However, Horace wasn't divested of his Francs until 1786, when Jacques Balmat teamed up with Dr. Michel-Gabriel Paccard and conquered the mountain's summit. After this, alpinism, as it was then called, really took off and it was exported all around the world, especially to mountainous countries. During the 1800's, climbers from Britain, more than any country, ventured into the Alps, partly for sport and partly as a show of British imperialism - in 1865, a British artist, Edward Whymper, led an expedition to the first ascent of the Matterhorn. According to Peter H. Hansen, associate professor of history at the Worchester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts:

"These men went to the Alps to demonstrate their manhood and virility during the period that England was becoming more urbanized. They wanted to prove that they could conquer a peak as individuals and to demonstrate Britain's power as a nation. The irony is that in order to climb these peaks they had to enter into partnership with other people and only succeeded as part of a collaboration."

Soon, mountaineers began to turn their attention to other ranges - notably the Himalayas. Many tried and failed to reach the summit of Mount Everest and it wasn't until 1953 that New Zealander Edmund Hilary and sherpa Tenzing Norgay climbed to the top of the world's highest peak. Since then, the mountain has been climbed over 1,000 times and more than 180 have lost their lives in the attempt. However, taking up mountaineering doesn't mean that you necessarily have to take your life in your hands.

If you don't fancy Everest, then bear in mind that there are numerous mountains and hills in Northern reland that you can get stuck into. For example the Mourne Mountains offers climbing possibilities for the inexperienced and experienced climber alike; there are 12 peaks including Slieve Donard which at 850m is Northern Ireland's highest mountain.

There aren't many mountaineering courses as such, but there are a lot of mountaineering/hillwalking clubs that you can join. You will start out attending easy and moderate walks up hills and mountains and build up your skills and levels of endurance. These walks/climbs generally require you to have no special equipment or skills, other than a certain level of fitness. However, many clubs also offer members a chance to learn rock, snow and ice climbing. These skills are necessary if you want to attempt steeper peaks and higher altitudes.

First of all, you will learn how to read topography maps and compasses, to ensure that they don't have to send the St Bernard with the brandy barrel out after you. Depending on your club, you will begin to learn climbing skills on indoor climbing walls, or start as you mean to go on by learning the ropes on a mountain or hill. Skills you will learn include, naturally, climbing techniques - balance, hand and foot work, how to use ropes, knots and harnesses, as well as basic rappelling (where you 'bounce' down the mountain on ropes) and belaying (safely securing your partner while she/he is climbing), first aid and safety procedures.

So if you have ever wanted to shout "Top of the woirld, Ma, top of the worild!" then why not consider mountaineering?