Edward Whymper

“ The ablest pens have failed, and must always fail, to give a true idea of the grandeur of the Alps. The most minute descriptions of the greatest writers do nothing more than convey impressions that are entirely erroneous—the reader conjures up visions, it may be magnificent ones, but they are infinitely inferior to the reality. I have dealt sparingly in descriptions, and have employed illustrations freely, in the hope that the pencil may perhaps succeed where the pen must inevitably have failed. ”

“ In endeavouring to make the book of some use to those who may wish to go mountain-scrambling, whether in the Alps or elsewhere, undue prominence, perhaps, has been given to our mistakes and failures; and it will doubtless be pointed out that our practice must have been bad if the principles which are laid down are sound, or that the principles must be unsound if the practice was good. ”

“ I am indebted to Mr. William Longman for being allowed to reproduce the Ascent of Mont Pelvoux [1] and three of its accompanying illustrations, and to the Messrs. Longman for the use of a portion of their map of the Western Alps; to the English Alpine Club for the use of a part of Mr. Reilly's map of the Valpelline and Val Tournanche; and especially to the Federal Council of Switzerland for having granted the unusual favour of a transfer from two of the valuable plates of the Dufour map. The two remaining maps are original. ”