My goal is combining the technicality and aestheticism of climbing, as well as the harmony and emotions shared within a rope party.
Born “in a rucksack” in Annecy, skiing from the age of two, reaching a 4,000-metre peak before turning ten: the mountains have always played a leading part in my life.
Trained by my family, subsequently the local Alpine Club and the national FFME (French Climbing and Mountains Federation), becoming a guide in 2009 was quite natural to me.
Stirred by the research of new routes, as well as human relationships, I strive to give my best in the practice of mountaineering.
Together with Patrick Gabarrou in the Alps, I’ve been able to fulfil dreams I previously deemed impossible: a winter opening on the North Face of the Grandes Jorasses (6 days), on the south face of Mont Blanc, on the Dérobé Freney Pillar.
At the same time, together with Aymeric Clouet, I discovered some of the most majestic walls in the world: Sphynx and “La Cruz del Sur in Peru”, the winter ascent of the “Rimmon route” on the Troll Wall in Norway, “Chercheurs d’Absolu” and the “Super Couloir” on Fitz Roy/Chalten in Patagonia, but also Tibet, Chile, Alaska, the Tours sans Nom in Pakistan and many more.
Today, I try and limit long-haul trips, making the most of the Alps in my backyard, thanks to multi-day journeys, and that’s where I take the most satisfaction.
Crossing the Ecrins, Monte Rosa as far as the Matterhorn, the tour of the Fiz Chain, the Bonatti enchainment, and also the Chartreuse crossing along its climbing routes: I seek to venture into such tours, where wandering and encounters take centre stage.
Sharing these close and far away adventures, which have become my way of living through the years, is natural and multifaceted. Films aided me in this communication: « Le Méridien des Ecrins », « Sur le Fil de l’amitié », « La Voie Bonatti”, “Verticale Boréale“, “Inside“, but also thanks to texts (chiefly with Alpes Magazine), through motivational speaking and public conferences, and of course thanks to my job as a mountain guide, when time allows.
Christophe Dumarest and Sean Villanueva reached Chamonix on Sunday 23 July after their trip within the Mont Blanc massif: this was the « Hard as a Rock » Invitational Granit’Tour. The
January 23rd, 2013 Clearly visible from home, the west face of the Parmelan is not lit by sunrays until late in the day. We reach the bottom of the face,
