Eider friends : mountain
Claude Alain Gailland
Mountain and water
Respectful of the nature in which he was born, the 'Valais', Claude-Alain Gailland likes to share his time and his energy between the mountain, a source of fascination, and water, life's essential element.
He is a man with a passion and eager to discover new lands. Claude-Alain is currently an alpine and canyoning guide… despite his carpenter degree.
At age 23, with his Alpinist diploma in hand, he didn't hesitate in following the adventurer Mike Horn, at his request, in his Amazonian expedition (1996). Since then, his expeditions have followed on one after another: from the full descent of the Rhône river on hydrospeed to the opening of a new trail in the Himalayas, plus exploring various summits across the globe, without forgetting "Latitude O" with Mike Horn in 1999-2000. Claude-Alain distinguished himself in diverse expeditions and sporting disciplines: in 2002-2003 he accomplished, with Sebastien Gay, "L'Arête valaisanne" (a tour of the 'Valais' following its borderline). In total, 640 km of border and more than 330 climbed summits.
Mountain and water
2005:
Nanga Parbat expedition (8125m) with Jean Troillet. Attempt to fee climb the Mazeno ridge. Pakistan, Himalayas.
2004:
« Verbier - Mont-Blanc » there and back on bike, mountaineering and ski; all in 22 hours.
Laddakh: Marka valley – 9 days trek (100km) accomplished in 1 day.
« Tour du canton de Vaud » expedition with Patrick Christinat. Mountaineering stages as a guide.
Sikkim expedition: free climb opening of a new trail at Tinchenkang (6020m).
First ever descent on hydrospeed of the river Sikkim.
Nanga Parbat expedition (8125m) with Jean Troillet. Attempt to fee climb the Mazeno ridge. Pakistan, Himalayas.
2004:
« Verbier - Mont-Blanc » there and back on bike, mountaineering and ski; all in 22 hours.
Laddakh: Marka valley – 9 days trek (100km) accomplished in 1 day.
« Tour du canton de Vaud » expedition with Patrick Christinat. Mountaineering stages as a guide.
Sikkim expedition: free climb opening of a new trail at Tinchenkang (6020m).
First ever descent on hydrospeed of the river Sikkim.
2003:
Completion of « l’Arête valaisanne », tour of the Valais region along the border: 100 summits in 20 days.
Broad Peak Expedition (8047m). Attempt to open a new trail with Jean Troillet and Sébastien Gay. Pakistan, Himalayas.
Hydrospeed altitude record (5000m) of the river which begins at the foot of K2.
Crossing of the white desert, Lybia, Egypt.
2002:
« Arête valaisanne » expedition, tour of the Valais region along the border: 220 summits in 58 days non-stop.
Aconcagua ascent (6900m) in Argentina
2001:
Mont Everest. 7900m ascent without oxygen.
Rafting guides diploma.
Verbier - Barcelona on bike. 1000km in 4 days.
1999-2000:
"Latitude 0" expedition with Mike Horn.
Ascent of the two summits: Mt Cayambé (5800m) in Equateur and Mt Kenya (5200m).
Climbing at « Trollveggen » (1200m rock face) - Norway.
Opening of a new trail in the Himalayas « Tour du Trango » (6300m) – Pakistan.
1997-1998:
First ever complete descent of the Rhône river in 11 days (from the glacier at Marseille)
Amazonian expedition with Mike Horn. Descent of the Amazon.
Several 5000m summits in Peru, including Alpamayo.
1992-1996:
Alpine guide diploma.
Surveying with Mike Horn in Peru. Ascent of untouched peaks - 5800m.
Canyoning diploma.
Climbing at Yosemite.
Glacier patrol, 1st place: Arolla-Verbier.
1990-1992:
Ski and alpinism competitions
Diverse:
Support guide for Xtrême de Verbier since 2001
