July 14

On the 14th in 1865, Edward Whymper and his party made the first ascent of the Matterhorn. Why? Because it was there, I suppose. On the way down, four of the party would fall to their deaths. Years later, Whymper would recall later that "Every night, do you understand, I see my comrades of the Matterhorn slipping on their backs, their arms outstretched, one after the other, in perfect order at equal distances—Croz the guide, first, then Hadow, then Hudson, and lastly Douglas. Yes, I shall always see them…"