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20th Century Mountain Climbers Who Defied Death in Tweed

Edited By: Bhavesh B.

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Mountain climbing today requires specialized equipment and technical know-how. A century ago, it demanded something else entirely. These remarkable photographs transport us to an era when mountaineers tackled imposing peaks wearing nothing more protective than tweed jackets and wool socks.

Climbers formed human chains connected only by basic ropes, scaling cliffs that modern adventurers wouldn't attempt without proper safety gear. Yet these daring souls pressed onward. The camera, still a relatively new invention then, captured their triumphant moments standing atop summits—rewarded with breathtaking views few humans had ever witnessed. These 16 incredible images tell the story of mountaineering's bold beginnings and the fearless individuals who defined it.

1. Mountaineers hike through the Swiss Alps, circa 1920

2. Mountaineers at the top of the Jungfrau, one of the summits of the Alps. 1910s

3. Mountaineers climbing Mount Rainier in the 1910s

4. A mountain climber above a crevasse in a glacier in Washington, around 1951

5. Tourists climb a glacier in the French Chamonix Valley. Circa 1913

6. Mountaineers taking a break in the Swiss Alps, with their climbing boots, complete with spikes, next to them. 1910s

7. A mountain climber mounts a peak in the Swiss Alps around 1919

Related: This Photo Contest Celebrates the Majesty of Mountains

8. Climbing a mountain in Zermatt, Switzerland, 1954

9. Rock climbing in the English Lake District, 1900

10. Mountain climbers on the summit of Mount Rainier, 1925

11. A group of climbers in an ice field. Date unknown.

12. Mountaineers from Slovakia, 1940

13. A daredevil mountain climber holding onto a tightrope between two peaks in the Alps, 1913

14. Summit of Pinnacle Peak in Washington, 1906

15. Photo of famous mountain climber Henriette D’Angerville from 1838. She was the second woman to climb Mont Blanc and the first to do so without assistance.

Related: Life in the Past Century in 15 Unbelievable Vintage Photos

16. View of Lake Yamanaka from the top of Mt Fuji, 1905

All images: eBaum's World

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