French mountaineer of German descent, high mountain guide, the main organizer of the Piolets d’Or. He has participated in more than 30 expeditions to high mountains and has made numerous first alpine-style ascents of difficult routes on seven-thousanders. Alone, without supplementary oxygen and support has summited Mount Everest. Serves many prestigious functions in prestigious clubs and international mountain guides associations (currently the president of the GHM and UIA GM)