Tragedy Strikes: Guigonnet and Lombard Killed

On the night of September 18, 2025, the mountaineering world suffered a devastating loss. French alpinists Benjamin Guigonnet, 37, and Quentin Lombard, 34, were killed in a car accident on the Route des Crêtes in the Gorges du Verdon, French Alps.

According to local reports, their vehicle veered off the narrow, unlit mountain road and plunged roughly 700 meters into a ravine. Both climbers died instantly. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash.

Benjamin Guigonnet was one of France’s most accomplished alpinists of his generation. In 2018, he received the prestigious Piolet d’Or alongside Helias Millerioux and Frederic Degoulet for their bold first ascent of the 7,742-meter Nuptse Nup II’s south face in Nepal. A certified high-mountain guide since 2011, Guigonnet was also a trainer at the École Nationale de Ski et d’Alpinisme (ENSA) in Chamonix and a technical advisor for Simond. His resume included the Cassin Route on the Grandes Jorasses and rock climbs up to 9a difficulty. Beyond his climbing feats, he was a devoted father of two. His Himalayan exploits were captured in the 2023 documentary Nuptse: L’Inaccessible Absolu.

Quentin Lombard, also a respected mountain guide since 2017, was equally dedicated to the mountains. A national alpine ski instructor since 2014, he worked at ENSA, where he mentored aspiring guides and mountaineers.

Together, Guigonnet and Lombard embodied the spirit of dedication, skill, and passion for the mountains. Their loss leaves a deep void in the French and international climbing communities.

Photo: gyorplusz.hu