Boarelli first attempted to climb Monviso in 1863, hoping to beat a similar attempt by a team headed by Quintino Sella by a few days, but she had to turn back because of bad weather. The Sella-led team then succeeded in their climb becoming the third team, and the first Italians, to reach the summit. This was two years after the first successful ascent was made by a group of mountaineers led by William Mathews from England.