What was the main objective of early mountain climbers? Modern alpinists try to climb mountains by a route which will give them good sport, 1 . In the pioneering days, however, this was not the case at all. The early climbers were looking for the easiest way to the top, because 2 , especially if it had never been attained before. It is true that 3 they often faced difficulties and dangers of the most perilous nature, equipped in a manner which would 4 at the thought, but they did not go out of their way to court such excitement. They had a single aim, a solitary goal -- the top! It is hard for us to realize nowadays 5 . Except for one or two places such as Zermatt and Chamonix, which had rapidly become popular . Alpine village s tended to be 6 cut off from civilization by the high mountains. Such inns as there were generally dirty and flea-ridden; 7 often twelve months old, all washed down with coarse wine. Often a valley boasted no inn at all, and 8 -- sometimes with the local priest (who was usually as poor as his parishioners), sometimes with shepherds or cheese-makers. 9 : dirt and poverty, and very uncomfortable. For men accustomed to eating seven-course dinners and 10 , the change to the Alps must have very hard indeed.