Comi Photo Archive - MO.di.SCA (Montagne di Scatti) photographic funds
People started visiting the Lecco mountains in a big way at the end of the nineteenth century. For the workers who lived and worked in the towns and cities of the area, these mountains were the perfect way to spend what little free time they had. The construction of the railways made it even easier for them to get there. In just a few years, outdoors clubs and associations were flourishing and about a hundred people would walk the Grigne paths every Sunday.
The first to take a step beyond hillwalking and to start rock climbing came from Milan, although the people of Lecco soon joined them and from the 1930s, some of the best rope teams in the world came from Lecco. Characters such as Riccardo Cassin, Mario Dell’Oro, Vittorio Ratti and Gigi Vitali, who had developed their strength and endurance through hard work in the factories, as well as the ability to create their own pins and mountaineering equipment, were now able to conquer the most difficult climbs in the Alps. They could manage the steep rock faces in the Dolomites, ice and mixed terrain with the same ability.
After the tragic period of the Second World War, people from Lecco started to go back to the mountains. Of course there were still those of the old generation, the 1930s, but more importantly there was a new generation ready to put their skills to the test on the mountains and to look forward to new possibilities. Just one of these people was Water Bonatti from Monza, one of the best climbers of all time.
After the tragic period of the Second World War, people from Lecco started to go back to the mountains. Of course there were still those of the old generation, the 1930s, but more importantly there was a new generation ready to put their skills to the test on the mountains and to look forward to new possibilities. Just one of these people was Water Bonatti from Monza, one of the best climbers of all time.
