BBC NEW: Edward Whymper and Michel Croz ran up the last slope of the last unscaled Alp in a head-to-head race that ended in a dead heat.

Edward Whymper and Michel Croz ran up the last slope of the last unscaled Alp in a head-to-head race that ended in a dead heat.

Whymper and Michel Croz stood side by side at the base of the towering Alp. The last unscaled peak loomed before them, its icy slopes gleaming under the midday sun. Both men had spent years conquering some of the most formidable mountains in the world, but this climb was different. This was the last frontier of the Alps—unforgiving and untamed.

Their breaths visible in the cold air, the two exchanged a look, not of rivalry, but of mutual respect. There would be no turning back today. It was a head-to-head race, not to prove who was the best, but to claim the honor of being the first to summit this mighty peak.

They began together, each man matching the other’s pace. The slope was steep, the snow beneath their feet shifting with every step, but neither faltered. Whymper, with his keen eye for the terrain, carefully picked out a path. Michel, with his unyielding strength, drove his ice axe into the frozen earth with practiced ease.

As they ascended, the wind howled, biting into their faces. Every step was a battle, but neither would give up. Higher and higher they climbed, muscles aching and lungs burning. Time seemed to stretch, the peak forever just out of reach.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the summit appeared. In a final burst of energy, both men scrambled up the last few meters of ice and rock. They reached the top together, collapsing onto the snow. The race had ended in a dead heat, but there were no words of disappointment.

The two climbers sat in silence, gazing out at the horizon. The Alps stretched endlessly before them, but there was no higher peak to conquer today. Together, they had made history.