Elizabeth Hawkins-Whitshed
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Lizzie Le Blond |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Born | 26 June 1860 Greystones, Ireland |
| Died | 27 July 1934 (aged 74) Llandrindod Wells, Wales |
| Occupation(s) | photographer, autobiographer |
| Spouse(s) | Frederick Burnaby (1879–1885) John Frederick Main (1886–1892) Francis Bernard Aubrey Le Blond (1900) |
| Climbing career | |
| Type of climber | mountaineer, alpinist, winter climbing |
| Updated on 8 July 2020 | |
Elizabeth Hawkins-Whitshed (26 June 1860 – 27 July 1934), (known after her third marriage as Mrs Aubrey Le Blond and Lizzie Le Blond), was an Irish mountaineering pioneer, author, and photographer celebrated for documenting alpine landscapes. At a time when female participation in mountaineering was rare, she achieved prominence for her ascents and distinctive attire, often photographed climbing in long skirts.
Relocating to Switzerland, Hawkins-Whitshed began climbing during the 1882–1883 season, later gaining recognition for her pioneering ascents and photographic work. In 1907, she played a leading role in founding the Ladies' Alpine Club, serving as its inaugural president. Over her career, she authored seven books on mountaineering and achieved 20 first ascents—summiting peaks previously unclimbed.
Her legacy endures as a trailblazer who defied gender norms in alpine exploration while making a significant contribution to the documentation of mountain geography through writing and photography.