Medias

In September 2021, we will be climbing Manaslu in Nepal, the eighth highest peak on the planet at 8,163 meters. Let's take a look back at this experience, rich in both preparation and execution. An interview hosted by Eric Bonnem, founder of Secret Planet and also a participant in the expedition, and David Ducoin, head of the Himalaya zone at Secret Planet. We dedicate this episode to Pascal Pompei.

In this episode, we take a look back at the epic story of the conquest of Makalu, the fifth highest peak on the planet at 8,485 meters, right up to its victorious ascent by French mountaineers on 15 May 1955. This was the first and only expedition since the dawn of Himalayan climbing to see all its participants reach the summit. It was a masterstroke due as much to meticulous preparation and acclimatisation as to the success of the 1954 reconnaissance, and to exceptional luck with the weather. Here's a look back at this perfect adventure.

In this episode, we take a look back at the epic story of the conquest of Manaslu, the eighth highest peak on the planet at 8,163 metres, right up to its victorious ascent by the Japanese on 15 May 1956. 9 May 1956, 12.30 pm: the Nepalese sirdar Gyalzen Norbu (37) and the Japanese himalayist Toshio Imanishi (41) stand on the narrow rocky summit pyramid of Manaslu (8,156 meters). For the first time, the summit of Manaslu has been climbed by man.

Eric Shipton is one of the fathers of himalayism, or better still, of alpine climbing in the Himalayas. With his companion Bill Tilman, he took part in most of the reconnaissance trips to the world's highest peaks in the 1930s and sometimes opened routes that were used to achieve first ascents, such as Everest or Nanda Devi.

Treks, traversées, ascents at 6000, 7000, 8000 meters... Serge's experience places him among the most experienced French guides at high altitude. He has notably guided participants to the summit of Makalu (8475 m), Manaslu (8163 m) and Cho Oyu (8201 m).

Pioneers in our sector in the production of web conferences, backed by a community of enthusiasts on our YouTube channel, on the occasion of World Radio Day on February 12, we launched our podcast channel dedicated to the world of adventure and nature travel, trekking, exploration and extreme expeditions.

In this interview, Bernard Muller, one of France's most renowned expedition leaders at very high altitude, talks about our expedition to Everest, from which he has just returned, other 8,000 meters peaks and their characteristics, the reasons why some climbers want to get close to the ‘death zone’, the key factors in the success of such summits, their preparation, general and local organisation, oxygen...

Jérôme Brisebourg is one of the hundred or so sports adventurers and explorers in history to have completed the Explorers' Grand Slam on 13 January 2020 at the South Pole, i.e. climbing the highest peak on each continent (Seven Summits) and reaching the North and South Poles on expedition. Jérôme looks back at the expeditions he has attempted and often successfully completed, in both high mountain and polar environments.

A Frenchwoman who has lived in the Himalayas for over 20 years, Marion Chaygneaud-Dupuy has reached the summit of Everest three times via the Tibetan side and has climbed many peaks over 6,000 meters in central Tibet, some of which are still untouched. She is one of the world's leading experts on sustainable development at very high altitude, and has launched a major project to 'clean up' Everest via the northern route.