Travels Through The Alps Of Savoy And Other Parts Of The Pennine Chain

This is an excerpt from the book "The Alps: A Geographical Study" by James D. Forbes. In this excerpt, Forbes discusses his exploration of the Alps and how he used the work of other mountaineers to help him in his research. He also discusses his aim of the book, which was to illustrate the physical geography of a particular district in one of the most frequented regions of the Alps.

The renowned geologist James D. Forbes (1809-68) presents an account of his systematic exploration of alpine mountain regions and glaciers in this important 1843 publication. Forbes' graphic descriptions of alpine scenery and his mountaineering feats are combined with detailed records of his scientific research and experiments. The study cemented Forbes' reputation in the field, which was later to be commemorated by the naming of the Aiguille Forbes in the Alps and of Mount Forbes in both Canada and New Zealand. The aim in writing the book, says Forbes, was to 'illustrate the physical geography of a particular district in one of the most frequented regions of the Alps'. In doing this, he draws upon the important work of the 'bold mountaineer' Horace Benedict de Saussure, whose feats and achievements Forbes clearly admired. The book is still viewed today as one of the most influential and important publications on mountaineering.