Profile – Christophe Dumarest
CHRISTOPHE DUMAREST
Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
CD: I like to say that I was born in a backpack. My parents—especially my father—were seasoned mountaineers. Even though I sometimes would have preferred to spend my weekends at Walibi, I was always out in the mountains. I started ski mountaineering at age 6, and by the time I was 10, I already had a nice list of climbs under my belt, including a summit over 4,000 meters.
Today I divide my time between my work as a guide, a writer, and a technical advisor for various brands.
When and how did you learn to paraglide?
CD: I took my first paragliding and hang-gliding flights with my father when I was very young. He was one of the few people flying at the Col de la Forclaz in the ’80s. It wasn’t until fairly late in life that I finally took the plunge and got serious about it, even though I’d sworn I wouldn’t give in until I was 60 (the right age to have plenty of time and take the risk of getting hurt—even though there’s really no age limit!!). I didn’t learn to fly the most traditional way. In fact, it was friends—exceptional pilots—who trained me. I learned in the fields surrounding my village of Dingy Saint Clair. With them, I was able to benefit from accelerated training, but the learning process will never be over. What little I know, I owe to them.
How often do you go paragliding?
CD: My practice is directly linked to the mountains. I use paragliding even more for descending than for ascending. Nevertheless, the possibilities for cross-country flights, long-distance journeys, and other bivouac flights that paragliding offers seem endless to me, especially with the development of new equipment that is increasingly safe and high-performance. The experience of thermal flying is also addictive, and I’m wary of myself and my tendency to take on too much—“Great daring often leads to short careers,” as Livanos said.
Do you have a special memory of flight to share with us?
CD: My two flights from the summit of the Aiguille du Midi, both taking off from the north side, remain unforgettable. The first was in 2010 in a tandem glider with Philippe Barnier; it took place at night and followed an exceptional journey through the Mont Blanc massif (six consecutive days following in the footsteps of Walter Bonatti), with a landing lit only by car headlights! The second was a solo flight, and flying over the Aiguilles de Chamonix in winter felt completely surreal to me. Alone in a sky and an environment worthy of a Samivel movie.
I have more mixed feelings about a takeoff from the summit of Mont Blanc aided by the “foehn” wind.
What are your upcoming plans (paragliding and other activities)?
CD: My experience with the recent lockdown-related events has reinforced my belief that adventures should be experienced on an even more local scale. That we should focus more on discovering new perspectives rather than seeking out distant destinations. That by revisiting an IGN map and using our creativity, we can still have wonderful experiences—perhaps without traveling nearly as far. I dream of combining a logical alpine route with paragliding.
Contact:
www.christophedumarest.com
