Adolphus Warburton Moore - Alpinism

Alpinism

Moore made a first ascent during his first visit to the Alps in 1862 and immediately became a central figure in the golden age of alpinism.

Moore's first ascents include:

• July 23, 1862 (1862-07-23) – Fiescherhorn (Bernese Alps) with H. B. George and the guides Christian Almer and Ulrich Kaufmann
• June 25, 1864 (1864-06-25) – Barre des Écrins (Dauphiné Alps) with Edward Whymper and Horace Walker, and the guides Michel Croz, Christian Almer the elder, and Christian Almer the younger
• June 28, 1865 (1865-06-28) – Piz Roseg (Bernina Alps) with Horace Walker and the guide Jakob Anderegg
• July 6, 1865 (1865-07-06) – Ober Gabelhorn (Pennine Alps) with Horace Walker and Jakob Anderegg
• July 9, 1865 (1865-07-09) – Pigne d'Arolla (Pennine Alps) with Horace Walker and Jakob Anderegg
• July 15, 1862 (1862-07-15) – Brenva Spur on Mont Blanc with George Spencer Mathews, Frank Walker and Horace Walker, and the guides Jakob Anderegg and Melchior Anderegg

This last route, the Brenva Spur, was the first to be climbed on the remote southern side of Mont Blanc and exceeded in difficulty anything that had thus far been attempted on the mountain. Moore's description of the Brenva ascent is, according to Claire Engel, 'amongst the finest Alpine tales in existence'.

Moore went to the Caucasus with Douglas Freshfield, Charles Comyns Tucker and the guide François Devouassoud in 1868, making the first ascent by a non-native of Mount Elbrus (the lower of the two summits), the highest mountain in the Caucasus, and the first ascent of Kazbek with the same party.