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I was just researching Mont Blanc myself was very interested to learn that the first woman who climbed it was a maid who (rightly, it seems) figured that making it to the top of the mountain might elevate her status enough to change her life. She doesn't get credit for being the first female mountaineer, though, because she wasn't climbing for the 'right' reasons. Really enjoyed this read, and especially the illustrations!

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Yes it's important to research the history and poetry and not just the boring guidebook stuff! Are you planning to climb it? As for Marie Paradis in 1808, the story is that her ascent was discounted by the posh blokes because of her working class status - but also because she suffered altitude sickness and had to be "dragged" up the mountain. Though that does seem impossible you can't drag an 18 year old human up Mont Blanc.

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Another excellent read.

Next stop the Bernese Oberland? It influenced both Arthur Conan Doyle and JRR Tolkien, to name but two.

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Well a bit of Wikipedia yields two Jungfrau poems (not counting Byron's Manfred ) neither spectacularly good and one by Louisa May Alcott. But I haven't climbed the Jungfrau.

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Neither have I, only the Wetterhorn.

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