6 November 2018

Sex, mountains, love and fashion in Austria
Alpinism time travel from the 1830s to nowadays
I. Sex and mountains: Satirical song from the 1870s
II: Love to mountains: Tyrol's first travel guide with clothing tips from 1837
III. Mountain fashion in Austria: Protection of skin, eyes and around 150 years old sunglasses

II. Love to mountains written down by author and theologian Beda Weber for the first travel guide of Tyrol in 1837-38, the founding of the Austrian Alpine Club in 1862, and Beda Weber's clothing tips

fig.: The picture of the mountaineer is from the cover of a book about the first ascent to Grossvenediger which happened in 1841. The image shows a man in knee length slim cut trousers, jacket and shoes with spikes for the glacier at Grossvenediger. To his gear counted also snowshoes (applied to his belt).

The term 'Sport' was first included into the German Duden in 1887; even when many sports activities (defined here as pleasant pastime involving physical activities) like alpinism - which is defined as mountain sports (hiking, trekking, climbing) including cultural, social, scientific aspects, have their beginnings in the 18th century. The lifestyle of 18/19th century society changed with industrialization through new technologies and production methods which provided new possibilities to plan leisure activities like hiking or climbing. Decades after alpinism became a leisure activity of travelers, new organizations were founded for the support of alpinists. The Austrian Alpine Club (Österreichischer Alpenverein) for example was one of the pioneers and worldwide one of the first organizations dedicated to alpinism. The Austrian Alpine Club was founded 1862 at the constitutive meeting at the Academy of Sciences (Akademie der Wissenschaften) in Vienna. Today, Österreichische Alpenverein counts 230 alpine club huts, 11.500 sleeping places, around 545.000 members (source). It's the largest youth organization in Austria and as 'Advocate of the Alps' a legally recognized environmental organization; the Austrian Alpine Club is headquartered in Innsbruck, Tyrol.

fig.: Already 25 years before the Österreichische Alpenverein was founded, very detailed tips for nature and mountain adventurers (tours, accommodations, prices, what to eat and drink, clothing tips,...) were published at Tyrol's first travel guide 'Das Land Tirol' (three volumes, Wagner'sche Buchhandlung, Innsbruck; 1837-38). The travel guide was written by the author and theologian Beda Weber for tourists (even when the German word 'Tourist' wasn't used; it became a common German term at the end of the 19th century) who used hiking, trekking, climbing as chance to experience nature, meet people, get in touch with cultural traditions, culinary in North Tyrol, South Tyrol, and in the valleys nearby inclusively Vorarlberg.

Beda Weber described also the hiking, climbing clothing for travelers in the mountainous region of Tyrol where the routes went through valleys and alpine terrain. Especially for alpinists, the clothing should be light and slim cut so that the traveler hasn't carry too much and the legs have enough free space for comfortable walking and climbing. Around the chest, the mountaineer should be dressed in warm pieces for the protection against the wind in high alps regions. Beda Weber recommended a 'Tornister' (a backpack) to store additional body wear, a leather drink bowl, bread, sugar, a lighter, a good knife, telescope, a good map, and medicine. At the side of the backpack, the traveler should carry a bottle of rum or spirits, at the hand a walking stick, on the head a small cap, at the feet shoes or boots.

Compared to nowadays recommendations - such as by the specialists of the Karwendel mountain range (article), the tips by Beda Weber are in the basics (except the alcohol) similar. Nowadays, mountaineers can benefit from the technology of apparel and gear (clothing, footwear, backpacks, ice-pick,...) as well as special food, maps, or first aid kits directly from the pharmacy.

Next: III. Mountain fashion in Austria: Protection of skin, eyes and around 150 years old sunglasses