Lionel Daudet

Lionel Daudet, known as "Dod," born on February 4, 1968, in Saumur, is a French mountaineer, adventurer, and writer. Known for his solo ascents and his purist ethic (he often climbed faces independently, completely cut off from the world), he has undertaken expeditions to mountains in polar climates. Living in L'Argentière-la-Bessée in the Hautes-Alpes, he is also a writer and a high-mountain guide.

Born to schoolteacher parents, he quickly developed a passion for climbing and mountaineering, which he first discovered through adventure books. Family hikes allowed him to experience the peaks that fascinated him. It was through the French Alpine Club that he pursued his passion at the age of 13, climbing notably with his younger brother, Damien. Around this time, a lecture by René Desmaison in Saumur had a lasting impact on him.

After completing his physics degree, he decided to pursue mountaineering full-time. At 23, he was selected for the FFME's (French Federation of Mountaineeri...