 60’s and 70’s. Situated in the Vaudois Alps above Aigle and the lower Rhone Valley.
Renowned British climber, Dougal Haston, formally took on the directorship of the mountaineering school soon after an audacious but successful first ascent (with four German climbers) on a direct route of the Eiger North Face in the winter of 1966.
Dougal, along with instructor Davie Agnew, led the school's basic training climbs on the imposing limestone west face of the Tour d’Aï above Leysin and the ice fields of Charmonix in France just 90 km from Leysin - coveted perks for anyone who had the chance to climb with these elite mountaineers at the time.
Other leading American and British alpinists were drawn to Leysin 'basecamp' in the early years, including the school's founder, John Harlin, Royal Robbins, Gary Hemming, Layton Kor, Don Whillans, Chris Bonnington, Pete Bordman and Canadian Chic Scott.
The climber above just completed a ten-day course with the school and is preparing for an ascent of the Eiger West Flank in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland.
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Tags: Leysin Vaud VaudoisAlps Suisse Schweiz Switzerland climbing alpinism hiking alps landscapes ascent analog film summit mountaineering alpiniste alpine Rappelling quarry limestone rock landscape mountains nature rappel Abseiling abseil sports Outdoors Dougal Haston International School of Mountaineering Club Vagabond trekking Sky DavidSchweitzer DocumentaryPhotography portrait people Movement
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Abseiling or rappelling off a limestone cliff above the Swiss alpine village of Zermatt. On the first leg of a five-day climbing expedition to the Briethorn and Matterhorn summits in the Pennine Alps - a spectacular mountain sanctuary and mountaineer's dream destination. Digital snapshot scan, Summer 1967.
The Briethorn (4,164 m, 13,661 ft) appears in the backdrop. It is considered one of the easiest of the 4,000-meter climbs in the Swiss Alps and often serves as a training climb for the more challenging Matterhorn ascent.
Nowadays the traditional trek from Zermatt to the high-altitude Gandegghütte, typically the starting point on the last leg of the Briethorn ascent, is largely surpassed by a relatively new cable car that cuts the original Briethorn ascent from the valley by a day. The commercial appeal of mass tourism, packaged alpine jaunts and cable-car shortcuts to the classic hikes and climbs now appear to have compromised much of the old-world charm, mystery and adventure in an otherwise pristine mountain refuge.
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Tags: Briethorn Matterhorn Dent Blanche Ober Gabehorn Zermatt Valais Suisse Schweiz Switzerland Swiss alpine sanctuary Pennine Alps Alpes alpiniste alpinism mountaineering summit snow ice film analog climbing hiking Gandegghütte ascent mountains landscapes portrait Leysin sports abseil abseiling rappel rappelling Outdoors trekking Sky DavidSchweitzer DocumentaryPhotography landscape Movement
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On the glaciered summit crest of the Breithorn (4,164 m, 13,661 ft), preparing for a Matterhorn ascent on the nearby Hörnligrat route over the next couple of days. Situated along the Swiss-Italian border in the Pennine Alps, Zermatt, canton of Valais - a spectacular Swiss alpine sanctuary and mountaineer's dream destination. Digital film scan, Summer 1967.
Classic view in the backdrop, left to right: Matterhorn (4,478 m, 14,692 ft), Dent Blanche (4,358 m, 14,298 ft), Ober Gabehorn (4,063 m, 13,330 ft). The Breithorn climb is considered one of the easiest of the 4,000-meter climbs in the Swiss Alps and serves as a useful training climb for the more challenging Matterhorn ascent.
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Postscript
Mountaineering and rock climbing seemed relatively pure and simple back in the day, largely devoid of digital smartphones and high-tech gear, permanent bolts, fixed ropes, traffic-jam lineups, and cable-car shortcuts to the legendary climbing routes.
Nowadays the high-altitude Gandegghütte, typically the starting point on the last leg of the Breithorn ascent, can be reached by a brief 30-minute hike from a relatively new gondola station on nearby Klein Matterhorn, cutting the original Breithorn ascent from the valley by a day.
Once a remote refuge for hikers and alpinists, the upgraded mountain hut now caters to mainstream tourism and sightseeing day trips. It boasts modern hotel accommodations with free Wi-Fi and three-course meals featuring "alpine culinary delights ... carefully selected drinks, relaxed tunes" and a spectacular panoramic view over the 4000-meter-high peaks of the Pennine Alps.
Not everyone is happy with this invasive brand of alpine modernism. Traditional purists in the mountaineering community are particularly troubled. Commercial appeals to the digitalized world of mass tourism, packaged alpine jaunts, and aerial-tram shortcuts appear to have compromised much of the old-world charm, mystery, and adventure in an otherwise pristine mountain refuge.
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Tags: Briethorn Matterhorn Dent Blanche Ober Gabehorn Zermatt Valais Suisse Schweiz Switzerland Swiss alpine sanctuary Pennine Alps Klein Matterhorn Alpes alpiniste alpinism mountaineering summit snow ice film analog climbing hiking Gandegghütte ascent mountains landscapes portrait Leysin alps sports rappel abseiling abseil explore Outdoors Nature trekking Sky DavidSchweitzer DocumentaryPhotography landscape people
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Belaying on the northwest face of the Miroir d'Argentine (2,325 m, 7,628 ft), a renowned multi-pitch climb with classic routes of all grades. Rock and sports climbers are particularly drawn to the technically challenging routes on a smooth expansive limestone slab and wall over 1500 ft high and well over a mile long.
The Miroir sits high on the hillside above the the small alpine hamlet of Solalex on the outskirts of Villars, Vaudois Alpes, Switzerland. Digital snapshot scan, shot with a miniature point-and-shoot camera and 16 mm film, Autumn 1967.
Tags: Miroir d'Argentine Miroir Solex Villars Suisse Schweiz Switzerland limestone climbing alpinism hiking Leysin alps alpine alpiniste mountaineering summit belay belaying landscape mountains berg nature film analog sports rappel abseiling abseil Outdoors trekking portrait people
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