| William Cecil Slingsby |
Cecil Slingsby was one of the band of Gentlemen adventurers, inspired by Whymper's "Scrambles amoungst the Alps", who led the way in the British alpine movement. Climbing, without guides, on many new routes with friends like Alfred Mummery, J. Norman Collie and Geoffrey Hastings (see below) Slingsby was undoubtedly one of the fathers of mountaineering. He was elected an Honorary Member of the YRC in 1893 (a year after the club formed) and unlike all other Honorary Members he went on to be active in the club. He was part of became YRC President the same year, a post he held for 10 years. Unlike some however he was not content climbing only in the Alps, he climbed extensively on crags round Yorkshire & in 1972 discovered his 'mountain home'; Norway.
Through his lectures, press reports of his exploits (like the first ascent of the unclimbable Store Skagastølstind (2405 m)) and his classic book Norway: the Northern Playground; he turned peoples heads north as well as south, and was almost single handedly responsible for the early Norwegian tourist industry. Google his name or picture & see how many sites are Norwegian! Maybe that is why it is allegedly said: "There are two patron saints of Norway - St. Olaf and Cecil Slingsby!”
He also learned from the Norwegians. The use of skis to travel between farms and communities was to Cecil a superb way to get into the hills. While not possibly the founder of Ski Mountaineering he was certainly at the forefront of it's practical use to get in and out the mountains.
More Information can be found on Wikipedia and in an article by Walt Unsworth on ‘The Slingsbys’ website.
|
|
| Geoffrey Hastings |
Geoffrey Hastings is a more difficult figure to track. Clearly a highly competent mountaineer he does not get the recognition his climbing partners seem to rate. Despite his obvious talents, he is the only ‘well known’ climber of his generation elected as a Member (in 1894) rather than an Honorary Member such as Slingsby or Dent.
Described by the SMC as J. Norman Collie’s “ regular Alpine partner” Hasting’s was another friend and fellow of Albert Mummery. In 1892 the three of them, along with a man named Pasteur, made the initial traverse of the Aiguille de Grépon, including the famous ‘Mummery’s Crack’. In 1893 he returned to the Alps again, with Slingsby, Collie and Mummery. They made the first ascent of the Dent du Requin, the Petit Dru, and the Matterhorn by the Italian Ridge. They also made the first ascent of the west face of the Aiguille du Plan, a 19-hour expedition.
1894 was another busy year for Hastings. In March he was with Collie repeating the previous days, intended 1st Ascent, of Tower Ridge; which Collie enjoyed so much he wanted Hastings to climb. In early June, Hastings, Slingsby and Howard Priestman undertook what they hoped to be the first ascent of the NE Buttress of Ben Nevis. Only to discover W.Brown of the SMC had claimed a first ascent 8 days before and had placed a cairn. This however was rather trumped by J. E. and B. Hopkinson, who had climbed it, along with Tower Ridge on the 6th September 1892 (See SMC Journal Vol 3, Number 6) Late that summer, Collie, Hastings and Mummery made the first guideless ascent of Mont Blanc by the Brenva Glacier.
The next year, 1895, Hastings was with Mummery and Collie on Nanga Parbat when Mummery and 32 Ghurkhas disappeared trying to cross a pass.
Hastings Resigned from the YRC in 1897 and I can find no record of any subsequent climbing activity. |
|
| Horace Walker |
Horace Walker is credited with a number of first ascents, including the Grandes Jorasses. His sister, Lucy Walker, was the first woman to climb the Matterhorn. He was elected an Honorary Member in 1899, In the photo, Horace Walker is sitting (3rd from left), & Lucy Walker is standing (3rd from left). |
 |