SAMAYA x JULIEN LACRAMPE

 

 

Following a paragliding accident in 2022, seasoned climber Julien Lacrampe set out to cross the Hautes-Pyrénées, via its peaks, in one month. For Samaya, Julien recounts his experience, from risk management to autonomy at altitude.

 

How did you come up with the idea for this project?

Julien Lacrampe: After my fall from a paraglider last year, I decided to take it easy and start climbing again by touring the Hautes-Pyrénées, following the border for 800 km, via peaks and ridges. It was a way of rediscovering my native region and letting it shine through a film. I wanted to show that there are wonderful things to do at home, and that it's perfectly possible to have more committed experiences, even at 3,000 meters.

 

Your project lasted a month. How did you organize yourself?

JL: I took my friend and videographer Hugo with me for the whole project. I was mostly on my own, moving from peak to peak for a few days, then Hugo would join me to stock up on food, do a few pitches of climbing with me before heading back down for the next few days. As I'd be staying in the mountains for a month to complete this traverse, it wasn't feasible to leave with so much food. I would have been far too heavy and that would have hindered my progress. It would even have been more dangerous, since I was crossing mainly via the summits, which involves a lot of climbing and requires the utmost lightness.

 

At altitude and over such a long period, you had to deal with changing weather conditions. How did you manage this variable?

JL: At the start of my crossing, the weather wasn't great. I set off anyway and ended up soaking wet for 5 days, unable to dry my gear in the evening. But it created an atmosphere in the fog. It was very special. Still, I was happy to enjoy the good weather for the next 20 days. I was able to stay constantly in the mountains, on average at 2,500 metres, and climb 160 summits. It was quite a rush. My days were pretty intense. I'd get up around 7 or 8 a.m. and settle down in the evening around 7. There are no secrets if you want to make progress. On some sections, I was joined by friends. The pace was calmer and I enjoyed it differently. When I was making progress alone, I bivouacked. The great thing about the tent was that even up there, stuck in the middle of the storms, I was comfortable in my super-tight tent.

 

The notion of risk is different when you're alone and when you're with others. How did you approach it?

JL: In the end, despite Hugo's visits and shared portions, I spent a lot of time on my own. This added a lot of responsibility in terms of safety. For the climbs, I chose pitches below my level, to ensure my safety. Once I'd reached the summit, I'd de-escalate on the other side if it wasn't too difficult, then abseil with my 15-metre rope. The descending parts forced me to think hard and analyze my surroundings. I had no right to make mistakes.

 

Photos by Hugo Aussenac