Annie Smith Peck was an American climber, commonly known for climbing peaks, researching economies and biographies in South America, and a lecturer at Michigan university.
Several accomplishments marked her climbing career, including climbing the 14,380 feet Mount Shasta in California.
Others that followed include the Italian 300-foot Cape Misenum summit and the Swiss Theodul Pass, 10,000 feet. She also climbed Mount Hymettus 3000 feet and Pentecost 4000 feet in Greece.
Under the companionship of a Brit climber, Lucy Walker, she also scaled the Matterhorn. Peck successfully climbed Mexico’s 5,610m Pico de Orizaba and Popocatepetl in 1897. The Orizaba climb, by then, would be the highest ever climb to be mounted by an American lady climber.
In 1900, Annie peck scaled the Monte Cristallo in Italy, the Jungfrau situated in Switz Bernese Alps. She also traveled to South America in 1903 in search of a mountain higher than Argentina’s 22,830ft Aconcagua.
The same year she tried Bolivia’s Illampu, and again in 1904. Under the companionship of Swiss mountaineering guides, she made an exploration of Peru’s 22,205 ft Huascaran north summit in 1908. In 1911, despite being 61, she climbed the 21,083 Coropuna in Peru.
List of All Known Mountains Annie Smith Peck Climbed
So, here is a quick answer to what mountains did Annie Smith Peck climb?
- Mount Shasta, California
- Cape Misenum, Italia
- Theodul Pass, Switzerland
- Mount Hymettus, Greece
- Pentecost, Greece
- Matterhorn, Switzerland
- Pico de Orizaba, Mexico
- Popocatepetl, Mexico
- Monte Cristallo, Italy
- Jungfrau, Switzerland
- Aconcagua, Argentina
- Illampu, Bolivia
- Huascaran, Peru
- Coropuna, Peru
- Mt Madison, United States
This list proves that Annie Smith has climbed some of the hardest mountains to climb in the world.
Annie Smith Peck Early Life and Education
Annie Peck was an American mountain climber and an explorer born on the 19th of October 1850. She was a suffragist, a prominent speaker, and a lecturer who authored books about traveling and explorations.
She passed away in 1935 when she was 84. In the Cordillera Blanca ranges, Huascarán got renamed Cumbre Aña Peck to honor the legend.
She was the last child of Ann Power and George Bacheller’s five kids. Her siblings, George – a doctor, William – a headmaster of Providence School, and John Brownell – an engineer, businessman, and schoolteacher, fostered a drive of competition at an early age in Peck.
Peck was raised in Providence and studied at Dr. Stockbridge’s Institute for Girls and Providence for high school. Her graduation came later in 1872 at the now Rhode Island College for teachers.
Peck temporarily educated Latin at Providence School; although she desired to join Brown University following her father’s and brother’s, unfortunately, she was denied admittance due to her femininity.
Rather than pursuing studies at Brown University, Annie relocated to Saginaw, Michigan, to live independently and support herself. She got a job as a preceptress, linguist, and math instructor at Saginaw School, wherein she stayed till 1874.
Annie opted to pursue her studies while instructing at Saginaw, acquiring an undergrad degree. This was a bit comical to her family as she was 27 years yet she chose to attend an undergrad institution.
She insisted on studying the same course as her father. Her father later came into the same line with Peck after realizing she had the same ambitions as her brothers and supported her Education. In 1871 when the University of Michigan started admitting ladies, Peck enrolled.
Annie got her undergrad degree with honors in Greek and ancient languages from the Institution of Michigan 7 years later, and a master’s in the Greek language from Purdue University in 1881.
From 1881 until 1883, she lectured Latin at Purdue. Annie proceeded to Europe in 1884, furthering her study in Hannover, Germany, and Greece. As of 1885, she became the first woman to enroll and study archaeology in Athens.
Annie Smith Peck Career
Even though Peck began her career as a teacher, she discovered climbing while schooling in the 1880s. In 1892, Annie built a career as an orator, climber, and tour guide writer.
Peck supported Pan-Americanism and geography literacy throughout her talks and writings as she started mountain climbing, speaking, and traveling across Latin America.
Educator and Lecturer
Peck taught at Providence, Saginaw, Michigan, and New Jersey. Peck lectured Latin and orature at Purdue for three years, from 1881.
Following a 2-year stint in Europe, she temporarily lectured Latin at Smith College in 1886 and 1887. In 1892, Peck had called entirely it a day on teaching and supported herself by doing lecturers, archaeology climbing, and travels.
A Detailed Chronological View of the Mountains Annie Peck Conquered
- In 1885, while on her education endeavors in Europe, Peck developed an interest in mountain climbing. She later ascended mountains in South America, Europe, and the U.S.A.
- Peck climbed Mount Shasta in California 14,380 feet. Others that followed include the Italian 300-foot Cape Misenum summit and the Swiss Theodul Pass, 10,000 feet. She also climbed Mount Hymettus 3000 feet and Pentecost 4000 feet in Greece,
- She was accompanied by a Brit climber, Lucy Walker, when she scaled the Matterhorn. Her climbing suit overshadowed this feat. She wore a hip-length tunic, large mountaineering boots, and baggy sewn knickerbockers pants. On this, she added a hat fitted with a veil. This climbing equipment attracted the attention of the press and stirred up debate in the New York ties about what women can do and their aspirations as well.
- Peck successfully climbed Mexico’s 5,610m Pico de Orizaba and Popocatepetl in 1897. The Orizaba climb, by then, would be the highest ever climb to be mounted by an American lady climber.
- In 1900, Annie peck scaled the monte Cristallo in Italy, the Jungfrau situated in the Switz Bernese Alps. Besides being a key member in founding the Americas Alpine Climbing Club in 1902, she scaled Austria’s Fünffingerspitze.
- Despite being over 50 years old, she went to South America in 1903 to search for a mountain higher than Argentina’s 22,830ft Aconcagua. The same year she tried Bolivia’s Illampu and again in 1904.
- Under the companionship of Swiss mountaineering guides, she made an exploration of Peru’s 22,205 ft Huascarán north summit in 1908.
- By this far, she was to beat the Himalaya pinnacle Peak ascent that had been done by Fanny Bullock Workman 22, 740ft. up for a challenge, Workman had engineers recalculate Peck’s Huscarian ascent, and it was found that she had miscalculated the altitude with a positive of 600 meters. It was therefore ruled out as a 2000 ft climb. Still, Peck retained America’s record on the western block while Workman held the globe’s record of reaching the highest climb.
- In 1911, despite being 61, Peck cemented her record by climbing 21,083 feet on Coropuna, Peru. She was an enthusiastic suffragist, and when she got to corundum, she placed a banner, “vote for women,” on this peak.
- To wrap up, Peck authored a book summarizing all of her experiences which she named “A Search for the Apex of America.”
Annie Smith Peck Later Years
Between 1929 and 1930, Peck traveled throughout South America for seven months, “primarily by airplane,” to show the simplicity and stability of passenger airlines. This flight got recorded as the lengthiest ever taken by an American passenger.
Peck traveled to the US and released her 4th and last book, which revolved around her South America 20000 miles flight.
In 1913, she wrote the south American tour, and in 1922, she wrote Commercial South America. Annie still managed to climb peaks in her later years. When she was age 82, she scaled Mt Madison’s 5,374-foot peak.
Besides playing a part in forming the US Alpine climbing club in 2002, she became the leader of the Arc Suffrage Association in 1914 and an associate in Royal Geographers in 1917.
Annie Smith Peck Death and Legacy
Peck began on a globe tour at the age of 84, climbing the Acropolis in Athens. Unfortunately, she developed bronchial pneumonia while staying at the Monterey hotel in New York.
She was cremated and her ashes were interred at Providence’s north burying cemetery.
Her “exuberant zeal” for mountain climbing, guiding climbs, and climbing feats are noted even in old age. Annie’s personal documents, including diaries, letters, and pictures, are archived in Brooklyn college.
Annie Smith Peck Honors and Awards
By getting to the top of the Huascaran peak, the geography society of Lima renamed the climb after Peck’s name in 1927.
Three years later consulate of Chile, under the instructions of the Chilean government, bestowed the Decoration al Merito to Annie.
Peru’s government honored her for her services to South American business and economy by awarding her a gold medal for her research in “contemporaneous and economic data as an addition to her climbs to the highest peaks on the Andes.”
The Most Important Facts about Annie Smith Peck
Here is a list of the most important facts of the life of Annie Smith Peck.
- Peck was born in 1850 ad was never married.
- She died on the 18th of July, 1935.
- She could speak Spanish, French, Greek, and German.
- She authored four books in her entire lifetime.
- She became the leader of the Joan Arc Suffrage in 1914.
- When she was seventy, she started becoming a tour guide, traveling people to south America.
- In 1939 she went on a 7-month 20,000-mile tour to South America on a flight. Different countries sponsored the trip to promote tourism.
- In 1930 the Chilean government honored her with a merit decoration.
- At the age of 82, she climbed new Hampshire’s Mt Madison.
- The geography society of Lima renamed the Huascaran Mountain after Peck’s name in 1927.
Did Annie Smith Peck Have Any Kids?
No, Annie Peck didn’t have kids and was never married. She lived in hotels and spent most of her time traveling the world and climbing.
How Old Was Annie Smith When She Died?
Annie peck was 84 years old when she died from pneumonia on the 18th of July 1935.
Where Was Annie Smith Peck Born?
Annie Peck was born on the 19th of October 1850 in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.
