A History of Women in Climbing

A click through guide to women's climbing history, including the major dates and figures which have shaped the sport to this very day.

Transcript

1. S E N D T H E R O U T E A HISTORY OF WOMEN IN CLIMBING
2. SEND THE ROUTE KEY POINTS IN TIME 1800S: The Very Beginning 1920s: 'Manless' Climbing 1940s: The Rise of Women 1960s: The Golden Age 1970s: Big First All Female Ascents 1980s:Competition Takes Off 1990s: The Era of Lynn Hill And Catherine Destivelle 2000s + 2010s: Unrivalled Equality and The Heroes of Modern Day
3. 1808: MARIE PARDIS in 1808 Marie Pardis became the first documented woman to climb Mont Blanc. Marie was a poor maid servant from Chamonix, and for a long time her achievement went unknown. On the 14th July, 1808, at the age of 30 Marie climbed Europe's highest mountain in the company of well known mountain guide, Jaques Balmat. After her achievement she became known as Marie de Mont Blanc. However, because her ascent was widely unknown in 1838 French Aristocrate Henriette D’Angeville declared her own expedition as the first. Henriette took 6 guides and 6 porters, and upon reaching the summit made a toast with champagne. D'angevillie was in-fact the second woman to make the climb. T H E F I R S T F E M A L E A S C E N T O F M O N T B L A N C
4. A TURNING POINT: 1920-1950 SEND THE ROUTE 1920: MIRIAM O'BRIEN UNDERHILL After the first all Female ascent of Auguille Du Grepon with Alice Damesme, Underhill coined the term 'manless' climbing - meaning an all female team or pair. 1947: FIRST FEMALE ASCENTS Barbara Washburn became the first female to summit Denali, which was over 20,000 ft. Bonnie Prudden put up over 30 First Ascents. Gwen Moffat was travelling around the UK to climb, and challenging the status quo. 1921: EMILY KELLY AND THE PINNACLE CLUB In 1921 Emily Kelly founded The Pinnacle Club, which is still going strong today. The Pinnacle Club's main aim was to encourage women in rock climbing, and to bring together people with the same goal. The club is still going strong today.
5. THE GOLDEN AGE 1960s SEND THE ROUTE Liz Robbins became the first woman to ascend a VI Big Wall in 1967 after clompleteing the regular North West Face of Halfdome. Junko Tabei formed the Ladies Climbing Club: Japan in 1969. The club's slogan was "Let's go on an overseas expedition by ourselves", and was the first of its kind in Japan. In 1971, Johanna Marte became the first woman to scale El Cap.
6. 1990S: THE YEARS OF WOMEN In 1993 Lynn Hill was the first person to make afree climb ascent of the nose of El Capitan, setting an extremely high standard for all climbers following. Before this, everyone from Warren Harding to Jim Bridwell had aid- climbed the route. 1993: LYNN HILL 1993: REBECCA STEPHENS On the 17th May 1993, Rebecca Stephens became the first British woman to climb Mt Everest. She had originally visited the first camp in 1989 whilst exploring the question: Why do climbers climb? Without help from a Sherpa team, or even supplementary oxygen Alison Hargreaves climbed Mt Everest - Following in Rebecca Stephens footsteps. She also soloed all the great north faces of the Alps in a single season—a first for any climber 1995: ALISON HARGREAVES
7. There has never been a greater number of women in climbing, and there has never been a greater of incredible female rolemodels to look up to either. Countries all have their own heroes, in the UK there are the likes of Shauna Coxsey and Leah Crane. Alex Puccio is also an American household name, as is Ashima Shiraishi. In London once a year, the Women's Climbing Symposium is held to which invites female professional climbers as guest speakers and also offers coaching. The Pinnacle Club and the Women Who Climb: Japan club are still going strong, however now they're joined by other groups such as "Girls Who Climb TM" and "Girls who Climb UK" It's an incredible exciting time for women in climbing, the gap between the genders and gender participation is smaller than ever and is only going to decrease of the the next decade. 2 0 0 0 S - 2 0 1 0 S SEND THE ROUTE
8. T H E M I L L E N N I A L E R A SEND THE ROUTE 2000-2010 Key Achievements: Anak Verhoeven made the first ascent of a very difficult route (Sweet Neuf) at Pierrot Beach, in France, She graded it 9a+. If the route is confirmed, she will be the first woman to complete such a high graded first ascent. Austria’s Angela Eiter climbed the 5.15b La Planta de Shiva route in Spain, becoming the third person—female or male—ever to send it. Margo Hayes became the first woman to do any route graded a consensus 5.15a, on La Rambla in Spain.
9. AND SO THE JOURNEY CONTINUES.