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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
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Jan 12, 2014 - 10:42am PT
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The first book about Norwegian climbing (1904): Slingsby's "Norway - the Northern Playground"...
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Byran
climber
San Jose, CA
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Jan 12, 2014 - 02:11pm PT
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Well I've learned something new today.
I've always assumed that the root word in alpine is 'pine' and that the word simply means 'above timberline' or the altitude at which there are no more pine trees. At a closer look this doesn't make sense because the prefix al- just means 'all', as in 'almighty' or 'altogether', which would give alpine a meaning quite opposite of 'above timberline'.
As it turns out (and perhaps most of you already knew this) the root word is 'alp' as in the French/Swiss Alps. And that mountain range in turn draws its name from the Latin 'albus' meaning 'white' (this root is still apparent in the modern english word 'albino'). The suffix -ine means 'of or relating to', so alpine is 'of or relating to the Alps'.
So an alpinist then, at least with regards to etymology, is one who climbs, skis, hikes, or otherwise recreates in Alps. Or its meaning could be further extended to include any mountain range which is sufficiently snowy to be considered 'white'.
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Guck
Trad climber
Santa Barbara, CA
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Jan 12, 2014 - 02:29pm PT
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An alpinist is mostly a person who knows and respects the mountains. An alpinist will ask mercy from the mountain before starting the climb. An alpinist appreciates the flowers on the "green" as well as the icicles on the overhangs and the plumes on the ridge. He is inspired to challenge himself to the limit. He is in awe and fear of what a mountain can give. To survive, an alpinist must not only be a technical climber but also be humble (...and lucky); he knows when to turn back, when the mountain has decided the time is not right. An alpinist does not have to brag about his experiences, the passion is always in their eyes.
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bigbird
climber
WA
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Jan 12, 2014 - 03:02pm PT
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donini-
I was more alluding to the point that it is possible to climb in the alaska range without the use of air support. It just depends on ones "tolerance for adversity" and the sheer amount of time you have available to climb. Indeed the route defines what is alpinism and what is not an approach or perceived sense of danger.
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Oplopanax
Mountain climber
The Deep Woods
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Jan 12, 2014 - 05:08pm PT
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I learned from John Clarke that it is an alpine start if "you are in the alpine, and you're starting".
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