January 02

Pyotr Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky led expeditions into Central Asia, mapping the Tian Shan mountain range and documenting its flora, fauna, and geology. He served as president of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society and advocated for geographic and statistical research across the empire. His 1856 expedition earned him the title 'Tyan-Shansky' and fostered greater Russian understanding of Asian terrains. He published extensive demographic and statistical studies, helping to modernize census methods in Russia. As a senator, he supported educational and scientific institutions, leaving a legacy in both exploration and academia.

Born in 1886 in London, Apsley Cherry-Garrard joined Robert Falcon Scott's Terra Nova Expedition to Antarctica from 1910 to 1913. He was a member of the team that undertook the notoriously brutal 'Winter Journey' to collect emperor penguin eggs for scientific study. After returning to England, he wrote 'The Worst Journey in the World,' published in 1922, which vividly describes the hardships and camaraderie of polar exploration. The book is acclaimed for its literary quality and candid portrayal of extreme conditions. Cherry-Garrard was awarded the Polar Medal for his contributions to Antarctic science. He later worked in ornithology, translation, and lived to see his memoir recognized as a classic. He died in 1959.

Riccardo Cassin (1909-2009) was an iconic Italian mountaineer known for first ascents on some of the Alps' most challenging faces. In 1938, he completed the inaugural ascent of the Cassin Route on Piz Badile, earning international acclaim. He led Himalayan expeditions to peaks like Gasherbrum IV and Kangchenjunga, pushing the limits of high-altitude climbing. Cassin founded an outdoor equipment company that became a world leader in mountaineering gear. He authored books recounting his adventures, sharing his philosophy of alpinism with readers. His legacy endures in the mountaineering community for his daring spirit and craftsmanship.