Benjamin Védrines and Nicolas Jean have become the first to summit the north face of Jannu East—previously one of the last unclimbed peaks in the Himalayas. Jannu East is 24,501 feet (7,468 meters) of ice and snow, and it was no easy task for French alpinists Védrines and Jean to conquer it; in fact, this was not their first attempt to do so. But the second time was the charm for these two, who shared footage of their incredible ascent yesterday on social media.
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“Opening a new route is not just about exploring a mountain’s face, it’s also about discovering your own singularity,” wrote Védrines in an Instagram post sharing the footage. “Alpine style as an ethic, fast minimalism as a mindset: it took us more than three days to reach the summit. In truth, it took a lifetime of passion to weave through the sharp ridges of this mystical peak. Raising our arms at the top felt almost impossible, so heavy was the fatigue of high altitude upon us.”
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By reaching the peak, the pair has created a new route, called “The Summit of the Spikes,” up the north face of Jannu East. Undoubtedly, more adventure-seeking mountaineers will follow in years to come.
Watch footage of Védrines and Jean as they summit Jannu East, previously one of the last unclimbed peas in the Himilayas:
Header image of Jannu from the Sinelapche Pass by Jankovoy (CC BY-SA 4.0)
