Born: 22 July 1898, United States
Died: 7 January 1976
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Miriam O’Brien
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
In 1928, Miriam O’Brien, with Robert L. M. Underhill and guides Armand Charlet and G. Cachat, completed the first traverse from Aiguilles du Diable to Mont Blanc du Tacul in the Alps. The route involved climbing five tall peaks over 4000 meters amidst stunning scenery.
Miriam O’Brien started serious rock climbing in May 1926, achieving her first ascent on Torre Grande in the Dolomites, now called “Via Miriam,” in her honor. She also did the first ascent of Aiguille de Roc on August 6, 1927, with Alfred Couttet (Couttet Champion) and Georges Cachat, in the Mont Blanc massif.
1929, she ascended the Aiguille du Grépon alongside French climber Alice Damesme. This accomplishment by the two women prompted mountaineer Étienne Bruhl to remark, “The Grépon has vanished. With its conquest by two women unaided, any self-respecting man’s attempt loses its appeal. What a shame, considering it was once a superb climb.”