Climbers

Didier Berthod is a Swiss climber who is known for his crack climbing. Famously, he came very close to making the first ascent of Cobra Crack in Squamish in 2006 before injury stopped him and Sonnie Trotter made the first ascent..

Around the same time he stopped trying Cobra Crack his partner became pregnant. Didier was unable to to imagine a life as a father and he fell back on his Catholic faith, first becoming a Monk with the Eucharistein Fraternity and later being ordained as a priest.

In 2020 he then left the church to pursue 'a more balanced life', including starting climbing again.

He has since reconciled with his child and her mother (Previously his partner), and has started making hard fist ascents again such as The Crack of Destiny in Squamish and then, in 2024, coming full circle and climbing Cobra Crack in 2024.

References

[1] Interview with Tom Randall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aSZ19z41Hg

[2] https://english.elpais.com/sports/2022-11-15/didier-berthod-from-rock-climbing-star-to-monk-and-back-again.html

[3] Interview with Niall Grimes, 2023 https://open.spotify.com/episode/32F0fKdpvYNkGup6pRtKMk?

[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjXzfkm6mgk

[5] https://www.grimpactu.com/post/de-la-corde-%C3%A0-la-foi-le-retour-victorieux-de-didier-berthod

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF6Ekdr59E4

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/C_qcwvIO4NV/

[2] https://www.climbing.com/people/remembering-johnny-goicoechea/

References

[1] Interview with Fanatic Climbing, Jan 2022 https://fanatic-climbing.com/interview-lucien-martinez-irreductible-acharne-interview-lucien-martinez-inveterate-and-tenacious/

Prolific developer around the south west england and south wales.

References

[1] Michele's vimeo channel https://vimeo.com/michelecaminati

References

[1] Neil's first ascents https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/ticklists/neils_new_routes-121

References

[1] Interview with Arthur Delicque for Grimper, August 2024 https://www.grimper.com/news-une-tisane-oriane

[2] The Ascent, a 2025 documentary about Oriane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL8HmtR--Fk

Antoine Le Menestrel:

You etched climbing in to our culture, you brought climbing up to an art form. You lived climbing, it was your lifestyle, I was still a student, looking on. I loved to watch you climb, your suppleness passed over in to my body. [1]

Lynn Hill:

Patrick will always have a place in my heart and memories. The times I spent eating dinner at his house, laughing, working together for "Rock and Wall" magazine, and climbing on the beautiful cliffs of Southern France were precious moments of life. Being from the same generation, I was inspired by Patrick's visionary achievements when he came to the States and on-sighted many of the hardest routes in the country. [1]

Jerry Moffatt:

A memory which stands out was when he took me out in his new HF Lancia Integral. He was a great driver and after warming up the engine went absolutely flat out! However at no time did I feel scared. Such was his charisma, he had an aura of total confidence and control. [1]

References

[1] Tributes to Patrick Edlinger, https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/patrick_edlinger_-_le_blond-5117

[2] https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/3470129359719881

[3] https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/928362310563278

[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZlxY5rNGJk

[5] Portrait by Gérard Kosicki https://www.instagram.com/p/CpGPhnQqTbe/

[6] Climbing in Cimaï, 1980s https://www.instagram.com/p/C_7fEUvtS-r/

[7] https://open.spotify.com/episode/3GHP3L6JrJAAnjRlWaqxw7?

[8] https://open.spotify.com/episode/0tiGG5Q3q4kJYDvoIYIxZr?