The Hots 
Founding father? ADAM
Collegiate climber IVY
Article in Le Monde? UNE 
State of excitement (generated by {theme entries}) FEVERPITCH [as a onetime hay fever sufferer I can hardly say the condition “generated a fever pitch.” Nor, it seems to me, do spring fever or cabin fever generate the wildness denoted by “fever pitch.”
ALPE [at least the clue was French]
RATING:
Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = No fun
