Carrel, Felicite (fl. 1860s)
Carrel, Felicite (fl. 1860s)
Italian mountaineer who attempted to climb the Matterhorn. Flourished in the 1860s; daughter of J.A. Carrel (Italian guide and mountaineer).
In 1867, Felicite Carrel attempted to climb the Matterhorn (14,690 ft.), along with Caesar Carrel, J.J. and J.P. Maquignaz, and her father J.A. Carrel. In the appendix to Scrambles amongst the Alps by Edward Whymper, all names of those who ascended the Matterhorn are carefully listed, including the Carrels, except for the neglected Felicite who is cited as "and a daughter of the last named." The party made the fourth attempt at the mountain (third from the Italian side). Leaving Breuil at 5 AM on September 12, 1867, they reached the shoulder of the final peak after 7 am the following day. They then passed a cleft, which had stopped another climber seven years before, and arrived at the base of the last precipice within 350 feet of the summit. Writes Whymper: "J.J. and J.P. Maquignaz alone ascended; the others had had enough and returned." Despite Whymper's exclusion, the point she reached is now known as Col Felicite.