# Altamont — The Adventures of Captain Hatteras character guide > Altamont in The Adventures of Captain Hatteras by Jules Verne. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Captain Altamont, Mr. Altamont **First appearance:** 0035-ii-altamont-s-first-words ## Snapshot An American captain pulled half-dead from the ice, voluble and evasive, whose real errand in the polar seas he never quite explains. ## Who they are Rescued by the Forward's party, Altamont is commander of his own ship and his own men, which makes him Hatteras's equal in everything but rank — a fact both men feel immediately. He talks freely but says little, deflecting every question about why he came north, and the doctor suspects a motive as secret as Hatteras's own. His instinctive friendship with Clawbonny is genuine, but his rivalry with Hatteras simmers under every shared meal. He matters because he turns a voyage of discovery into a contest of flags, and because his hidden purpose may be the same prize Hatteras is chasing. ## Relationships ### [Dr. Clawbonny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/dr_clawbonny) _friendship_ Altamont and Clawbonny develop a friendship after initial suspicion, with Clawbonny acting as a mediator between Altamont and Hatteras. ### [John Hatteras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/john_hatteras) _rivalry_ Altamont and Hatteras are fierce rivals, competing for glory and the discovery of the North Pole, with nationalistic tensions between them. ### [Johnson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/johnson) _professional_ Altamont and Johnson interact as fellow crew members, with Johnson maintaining a cautious but professional demeanor toward the American rival. ### [Dr. Clawbonny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/dr_clawbonny) _friendship_ Altamont and Clawbonny develop a friendship after initial suspicion, with Clawbonny acting as a mediator between Altamont and Hatteras. ### [Dr. Clawbonny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/dr_clawbonny) _friendship_ Altamont and Clawbonny develop a friendship after initial suspicion, with Clawbonny acting as a mediator between Altamont and Hatteras. ### [John Hatteras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/john_hatteras) _rivalry_ Altamont and Hatteras are fierce rivals, competing for glory and the discovery of the North Pole, with nationalistic tensions between them. ### [John Hatteras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/john_hatteras) _rivalry_ Altamont and Hatteras are fierce rivals, competing for glory and the discovery of the North Pole, with nationalistic tensions between them. ### [Johnson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/johnson) _professional_ Altamont and Johnson interact as fellow crew members, with Johnson maintaining a cautious but professional demeanor toward the American rival. ### [Johnson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/johnson) _professional_ Altamont and Johnson interact as fellow crew members, with Johnson maintaining a cautious but professional demeanor toward the American rival. ## In the story ### [The Return to the Forward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xxxii-the-return-to-the-forward) Discovered buried in the ice, alive but insensible; identified as an American from the Porpoise of New York. ### [The Doctor's Inventory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/i-the-doctor-s-inventory) Brought to the ice house on a sledge, injured and unconscious, cared for by the group. ### [Altamont's First Words](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/ii-altamont-s-first-words) The American survivor, still recovering; opens his eyes and listens but cannot speak due to scurvy; shows gratitude for being saved. ### [III: Seventeen Days of Land Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/iii-seventeen-days-of-land-journey) Reveals the location of the Porpoise, though his account is incomplete; Hatteras suspects his motives. ### [IV: The Last Charge of Powder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/iv-the-last-charge-of-powder) Confirms the location of the Porpoise, though his statements are re-examined by the doctor. ### [The Seal and the Bear](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/v-the-seal-and-the-bear) Recovered and now able to speak, he points out the location of his ship, the Porpoise, and shows signs of ambition. ### [The Porpoise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/vi-the-porpoise) Still weak from his ordeal; stays on the Porpoise while others work; his presence causes unease in Hatteras. ### [A Discussion About Charts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/vii-a-discussion-about-charts) Fully recovered, reveals his American origin and commanding nature; claims discovery rights for the United States. ### [Excursion to the North of Victoria Bay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/viii-excursion-to-the-north-of-victoria-bay) Participates in the hunt and questions the doctor about the lighthouse design. ### [Cold and Heat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/ix-cold-and-heat) Altamont engages in the debate about temperature extremes, playfully defending American resilience against heat. ### [X: The Pleasures of Winter-Quarters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/x-the-pleasures-of-winter-quarters) Drinks or sleeps, and seldom speaks to Hatteras. He expresses boredom and engages in conversation about Parry's entertainments. ### [Disquieting Traces](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xi-disquieting-traces) Altamont is a skilled hunter who identifies five distinct bear tracks; he is impatient to hunt and is excluded from Hatteras's private meeting. ### [The Ice Prison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xii-the-ice-prison) Participates in the hunt and becomes frustrated by the bear siege, suggesting a night sortie. ### [The Mine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xiii-the-mine) Participates in digging the gallery and prepares to fight the bears with an axe and knife. ### [The Polar Spring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xiv-the-polar-spring) Agrees to join the summer expedition and to build a boat from the wreck of the Porpoise, showing willingness to cooperate. ### [XV: The Northwest Passage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xv-the-northwest-passage) Argues for American exploration glory, particularly Captain Kane, and challenges the completeness of the Northwest Passage discovery. ### [XVI: Northern Arcadia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xvi-northern-arcadia) Uses Indian hunting technique for reindeer, participates in the hunting trip, shows hunter's instincts but refrains from shooting. ### [Altamont's Revenge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xvii-altamont-s-revenge) Saves Hatteras's life at risk to himself, reconciles with Hatteras, and joins the expedition to the North Pole. ### [The Journey Northward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xix-the-journey-northward) Hunts for fresh meat, bringing down a musk-ox, and is admired for his bravery and skill. ### [Footprints on the Snow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xx-footprints-on-the-snow) Annoyed by the discovery of tracks; points out the European shoe print and is involved in the decision-making. ### [XXI: The Open Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xxi-the-open-sea) Lies among the cargo in the launch during the voyage. ### [The Approach to the Pole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xxii-the-approach-to-the-pole) Altamont questions the presence of a volcano at such a high latitude but eventually accepts the possibility. ### [The English Flag](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xxiii-the-english-flag) Takes the helm during the search, helps navigate to the island, and is present at the reunion. ### [Polar Cosmography](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xxiv-polar-cosmography) Participates in the discussion, questioning the doctor about the difficulty of polar discovery and the possibility of a journey to the Earth's center. ### [Mount Hatteras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xxv-mount-hatteras) Moved by the doctor's cry, he risks his life to save Hatteras from falling into the crater. ### [Return to the South](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xxvi-return-to-the-south) Supports the return plan, shows devotion by hunting, and discovers the frozen bodies of the Forward crew. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/chapters/xxvii-conclusion) Survives and remains with the group, becoming a friend to the others. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters/altamont - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_adventures_of_captain_hatteras_se/characters