Hubert Adams "Ad" Carter (June 6, 1914 – April 1, 1995) was an American mountaineer, language teacher and was editor of the '' American Alpine Journal'' for 35 years.

Biography

Carter was born in Newton, Massachusetts in 1914, and made his first ascent of Mount Washington (1,917 metres) at the age of five. He graduated from Milton Academy in Milton, Massachusetts in 1932 and from Harvard College in 1936. In 1934, Carter participated with Bradford Washburn in the first ascent of Mount Crillon (3,879 m) in Alaska. In 1936, he was a member of the

British–American Himalayan Expedition British American usually refers to Americans whose ancestral origin originates wholly or partly in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Cornwall, Orkney, and the Isle of Man). It is primarily a demographic or histor ...

that made the first ascent of Nanda Devi (7,816 m) in India, which remained the highest mountain ever climbed until 1950. Carter also became a member of the United States Ski Team, competing in the

Alpine World Skiing Championships The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships is an alpine skiing competition organized by the International Ski Federation (FIS). History The inaugural world championships in alpine skiing were held in 1931. During the 1930s, the event was held annua ...

in 1937, and the Panamerican championships in 1938. During World War II, Carter assisted in the creation and training of the

10th Mountain Division The 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) is a light infantry division in the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York. Formerly designated as a mountain warfare unit, the division was the only one of its size in the US military to re ...

. He translated material in German,

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

, Spanish, and Italian for use in writing the first Army manuals on mountain warfare, and developing equipment. Carter also interrogated German and Japanese POWs. In 1945, Carter was awarded a Commendation for Meritorious Civilian Service for his wartime service. After receiving a master's degree from

Middlebury College Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college in Middlebury, Vermont. Founded in 1800 by Congregationalists, Middlebury was the first operating college or university in Vermont. The college currently enrolls 2,858 undergraduates from all ...

in 1947, Carter returned to Milton Academy, where he taught French, German and Spanish until his retirement in 1979. He also founded the school's Ski and Mountaineering Club, which has become the H. Adams Carter Outdoor Program. Carter often used his second home in Jefferson, New Hampshire as a base camp for school trips to the White Mountains. Carter served as an officer of the American Alpine Club from 1954 to 1958 and as editor of the '' American Alpine Journal'' from 1960 to 1995. Under his tenure as editor the ''Journal'' became one of the pre-eminent worldwide journals of record for mountaineering. He continued to participate in mountaineering expeditions, including one to survey Ojos del Salado (6,893 m) in 1956, several trips to the Cordillera Blanca in Peru, and a second expedition to Nanda Devi in 1976, which he co-led with

Louis Reichardt Louis French Reichardt (born June 4, 1942) is a noted American neuroscientist and mountaineering, mountaineer, the first American to summit both Everest and K2. He was also director of the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, the largest ...

and Willi Unsoeld. Due to his long work as editor of the ''American Alpine Journal'', Carter became an important chronicler of mountaineering. (2008)
''History of chronicles''
8000ers.com, retrieved 9 May 2015.

Notable ascents

* 1934 ''East Ridge above the Plateau'', Mount Crillon, Fairweather Range, Alaska, USA. FA of peak with Bradford Washburn, summit attained July 19, 1934.

References

External links

introduction to the H. Adams Carter Papers collection
at the Denver Public Library
description of the H. Adams Carter Outdoor Program at Milton Academy
(

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) {{DEFAULTSORT:Carter, H. Adams 1914 births 1995 deaths American mountain climbers Historians of mountaineering Milton Academy alumni Schoolteachers from Massachusetts Harvard College alumni Middlebury College alumni People from Jefferson, New Hampshire 20th-century American educators People from Milton, Massachusetts People from Newton, Massachusetts United States Army personnel of World War II