Alpine Delights Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mont Blanc

Mont Blanc, which means "White Mountain" can be found on the Italian-French border. Chamonix, France, one of the towns closest to Mont Blanc, was the site of the first Winter Olympics in 1924. Mont Blanc has an elevation of 15,777 feet. Mont Blanc was first ascended in 1786, a date that is traditionally thought of as the start of the modern sport of mountaineering. From 1946-1965, a 7.25 mile tunnel was drilled through Mont Blanc which connected Chamonix, France and Courmayeur, Italy, Tens of thousands of mountaineers attempt to climb Mont Blanc each year.

Answer: Matterhorn

The Matterhorn is found on the border between Italy and Switzerland. "Matterhorn" is the German name for the mountain, known as Cervino in Italian and Mont Cervin in French. The peak of the Matterhorn is at 14,692 feet. The Matterhorn was one of the later Alps to be first ascended (1865). The Matterhorn is roughly shaped like a pyramid with each corner approximately pointing in a cardinal compass direction.

The Matterhorn Bobsleds, a roller coaster which opened in 1959, is the first tubular steel continuous track roller coaster. Built on top of a mound of dirt created when the moat of Sleeping Beauty's castle was excavated, the ride uses forced perspective to seem larger.

Answer: Jungfrau

Jungfrau means Maiden. The mountain sits in Switzerland and is 13,642 feet tall. The summit was first reached--by a group of four--in 1811. With the railway described below, the mountain is a popular tourist destination. Jungfrau lies within the Swiss cantons of Bern and Valais.

The electric-powered Jungfrau Railway opened in 1912. Most of the line runs through the Jungfrau Tunnel. There are five stops on this line, built primarily for tourists. The Jungfraujoch station, at 11,332 feet, is the highest in Europe.

Answer: Monte Rosa

"Rouese" is a Franco-Provencal word meaning glacier and describes this mountain which is covered year round by snow and glaciers. Monte Rosa lies on the Swiss-Italian border and is 15,203 feet high. It is the second tallest peak in the Alps. Monte Rosa is a popular destination for hiking, mountaineering, and skiing. Scientists and explorers were investigating Monte Rosa as far back as the time of Leonardo da Vinci.

The east (Italian) side of the mountain features a drop of nearly 8,000 feet.

Answer: Ortler

In Germany, the mountain is frequently called König Ortler (King Ortler). An example of this is in the "Bozner Bergsteigerlied", an unofficial hymn of South Tyrol. Rising to a height of 12,812 feet, Ortler lies in the Italian province of South Tyrol.

The area around Ortler was one of the main battlefields between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War One. Ortler was first successfully climbed in 1804.

Answer: Dom

"Dom" is the German word for "dome" and can also mean "cathedral". Canon Berchtold of Sitten cathedral was one of the first people to attempt a survey of the mountain. Dom rises 14,911 feet and is in the Valais canton of Switzerland. An earlier name for the mountain was Mischabel, which means "pitchfork" (perhaps a less holy name). Though it is a tall mountain, many parts of the Dom offer a relatively easy ascent.

Answer: Piz Bernina

Piz Bernina is located on the border of Switzerland and Italy and reaches a height of 13,283 feet. The peak is the highest point in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. The town of St. Moritz (home of the 1928 and 1948 Winter Olympics) is nearby. Piz Bernina was first ascended in 1850. The mountain is named after the Bernina Pass.

Answer: Grossglockner

Grossglockner rises 12,461 feet and lies on the border of the Austrian states of Carinthia and Tyrol (East Tyrol). The first successful ascent of Grossglockner occurred in 1799. The first use of the name Grossglockner on a map dates back to the sixteenth century. The scenic High Alpine Road, built in the 1930s, brings many tourists through the region.

Answer: Grauspitz

Grauspitz actually lies on the border between Liechtenstein and Switzerland. It rises to 8,527 feet high. It is part of the Rätikon range of the Alps. The mountain lies within the basin of the Rhine River. While Grauspitz is of lesser elevation than many of the other mountains in this quiz, it can still provide some interesting challenges for the hiker.

Answer: Triglav

Triglav, at 9,359 feet, is the highest mountain in Slovenia. It is part of the Julian range of the Alps and, represented in a stylized manner by sculptor Marko Pogačnik, is featured on the Slovenia coat of arms and flag. Triglav was first successfully ascended in 1778.

The Aljaz Tower, erected at the top of Triglav in 1895, provided a storm shelter as well as a triangulation point for geographic surveys.