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Lesson 3 |
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Matterhorn man |
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What was the main objective of early mountain climbers? |
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Modern alpinists try to climb mountains by a route which will give them good sport, |
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and the more difficult it is,the more highly it is regarded. |
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In the pioneering days however,this was not the case at all. |
| [00:34.45] |
The early climbers were looking for the easiest way to the top |
| [00:38.60] |
because the summit was the prize they sought, |
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especially if it had never been attained before. |
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It is true that during their explorations |
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they often faced difficulties and dangers of the most perilous nature, |
| [00:54.94] |
equipped in a manner which would make a modern climber shudder at the thought, |
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but they did not go out of their way to court such excitement. |
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They had a single aim,a solitary goal--the top! |
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It is hard for us to realize nowadays how difficult it was for the pioneers. |
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Except for one or two places such as Zermatt and Chamonix,which had rapidly become popular. |
| [01:24.69] |
Alpine villages tended to be impoverished settlements cut off from civilization |
| [01:30.11] |
by the high mountains. |
| [01:32.36] |
Such inns as there were were generally dirty and flea-ridden; |
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the food simply local cheese accompanied by bread often twelve months old, |
| [01:43.18] |
all washed down with coarse wine. |
| [01:46.86] |
Often a valley boasted no inn at all,and climbers found shelter wherever they could-- |
| [01:53.00] |
sometimes with the local priest(who was usually as poor as his parishioners), |
| [01:59.22] |
sometimes with shepherds or cheese-makers. |
| [02:03.17] |
Invariably the background was the same:dirt and poverty,and very uncomfortable. |
| [02:10.71] |
For men accustomed to eating seven-course dinners |
| [02:13.79] |
and sleeping between fine linen sheets at home, |
| [02:17.06] |
the change to the Alps must have been very hard indeed. |
