Benoît Chamoux facts for kids

Benoît Chamoux (born February 15, 1961 – disappeared October 6, 1995) was a famous French mountain climber. He was known for trying to climb the world's highest peaks, especially those over 8,000 meters tall. These giant mountains are called "Eight-thousanders" and are found in the Himalayas.

Chamoux said he had climbed 13 of these huge mountains. However, three of his climbs are not officially recognized. This means his official count of successful climbs is 10. He disappeared in 1995 while attempting to climb his 14th Eight-thousander.

About Benoît Chamoux

Benoît Chamoux was born in La Roche-sur-Foron, a town in France close to the famous Mont Blanc mountain. He loved climbing from a young age.

In October 1995, Chamoux disappeared near the top of Kangchenjunga, which is 8,586 meters high. He was with a photographer named Pierre Royer and their Sherpa guide, Riku. They were trying to reach the summit when they went missing.

After his disappearance, a special group called the "Foundation Benoît Chamoux" was created. This foundation helps educate Sherpa children whose fathers have been lost during mountain expeditions. It's a way to honor climbers like Benoît and support the communities that help them.

Benoît Chamoux's Major Climbs

Benoît Chamoux achieved many impressive climbs during his life. Here are some of his most important achievements:

Early Climbs

• 1982: He climbed the Diamond Couloir on Mount Kenya.
• 1983: He reached the South summit of Huascaran in Peru.

Climbing Alone (Solo Ascents)

Benoît Chamoux was very skilled at climbing by himself. Here are some of the peaks he climbed alone:

• 1985: He climbed Gasherbrum II (8,036 meters) on June 15. Just a week later, on June 22, he also climbed Gasherbrum I (8,068 meters).
• 1986: He climbed Broad Peak (8,051 meters) on June 20. Then, on July 7, he made an incredibly fast climb of K2 (8,611 meters), reaching the top in only 23 hours of climbing.
• 1987: He climbed Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters) on July 7.

Leading Team Expeditions

Chamoux also led groups of climbers on expeditions. His team was often called "l'Esprit d'Équipe," which means "The Team Spirit."

• 1988: His team climbed Annapurna (8,091 meters) on May 10. Five out of six team members reached the top.
• 1989: His team climbed Manaslu (8,156 meters) in May. All eight members of his team successfully reached the summit.
• 1990: His team climbed Cho Oyu (8,201 meters) on April 30. All seven team members reached the top, though this climb has been questioned by some experts.
• 1990: His team climbed Shishapangma (8,013 meters) on May 12. All seven team members reached the top. However, this was to a lower part of the mountain, not the very highest point, so it's not officially counted as a full summit.

Scientific Expeditions

Benoît Chamoux also took part in expeditions that had scientific goals, like measuring mountains.

• 1992: He was part of an expedition to measure the height of Everest (8,848 meters) on September 29.
• 1993: He climbed Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters) on October 6.
• 1994: He climbed Lhotse (8,516 meters).
• 1995: He climbed Makalu (8,481 meters) on May 7. This climb is also disputed by some experts and is not officially recorded.
• 1995: He disappeared on Kangchenjunga (8,586 meters) on October 6, along with Pierre Royer and their Sherpa guide, near the summit.

See also

• List of people who disappeared