French Aces Land in Nepal, Aim for Jannu East Ascent

French alpinists Benjamin Vedrines (age 32) and Nicolas Jean (age 27) have arrived in Nepal with plans to attempt the first ascent of the unclimbed north face of Jannu East (7,468 m) in alpine style.

The imposing north face of Jannu – a steep and historically unconquered wall near Kangchenjunga – has long challenged even the most elite climbers. Vedrines and Jean previously attempted this route last year alongside Leo Billon but retreated when Billon fell ill.

Both climbers have honed their skills through intense training in the Alps. Vedrines recently completed a remarkable “Great Alpine Trilogy” – a nonstop, human-powered traverse of the Grandes Jorasses, the Matterhorn, and the Eiger, combining climbing, paragliding, and cycling into one continuous 39-hour effort to test endurance and mental fortitude. Jean emphasized the necessity of courage: “The cold, avalanches, technical pitches; everything pulls us far from our comfort zone”