First Ascent of Jannu East, 7468m
Benjamin Vedrines:
"Sometimes, an ascent can change a life.
I believe this one is among them.
So much to say, so much to tell.
I experienced an adventure so rich that words intertwine, like the swirling snow at the summit of Jannu East.
Two months of expedition to forge a route on a virgin peak, after a failure the previous year. An experience of rare intensity, demanding as much resilience as meticulous preparation.
With Nicolas, we formed a tight-knit rope team, pushing each other to our limits, one pulling the other upward, etching this ascent among the most beautiful chapters of our lives.
This is a story of collective effort. So thank you, Nepal,
thank you to everyone who, near or far,
contributed to this achievement.
At the summit of this once-virgin peak,
our two pairs of eyes lit up
as powerfully as the Milky Way
that loomed above us during these six weeks spent here, a paradise for dreamy alpinists.
It takes imagination to dream.
Patience, passion,
and a touch of madness to make them come true. "
Nicolas Jean:
"A childhood dream come true. A virgin summit, a grand face, alpine style, technical alpinism, and above all, a trusted rope partner.
A beautiful ascent that brings me immense satisfaction.
We climbed Jannu East via the North Face and then the East Ridge. Four days in that extreme face, representing, to this day, a pinnacle in my climbing career.
Focus, commitment, self-transcendence, and emotion—we experienced all the ingredients of high-altitude Himalayan climbing.
Jannu 2025 Expedition: what an adventure! And what a team! "
Source: Benjamin Vedrines FB/ translation