A guide's childhood
It began with family introductions to the mountains, taking in strolls, cross-country skiing and fishing.  His father and grand-father played vital roles. "They were week-end mountaineers.  Nothing too serious but completely hooked", remembers Jean-Christophe. Stories of alpine and Himalayan conquests and an introduction to the mountains at an early age, gave Jean-Christophe a taste for mountaineering.  "I started climbing regularly at six or seven.  With the school at first and then with a proper club when I was fourteen". With a good Baccalauréat result under his belt, he could have become a physiotherapist or a gym teacher.  A year of military service at the GMHM (Groupe Militaire de Haute Montagne) in Chamonix was the turning point.  It was here that Jean-Christophe discovered competition climbing.  He devoted all his free time to preparing for his exams to become an aspirant mountain guide, and committed himself totally to competitions.  He participated in the World Cup circuit between 1986 and 1989, on natural rock faces and on the first equipped indoor walls.

Climbing in all its shapes and forms

The year 1990 was another turning point for Jean-Christophe. "I completed my guide exams and devoted myself to alpinism. With climbing partners, I achieved ascents which started to cause a stir in the mountaineering lieu, as well as in the world of the media".  That same year saw Divine Providence and in the winter of 1990/1991 several solo routes such as the Bonatti route on the Grand Capucin, the south face of le Fou and the american direct on Les Drus. Great classic routes which have become reference climbs in the Mont-Blanc massif.

New and not the least important stage in 1992: Jean Christophe leaves for the exploration of the Himalayas and sets off with Pierre Beghin in an important project on the south face of Annapurna.  A terrible and painful experience when he sees his climbing partner disappear when a rappel comes out and Pierre Beghin is hurled down the south face of Annapurna.  Jean-Christophe remains alone and in shock at an altitude of 7100 meters … the book “Prisonnier de l’Annapurna”, which is published by Guérin in October 2003, recounts this drama.

1994 was a lucky year: “I discovered different styles of extreme ice waterfalls (opening of Compères and Nuit Blanche); in Yosemite I found a difficult route never done by the French, I also opened a solo route in the fall on the north face of Shishapangma.  From 1994 everything else has revolved around these two discoveries which have pushed me to experiment with climbing in all its forms”.

2000 was a year of decision: “I’ve climbed my sixth summit over 8000 meters, the Manaslu, by a first solo of the north face in May.  I decided with Katia, my wife to climb 14 summits over 8000 meters …

2001 was a fantastic year: “31st March 2001, on the day of my 36th birthday, Katia gives birth to our son Tom, I’m overwhelmed.  Several weeks before the birth, I open a new very difficult solo route over 9 days on the west face of the Drus.  In June I leave for the ascension of K2, the monster of 8611 meters, I reach the summit at the first attempt sharing these delightful moments of friendship with Hans Kammerlander.

2002 is a magic year: I achieve and exorcize an ascension which has been tormenting me … 16th of May I’m at the summit of Annapurna with my partner the Basque Alberto Innurategi.  Katia is at the base camp, she shares these moments with me, I feel liberated …

For the rest, refer to the list of annual climbs (record achievements).