Charles Hudson (1828-1865)

THE Rev Charles Hudson was the Anglican Vicar of Skillington.

But according to his parishoners, he climbed more mountains than he preached sermons.

He was seldom seen at his pulpit. His attention was usually elsewhere.

Hudson was one of the most important climbers of the golden age of alpinism.

An immensely strong walker, he is considered a pioneer of guideless and winter climbing in the western Alps, having made the first guideless ascent of Mont Blanc in 1855, the first official ascent of Mont Blanc du Tacul in 1855, a guideless ascent of the Breithorn and a near ascent of the Aiguille du Goûter solo in winter, being forced back close to the summit by fresh snow.

Among his guided climbs were the first ascent of Monte Rosa in 1855, the first completed passage of the Mönchjoch in 1858, the first ascent of Mont Blanc by the Goûter route (incomplete) in 1859 with E. S. Kennedy and party, and the second ascent of the Aiguille Verte (the first by the Moine ridge) in 1865 (with T. S. Kennedy and Michel Croz).

He was killed attempting to scale the Matterhorn.

At 14,000-feet his party came to an overhanging cliff but managed to reach the Swiss peak. Two hours later they crossed from the east face to the north one.

It was then disaster struck.

Fellow climbers Hadow and Croz collided sending them flying through the air dragging Hudson and Alfred Douglas with them .

Whymper and the other two climbers took the strain, but the rope snapped, sending the four mountaineers hurtling to their deaths 4,000 feet below.