Top 5 French Mountaineers

Mountains are of great interest for men and people and is one of the finest opportunities for the lover of high places. The term mountaineering means sport of mountain climbing. Mountain climbing, however, is not without risks, but it can be a life-changing experience for those who love adventure. France has a great tradition of climbing because of the famous Mont-Blanc and French Alps. France has given many great mountaineers that still inspire people throughout out the world.

Top 5 French Mountaineers

Maurice Herzog

Maurice Herzog was a French mountaineer who was born in Lyon, France on 15 January 1919, the eldest of eight children. He became a hero of France when on June 3, 1950, three years before anyone would stand on top of Everest, he and Louis Lachenal became the first human beings to reach the summit of an 8,000-metre, 26,545-foot mountain - Annapurna in central Nepal. For three years, Annapurna remained the highest anyone had ever climbed on earth. But on this adventure summit climbers lost all of their toes and Herzog most of his fingers due to severe frostbite. Annapurna was not climbed again till 1970. Herzog was honoured by the 1950 Gold Medal of the Société de Géographie. Herzog published his adventurous expedition under the title Annapurna first in 1951 in French, then in English in 1952. Annapurna is still the best selling mountaineer book. He died on 13th December 2012.

Jean-Marc Boivin

Jean-Marc Boivin was a French mountaineer, skier and award-winning filmmaker, and author. Born in Dijon (6 April 1951) this Frenchman was on track when he began climbing and skiing as an early teenager. Boivin was one of the renowned alpinists of his time, making solo climbing of some of the difficult routes in the Alps during the 1970s. Beginning in the early 1970s, he began racking up technical first ascents in the Alps and by the late 70s he was following highly technical climbs with historic first ski descents. Boivin always comes up with his ideas to make his climb unique. In the 80s, he the first mountaineers to link ascents with rapid descents, using skiing, paragliding, or hang gliding, in the start of the next climb. On 16 February 1990, Boivin made a BASE jump down.

Angel Falls in Venezuela, which is the highest waterfall in the world. It was the first jump from the highest point of the falls. After his successful first jump, he made a second jump in the attempt to reach a fellow BASE jumper who was injured below. During his fall, he hit a tree and has been severely injured with multiple fractures and died from internal injuries and blood loss.

Jean-Christophe Lafaille

Jean-Christophe Lafaille was the most accomplished mountaineer of his generation. Born in Gap, Hautes-Alpes on 31st March 1965. He became the first Frenchman to do a solo climb on 7c+, and one of the first to climb 8c graded routes. Strong and fearless, he climbed the world's highest peaks without oxygen or back-up; climbing alone because no one else could match his superior speed. He made some difficult ascents on the Mont Blanc massif, including the first solo climb of Divine Providence. His last climb was one of his boldest. In December 2005, he began a solo attempt to climb Makalu. For this climb, he took a satellite phone with him which he used to speak to his wife several times a day. After the morning of 27th January 2006, he was never heard again.

Catherine Monique Suzanne Destivelle

Catherine Monique Suzanne Destivelle was born (24 July 1960) and raised in Paris, is a French mountaineer and rock climber. Catherine is eldest of six children. She was introduced to climbing at her very young age on the outskirts of the city. When she was 12, she became a member of the Club alpin français and started learning cliff climbing. By the time she turned 15, she could climb the toughest rocks. At barely 17 she was spending her weekends climbing the highest peaks in the Alps. From 1985, she started a full-time career in rock and mountain climbing and started competing in international climbing competitions. From 1985 to 1988 she began winning many competitions and was considered the world's best woman climber. In 1990, she made her comeback with a series of great climbs, one of her greatest achievements includes solo winter ascents of the three most legendary Alpine walls - the Eiger, the Grandes Jorasses and the Matterhorn - making her the outstanding female climber of all time.

Michel Auguste Croz

Michel Auguste Croz was born on 22 April 1828, Le Tour, Chamonix Valley. He was a French mountaineer and mountain guide and has the first successful, documented attainment of the top of many mountains in the western Alps. He began his guiding career in 1859 and was engaged by William Mathews for an ascent of Mont Blanc. In 1863, he climbed the Grandes Rousses and in 1864 he made the first traverse of the brèche de la Meije and the first traverse of the col de la pilatte. He died on 14 July 1865 in Matterhorn accident.

Perseverance matters, whether you're just climbing for pleasure or panning for gold. If you're willing to give up too quickly, you won't make it past the first few stories.

Patience matters and many Mountaineers will wear themselves out beforehand, using too much energy to get crossed the superficial heights. Be patient and more importantly, obey the rules and laws of the mountain. Consider seriously their warnings and the warnings of the safety tools. Do not stretch yourself too much whenever you have uncertainty about your health or if your breathing accelerates to a breakneck speed.

Last but not least, practice matters. Start small by hiking local ranges and get to know the body of land, how it is formed and how well your body adapts to the terrain. It can help you work your way up to more challenging mountains and greater heights. It is a hobby that will get you back to nature and give you some great memories!

So this was the list of the best 5 French mountaineer we will cover some more exciting posts and share with our readers in near future, stay tuned!!!!