Michel Croz
Michel Auguste Croz (born April 22, 1830 in Le Tour , Chamonix , † July 14, 1865 on the Matterhorn ) was a French mountaineer and mountain guide . He died on the descent of the rope team who, under the direction of Edward Whymper, had managed the first ascent of the Matterhorn .
Life
Michel Croz grew up as one of four children in a village in the Chamonix valley. At first he worked as a porter until he was hired as a guide for an ascent of Mont Blanc in 1859 . From then on he worked as a mountain guide until his death. Together with Charles Hudson , Douglas Hadow and Francis Douglas , he fell to his death on the descent from the summit of the Matterhorn on July 14, 1865. The unmarried Croz was buried in Zermatt.
First ascents
Michel Croz is considered one of the most capable mountain guides of his time and was involved in the first ascent of the following Alpine peaks in his only six years of leadership activity:
- Grande Casse with William Mathews and E. Favre on August 8, 1860
- Castor with FW Jacomb and William Mathews on August 23, 1861
- Monte Viso with FW Jacomb and William Mathews on August 30, 1861
- Mont Pourri single-handedly on October 4, 1861
- Barre des Écrins with Adolphus Warburton Moore , Edward Whymper, Horace Walker and Christian Almer on June 25, 1864
- Mont Dolent with A. Reilly, Edward Whymper, H. Charlet and M. Payot on July 9, 1864
- Aiguille d'Argentière with A. Reilly, Edward Whymper, H. Charlet and M. Payot on July 15, 1864
- Grand Cornier with Edward Whymper, Christian Almer and Franz Biner on June 16, 1865
- Pointe Whymper at the Grandes Jorasses with Edward Whymper, Christian Almer and Franz Biner on June 24, 1865
- Moinegrat of Aiguille Verte with Charles Hudson and TS Kennedy in July 1865
- Matterhorn with Edward Whymper, Lord Francis Douglas , Douglas Hadow , Charles Hudson , father and son Peter Taugwalder on July 14, 1865
Michel Croz, drawing by Edward Whymper , 1865
Illustration of the Misfortune by Gustave Doré (1865)
literature
- Biography of Michel Croz (French)
- Rudolf Bunge : A faithful guide - travel memory from the high Alps . In: The Gazebo . Issue 9, 1867, pp. 137–140 ( full text [ Wikisource ]).
Web links
personal data | |
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SURNAME | Croz, Michel |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Croz, Michel Auguste (full name) |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | French mountaineer and guide |
DATE OF BIRTH | April 22, 1830 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Le Tour , Chamonix |
DATE OF DEATH | July 14, 1865 |
Place of death | Matterhorn |