Benjamin Védrines’ Amazing Climb
Imagine climbing a giant, icy mountain all by yourself in the middle of winter—sounds tough, right? That’s exactly what Benjamin Védrines, a super-skilled climber from France, did in February 2025. He tackled the West Face of Petit Dru, a famous peak in the Alps near Chamonix, France. It took him five days—February 17 to 21—to climb a super-hard route called BASE, all alone, with no ropes to catch him if he slipped. This wasn’t just any climb; it was only the second time anyone had ever done this route, making Benjamin a star in the climbing world. Let’s break down what he did, why it’s a big deal, and how he pulled off this amazing adventure!
The Petit Dru is a tall, rocky mountain standing at 3,733 meters (12,247 feet) in the Mont Blanc area. Its West Face is a steep, dangerous wall of rock and ice, known for being really tough. Benjamin, who’s 32 years old, chose to climb it in winter, when it’s freezing cold and extra tricky. He followed the BASE route, a 1,000-meter (3,280-foot) path full of hard challenges. This wasn’t a quick trip—he spent five days on the wall, sleeping in tiny spots high up, facing wind, snow, and danger. His climb is a story of guts, skill, and loving the mountains!
Who Is Benjamin Védrines?
Benjamin Védrines isn’t new to tough climbs—he’s one of the best alpinists (mountain climbers) around. Born in France, he grew up loving the outdoors and now lives in Briançon, a town near the Alps. He’s famous for fast climbs, like racing up K2, one of the world’s tallest mountains, in just 11 hours without extra oxygen in summer 2024. That’s super speedy! He’s also climbed other big peaks with friends, like the North Faces of Petit Dru, Les Droites, and Grandes Jorasses in three days last winter with his buddy Léo Billon. But this solo climb on Petit Dru was different—it was slower, lonelier, and scarier.
Benjamin loves pushing himself. He’s climbed all over—in the Alps, the Himalayas, and even Nepal. Last year, he tried a big wall in Nepal called Jannu East but had to stop when a teammate got sick. He’s not just fast; he’s smart and careful too. For this Petit Dru climb, he spent three years dreaming about it and getting ready—practicing in climbing gyms, training outside, and learning how to climb alone safely. He’s a quiet guy who enjoys being by himself in the mountains, and this solo adventure shows how brave and strong he is.
What Is the Petit Dru and the BASE Route?
The Petit Dru is a rocky tower in the Mont Blanc area of France, near the town of Chamonix. It’s part of a group of mountains climbers love because they’re steep, beautiful, and hard to climb. The West Face is extra famous—it’s a 1,000-meter wall of granite (tough rock) mixed with ice and snow in winter. Climbing it is like walking up a giant, slippery staircase that’s almost straight up, with wind and cold making it even harder.
The BASE route is a special path up this wall, first climbed in March 2021 by four French climbers: Thomas Auvaro, Léo Billon, Jordi Noguere, and Sébastien Ratel. They were part of a military mountain group called GMHM and took five days to make it. BASE is super tough—it’s graded M8+ and 7a, which means it has steep ice, tricky rock moves, and spots where you need special tools like ice axes and crampons (spiky shoe gear). It’s called a “test-piece” because only the best climbers can handle it. Benjamin’s climb in 2025 was just the second time anyone finished it, and the first time solo in winter—making it a huge deal!
How Did Benjamin Climb It?
Benjamin started his big adventure on February 17, 2025, early in the morning. He skied and hiked to the base of Petit Dru the day before—Sunday, February 16—because snow was risky, and he wanted to be safe. He slept at the bottom in a tiny tent, then began climbing at dawn. He carried all his gear—food, a sleeping bag, ropes, ice axes, and crampons—on his back. Climbing solo means he had no partner to help, so he used ropes to catch himself if he fell, tying them to the wall as he went up. This is called “rope soloing”—slow but safer.
For five days, he climbed tough sections of rock and ice, some so steep he called them “crazy.” One part, a 7a pitch (a climbing term for a hard spot), was on crumbly rock that scared him—he wasn’t sure he could do it! Each night, he stopped at a small ledge—sometimes just 60 centimeters (2 feet) wide—to sleep in his sleeping bag, hanging off the wall. He faced wind, snow, and fog, waking up covered in snow one morning. By Thursday evening, February 20, he was close to the top but chose to sleep one more night instead of rushing in the dark. On Friday, February 21, he climbed the last easy bits and reached the summit at 9:30 AM—five days of hard work done!
Why Was This Climb So Special?
This climb was amazing for a bunch of reasons. First, it was solo—no one helped Benjamin, and he did it all alone in winter, when it’s super cold (sometimes -20°C or -4°F) and snowy. Most climbers go with friends for safety, but he wanted the challenge of being on his own. Second, it was the second ascent of BASE—only those four guys in 2021 had done it before, and they had a team. Benjamin proved it could be done solo, which is rare and brave.
Third, it was in winter, making it extra tough. Ice, snow, and wind make every step harder, and tiny ledges for sleeping get slippery. He said it was “one of the most intense experiences” of his life—scary but exciting. Finally, it’s a big wall—1,000 meters straight up! That’s like climbing 100 10-meter ladders stacked together, but with rocks falling and no safety net below. Climbers all over the world are talking about it because it shows what humans can do with guts and skill.
What Challenges Did He Face?
Climbing Petit Dru alone in winter wasn’t easy—Benjamin faced tons of tough moments. The weather was a big one—wind blew hard, snow fell, and fog hid the way sometimes. One morning, he woke up buried in snow, but he kept going! The route itself was wild—steep ice walls and shaky rocks made every move risky. He said the 7a pitch “gave me shivers”—he wasn’t sure his hands or feet would hold.
Sleeping was tricky too. He had no big tent—just a sleeping bag on tiny ledges, tied to the wall so he wouldn’t fall. Imagine dangling 800 meters up, trying to rest with wind howling! Being alone meant no one to talk to or help if he got stuck—he had to stay calm and figure everything out himself. Plus, a rockfall hit the West Face on January 21, 2025, making him worry about loose stones, but he checked with an expert and decided it was safe enough. Every day tested his strength and bravery!
How Did He Feel About It?
When Benjamin reached the top on February 21, he was thrilled but calm. He hugged a statue of the Virgin Mary at the summit—a tradition for climbers there—and felt proud. “It’s the most ambitious and difficult thing I’ve done in the Alps,” he said later. He’d dreamed of this since he was a young climber, reading about solo heroes like Christophe Moulin. This climb felt like a new chapter—like he’d proved he could handle anything.
He wasn’t in a rush, even though he’s known for speed. “I wanted to live it fully,” he said, enjoying the slow, wild ride. Meeting friends at the top—Ulysse Robach and others who’d climbed the North Face—was a bonus. They helped him get down safely since his rope was beat-up from the rocky wall. Back home, he wanted a hot shower, pizza, and a comfy bed—simple joys after five days of mountain madness!
What Does This Mean for Climbing?
Benjamin’s climb is a big moment for alpinism (mountain climbing). It shows soloing in winter isn’t just for legends like Walter Bonatti or Catherine Destivelle—it’s alive in 2025! Other climbers—like Tom Ballard, who soloed all six North Faces of the Alps in 2015, or Dani Arnold in 2021—set the stage, but Benjamin’s BASE solo adds a new twist. It’s super technical and risky, inspiring others to try big, bold climbs.
It’s also news because BASE was so new—only climbed once before. Now, with Benjamin’s solo, more might try it, though winter soloing stays rare—it’s too tough for most. His climb mixes old-school bravery with modern skills, keeping the sport exciting. For travelers or fans, it’s a cool story about pushing limits in Europe’s wild Alps!
