Fall of Heaven:Whymper’s Tragic Matterhorn Climb

Edward Whymper and the Matterhorn are familiar names in mountaineering lore, as is Whymper’s first ascent of the mountain. His achievement, however, came at a high cost: a man slipped on the descent, a rope broke, and four of the climbers fell to their death. But there’s an untold side of the Matterhorn’s story – that of Jean-Antoine Carrel, with whom Whymper made an earlier attempt on the mountain, and who made the first ascent from the more difficult Italian side.

Renowned mountaineer Reinhold Messner shines a light on the lesser-known Carrel, a selflessly dedicated mountain guide who put the safety of his clients above his personal ambition. Messner contrasts the character of Carrel with that of the less careful and more boastful Whymper, offering insights not only into the legendary tragedy of 1865, but also into some of his own experiences in the mountaineering world.

Fall of Heaven is more than an exciting adventure story; it is also a thought-provoking examination of the ironic fates that can follow ‘success’ or ‘failure’ with lessons that continue to resonate today.