Hours of Exercise in the Alps

John Tyndall (1820–93) was a prominent physicist, particularly noted for his studies of thermal radiation and the atmosphere. He was a prolific writer and lecturer, who was able to bring experimental physics to a wide audience. While researching his 1860 work, The Glaciers of the Alps, he became a proficient climber, and this work, first published in 1871, combines climbing expeditions in Switzerland with comments on glaciation and geology. It was extremely popular, with a second edition in the same year, and German and American editions in 1872. He was one of a group of noted Alpinists of the period, making the first ascent of the Weisshorn in Switzerland and finally conquering the Matterhorn in 1868, three years after its first ascent. This account of Victorian climbing expeditions makes fascinating reading, and shows the length an experimental scientist was prepared to go in search of knowledge.

Preface to the second edition; Preface to the first edition; 1. The Lauwinen-Thor; 2. Disaster on the Col du Géant; 3. The Matterhorn - first assault, with J. J. Bennen as guide; 4. Thermometric stations on Mont Blanc; 5. A letter from Bâle; 6. The Urbachthal and Gauli glacier; 7. The Grimsel and the Aeggischhorn; 8. The Bel Alp; 9. The Weisshorn; 10. Inspection of the Matterhorn with Bennen; 11. Over the Moro; 12. The Old Weissthor; 13. Rescue from a crevasse; 14. The Matterhorn - second assault, in company with Bennen; 15. From Stein to the Grimsel; 16. The Oberaarjock. Adventure at the Aeggischhorn; 17. Ascent of the Jungfrau; 18. Death of Bennen on the Haut de Cry; 19. Accident on the Piz Morteratsch; 20. Alpine sculpture; 21. Search on the Matterhorn: a project; 22. The Titlis, Finsteraarschlucht, Petersgrat, and Italian lakes; 23. Ascent of the Eiger and Passage of the Trift; 24. The Matterhorn - third and last assault; 25. Ascent of the Aletschhorn; 26. A day among the Séracs of the Glacier du Géant fourteen years ago; Notes on ice and glaciers, etc.

John Tyndall (1820-93) was a prominent physicist, particularly noted for his studies of thermal radiation and the atmosphere. While researching glaciers, he became a proficient climber, and this work, first published in 1871, combines climbing expeditions in Switzerland with comments on glaciation and geology.