Annie Smith Peck American climber Date of Birth: 19.10.1850 Country: USA

1. Annie Smith Peck: A Fearless American Mountaineer
2. The Matterhorn Triumph and Defying Gender Expectations
3. Mountaineering Expeditions and Literary Contributions
4. Farewell and Legacy

Annie Smith Peck: A Fearless American Mountaineer

Annie Smith Peck was born in 1850 in Providence, Rhode Island. Coming from a well-off and respectable family, Annie received an excellent education. She attended Rhode Island Normal School and graduated in 1872, after which she enrolled at the University of Michigan. In 1878, she obtained her academic degree, studying Latin, Greek, and classical languages. These knowledge opened doors for her to continue her education in Hanover and Athens.

In 1881, Annie began teaching and became an innovative educator in the fields of archaeology and Latin. She worked at Purdue University and Smith College. However, in 1892, she decided to leave teaching and fully dedicate herself to her true passions: archaeology, mountaineering, and travel.

The Matterhorn Triumph and Defying Gender Expectations

In 1895, Annie Smith Peck gained wide recognition when she successfully climbed the Matterhorn. There is an interesting story behind her decision to pursue the "unfeminine" activity of mountaineering. One of her college professors stated that women were incapable of being mountaineers. In response to this sexist remark and to prove gender equality, Peck began training and eventually conquered her first peak. While the exact veracity of this story is debated, Annie indeed became one of the most significant women mountaineers of her time. For a period, she even held the record for the highest climb among all Americans.

Later, Peck settled in Latin America, where she lectured, published her works, and explored the local mountains. Her knowledge of Spanish and French proved invaluable during this period. In 1897, she climbed Mount Orizaba and Mount Popocatepetl in Mexico. Annie was truly an indefatigable woman, and her insatiable thirst for exploration never waned, even as she grew older.

Mountaineering Expeditions and Literary Contributions

During her fifties, Annie Smith Peck traveled extensively in South America, seeking new mountain peaks to conquer. In 1904, she reached the summit of Mount Sorata in Bolivia, and in 1908, she became the first person to ascend Mount Nevado Huascaran in Peru, which stands at 6768 meters. Peck documented her climbs in her book "The Search for the Apex of America: High Mountain Climbing in Peru and Bolivia, including the Conquest of Huascaran, with Some Observations on the Country and People Below."

Peck's audacity extended beyond her mountaineering exploits. During her climbs, she scandalized society by wearing trousers instead of the conventional skirt expected of a "proper" woman. This fact contributed to the hostility she encountered from men. Nevertheless, Annie was confident that her achievements surpassed those of any male American climber. In a letter to The New York Times, she wrote, "I have been 1,500 feet higher than any man in the United States. I wish to be known as an Alpinist, not a woman Alpinist."

In 1911, Annie Smith Peck made her most renowned ascent when, at the age of 61, she conquered Mount Coropuna. After her return, she wrote two popular books, "Industrial and Commercial South America" and "The South American Tour: A Descriptive Guide," which gained recognition among tourists, politicians, and businessmen. In 1929-1930, Peck embarked on a journey through South America, chronicling her experiences in her book "Flying Over South America: Twenty Thousand Miles by Air." Remarkably, Annie completed her last climb at the age of 82.

Farewell and Legacy

In 1935, Annie Smith Peck began a world tour but fell ill after visiting Greece. She returned to New York City, where she passed away on July 18, 1935. The great mountaineer and fearless American was laid to rest in her homeland, Rhode Island.