A large mountain system in south-central Europe; scenic beauty and winter sports make them a popular tourist attraction; Also called: the Alps.
Mountain chain, the barrier between N Italy and France, Germany and Austria. Skiing and summer tourism is important. Skiing is damaging the Alpine environment; high forest is cut down to create pistes, increasing the risk of avalanches. Acid rain is destroying trees.
Peaks include Mont Blanc, the highest at 4,809 m/15,777 ft, first climbed by Jacques Balmat and Michel Paccard 1786; Matterhorn in the Pennine Alps, 4,479 m/14,694 ft, first climbed by Edward Whymper 1865 (four of the party of seven were killed when a rope broke during their descent); Eiger in the Bernese Alps/Oberland, 3,970 m/13,030 ft, with a near-vertical rock wall on the north face, first climbed 1858; Jungfrau, 4,166 m/13,673 ft; and Finsteraarhorn 4,275 m/14,027 ft.
Passes include Brenner, the lowest, Austria/Italy; Great St Bernard, one of the highest, 2,472 m/8,113 ft, Italy/Switzerland (by which Napoleon marched into Italy 1800); Little St Bernard, Italy/France (which Hannibal is thought to have used); and St Gotthard, S Switzerland, which Suvorov used when ordered by the tsar to withdraw his troops from Italy. All have been superseded by all-weather road/rail tunnels. The Alps extend down the Adriatic coast into Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, and N Albania with the Julian and Dinaric Alps.

A mountain climber who specializes in difficult climbs.

One who is expert in climbing crags or cliffs.

ETYM Old Fren. montanier, Late Lat. montanarius. Related to Mountain.
1. A native or inhabitant of a mountainous region.
2. Someone who climbs mountains; SYN. mountain climber.

Mountain climbing in the Alps or other high mountains.

ETYM Latin Alpinus, from Alpes the Alps: cf. French Alpin.
1. Relating to or characteristic of alps.
2. (Biology) Living or growing above the timber line.