September 26

Daniel Boone was an iconic American pioneer whose adventures epitomized the spirit of westward expansion. He first explored the Cumberland Gap in 1769 and later blazed the Wilderness Road through the Appalachian Mountains. Boone’s settlement of Boonesborough in Kentucky in 1775 paved the way for mass migration to the territory. His skill as a hunter and woodsman made him a legend in both frontier lore and popular culture. During the American Revolutionary War, Boone served as a militia officer in Kentucky. He spent his later years in Missouri, where he continued to roam the frontier until his death.

He was born in 1912 in the Austrian town of Leoben and pursued studies in geology at the University of Graz. Tichy combined his scientific interests with a passion for storytelling, working as a journalist for Austrian publications while undertaking expeditions across the Andes and Himalayas. In 1953, he joined Hermann Buhl and Kurt Diemberger to achieve the first alpine-style ascent of Nanga Parbat, one of the world’s most formidable peaks. His account of the climb, published in several languages, remains a classic in mountaineering literature. Tichy’s unique blend of geological expertise and literary talent allowed him to capture both the physical challenges and the natural beauty of his expeditions. He continued to write and lecture about his adventures until his death in 1987, inspiring generations of climbers and scientists alike.