France's Iris Pessey has set a new women's record on Mont Blanc. The 34-year-old reached the summit on June 18 in 5 hours and 2 minutes, beating the previous record holder, Hillary Gerardi, by ten minutes.
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First paragliding combination by a woman on Mont Blanc
From the town center of Chamonix, Pessey hiked the approximately 16 kilometers and 3.800 meters of elevation gain to the summit of the Mont Blanc (4.806 m). The Frenchwoman then paraglided back down to the valley. The entire journey, including the return flight, took her 5 hours and 34 minutes. Remarkably, it was her first attempt at a record time on the highest mountain in the Alps.
With her achievement, Pessey not only set a new speed record but also made history: she is the first woman to complete a "hike & fly" on Mont Blanc – an ascent on foot followed by a paragliding descent. Pessey and her team had spent over two years intensively preparing for the project.
The idea is pretty crazy: to walk from the village to Mont Blanc and then fly down to the valley.
Iris Pessey
"Didn't want to chase a record time"
Even though the record is the ultimate focus, Pessey emphasizes that the best time was never the real goal: "The goal wasn't to chase a record time, but to spend a nice day with friends." Even after returning to the valley, she hardly thought about the new record. "I was mainly relieved and grateful to all the people who helped me make this project a reality."
The Frenchwoman was accompanied by mountain guide Matthieu Meynadier and snowboarder Marion Haerty. A short film about the Mont Blanc project, produced by Glace Noir Films, is scheduled for release in the coming weeks.
Records on the mountain: never 100 percent comparable
Speed records in mountainous terrain are difficult to compare directly, as numerous factors – especially the conditions on the mountain – play a role. On Mont Blanc, the method athletes choose for ascent and descent is also crucial.
The descent is usually done on skis – even previous record holders like Élise Poncet, Hillary Gerardi and Anna DeMonte They opted for this option. It is noteworthy, however, that the use of paragliders has also opened up new possibilities in speed alpinism in recent years.
Iris Pessey: Endurance all-rounder and biathlon coach
Iris Pessey is a multiple French champion in cross-country skiing and coach of the British national biathlon team. The 34-year-old also won the MCC at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) and is active as a trail runner and mountaineer. She is considered one of France's most versatile endurance athletes.
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Credits cover photo: Noa Barrau