Benoît Chamoux

Benoît Chamoux (February 19, 1961 – October 6, 1995) was a French Alpinist, who climbed 10 of the Eight-thousanders in the Himalayas.

Chamoux was born in La Roche-sur-Foron near Mont Blanc in the department of Haute-Savoie, France. He disappeared near the summit of his 14th Himalayan peak, Kangchenjunga (8586m) on October 6, 1995 with photographer Pierre Royer and their Sherpa Riku. Three other ascents were to either their fore-summits or the plateau, and the main summit thus was disputed.

The non-profit "Foundation Benoît Chamoux" was created in his memory under the auspices of the Foundation of France with the mission to educate Sherpa children who have lost their fathers in mountain expeditions.

Principal achievements

• 1982: Diamond couloir on Mount Kenya
• 1983: Huascaran South in Peru

Solo ascents

• 1985: Gasherbrum II (8036m) on June 15 and Gasherbrum I (8068m) on June 22.
• 1986: Broad Peak (8047m) at 16:00 on June 20 and K2 (8611m) arête des Abruzzes at 23:00 on July 7.
• 1987: Nanga Parbat (8125m) via Diamir at 23:00 on July 7.

Expeditions leading the team l’Esprit d’Equipe

• 1988: Annapurna (8091m) via the South Face on May 10. Five men of the six man team reached the summit.
• 1989: Manaslu (8183m) via the South Face on May 12 and 15. Everyone in the eight man team reached the summit in four teams of two.
• 1990: Cho Oyu (8201m) on April 30. Everyone in the seven man team reached the summit. Shisha Pangma (8013m) on May 12. Everyone in the seven man team reached the summit.

Scientific expeditions

• 1992: Measurement of Everest (8846m) on September 29.
• 1993: Dhaulagiri (8167m) on October 6.
• 1994: Lhotse (8516m).
• 1995: Makalu (8463m) on May 7. Disappeared on Kangchenjunga (8586m) with Pierre Royer and their Sherpa on October 6 near the summit.

External links

• Benoit Chamoux The Montagnes Website
• Fondation Benoit Chamoux (in French)
• "La Grande Neige" (in French) book about the repercussions of Benoit's disappearance written by his widow, Fabienne Clauss