Louis Lachenal

French

17 July 1921 – 25 November 1955

Known for:

  • One of the first two mountaineers to climb a summit of more than 8,000 meters for the first time (Annapurna I, 8091m).
  • Having frozen feet to be amputated, still kept going on ascents. In particular, he undertook to climb in a single day, three routes considered difficult (East Crocodile ridge, East face of Caïman, Ryan au Plan route)

Notable climbs:

  • Annapurna I, 8091m
  • North face of Eiger, 3967m

He died falling into a snow-covered crevasse while skiing the Vallee Blanche in Chamonix. The mountain Pointe Lachenal in the Mont Blanc massif was named after him.

Photo Credit and Additional Read: Babelio- Louis Lachenal & Louis Lachenal