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French renowned alpinist Jean-Christophe Lafaille is a master of climbing and a superstar in modern mountaineering. In his curriculum there are a number of extreme unique climbs, including many first ascents and seven 8000-ers.
Jean prefers the hardest and ‘engaging’ routes. In his interview to PlanetMountain Internet site, Jean said: “I like hard routes, hard climbing, solos, difficult physical conditions… But the most important thing is the mental aspect; all hard routes require hard concentration, motivation, and they therefore develop the ‘spirit’”.
Among his latest achievements there are winter solo first ascent of the hardest Drus West face and first winter solo climb of Pèlerinage on the North Face of Peigne. Now Lafaille aims to climb all fourteen 8000-ers and, if possible, to climb them solo.
Last four years Jean-Christophe Lafaille lives in Chamonix where he met with his Russian colleague Valery Babanov. Our honoured compatriot has won ‘Piolet d’Or’ for climbing Meru peak and was granted exclusive ‘gold’ eiderdown jacket by BASK. Lafaille, who is also known as a specialist in climbing equipment, saw Valery’s clothes and appreciated it very high. He decided to be equipped as good as Babanov and requested at our company a down jacket (with the best goose down) and some other equipment for his future ascents.
Provided with BASK clothes Jean is leaving to Annapurna, his eights 8000-er. He has attempted this peak for three times already, but each time he had to retreat. Now Jean tries to climb it up the East Ridge. It’s one of the hardest route --– 7,5 kilometres traverse above 7 kilometres height with three 8000-ers in the middle. We hope that this, forth, time BASK warm jacket will help a brave climber to win the tricky mountain!
23.05.2002
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