Aiguille Verte

The Aiguille Verte (French for "Green Needle") is a tall mountain that stands 4,122 meters (13,524 feet) high. It is found in the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps. The name "Aiguille Verte" usually means "Green Needle," but some people think it might really mean "High Needle" from an older language that was used before Celtic languages.

This mountain is part of one of the most famous mountain ranges in the world, drawing climbers and nature lovers from everywhere. Its tall, sharp shape makes it a big challenge for people who try to climb it. The Aiguille Verte is not just important for its height, but also for what it tells us about the history and languages of the area.

Ascents

Aiguille Verte was first climbed on June 29, 1865, by Edward Whymper, Christian Almer, and Franz Biner. This happened just two weeks before the first climb of the Matterhorn. Whymper could not bring his usual guide, Michel Croz, who was waiting for another climber in Chamonix, so he hired Christian Almer instead.

The first woman to reach the top was Lucy Walker in 1870. In 1972, Nicolas Jaeger made the first solo climb of the Arête Sans Nom. The mountain is known for being very challenging, and Gaston Rébuffat, a famous French mountain climber, once said that climbing Aiguille Verte is what makes you a true mountaineer.

Descents

Aiguille Verte is well-known for its challenging descents. In 1989, Jean-Marc Boivin was the first person to ski down the Nant Blanc (North Face) of Aiguille Verte. Ten years later, Marco Siffredi became the first person to ride a snowboard down that same route. The route was not used again for this type of descent until 2018, when Paul Bonhomme and Vivian Bruchez skied down the North Face successfully.