The Pyrenees from 1,850 to 1,880

The Pyrenees from 1,850 to 1,880 scientists give way to romantics.

After scientists have been studying the Pyrenees, others introduced a new way to approach these mountains. In 1,852 Lézat made the first ascent to the Crabioulès peak and also the peak that would receive his name: Peak Lèzat. This ascent made way for more challenging adventures. In this same year José Arrau crosses the Pyrenees range, discovering the Núria valley.

The Englishman Halkett, in the year of 1,856, ascended a new summit: The Posets. This is the second highest mountain in the Pyrenees. After this ascent, the scientists gave way to the mountaineers, the first of which was Henry Russell-Killoug. His activities gave rise to the phenomenon of Pyrenees.

In 1,880, Russell climbed most of the important summits: The Cylinder, The Montardo, Bessiberri, Avellaners, and one of them unnamed, later named Russell Peak. Additionally he succeeded in climbing El Marboré, Pico del Infierno, Seilh de la Baquo, Pico de Alba, Soum de Ramond and Gran Bachimala.

Russell-Killoug

The year 1,858 is considered the year of the beginning of romantic hiking, started by the twenty-four years old Henry Russell-Killoug. He read the stories of Chaussenque. He meet Alfred Tonellé in Touquerroye gap, became friends, and together ascended Monte Perdido. Alfred did the first ascent of Forcanada Peak, naming a saddle on the mountain Gap Alfred. Then Alfred crossed the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean and died. Russell ascended Cylinder and Russel Peak in 1,863.

At age forty-six, after a celebration of the French Alpine Club, Russell ascended to Pique Longue, spent the night there and came up with the idea of making several shelters in that place. They are the Paradis, Des Dames and Bellevue caves in The Vignemale. In 1,869 he made the winter ascent of the Vignamale, accompanied by courageous guides and mountaineers. At age sixty-nine, Russell went up to the Vignemale, which was the last and the thirty-third ascent. All his experiences are reflected in his work Souvenirs d’un Montagnard.

However in 1,858 the Englishman Charles Packe hiked a large part of the Pyrenees and in 1,862 published his new guide service: Guide and map to the Pyrenees Mountains. He named Lake Packe in the valley of Salenques. After these dates there appeared another Pyrenees generation: The romantics, including Mosen Cinto Verdaguer who wrote in prose and verse about the most remote corners of the mountain range.

Société Ramond

In 1865 the Société Ramond was founded in Gavarnie, with Chausenque being the first president. Franz Schrader, who was one of the presidents of the society, unveiled the Barrosa circus and made a very detailed map of the Pyrenees.

On the other hand, in 1881, the Englishman Buxton from London was determined to place iron pegs along Clavijas de Cotatuero in Ordesa Park. That work was carried out by locals for fifty coins of that time. This date is considered the beginning of the era of the modern mountaineering in the Pyrenees.