Crampons have been around in Europe for at least 1500 years. The alpenstock has been documented at least as early as the late Middle Ages. The ice axe in the modern sense first appeared around 1850, becoming more popular toward the end of the 19th century.
A 4th century Chinese poet named Xie Lingyun was credited with the invention of crampons. He liked to climb mountains apparently. Presumably the European invention was separate.
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