Quebec mountaineer François-Guy Thivierge began the challenge of a lifetime in August 2019: climbing 55 mountains in 55 months to celebrate his 55th birthday. Le Journal regularly features a mountain he climbed as part of this project.
Mountaineer François-Guy Thivierge has scaled great European classics, some of the highest peaks on earth, lofty volcanoes or sheer walls of ice since beginning a world-class trek to scale 55 mountains in 55 months. He recently added the desert landscape of Fisher Towers, Utah to his canvas with stunning backdrops.
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Thivierge had just returned from a tiring stay in Peru, where he had climbed the Alpamayo and the Huascaran in quick succession, two of his greatest challenges to date, when an irresistible desire to take on new challenges manifested itself.
Ordinary mortals would no doubt have enjoyed the triumph had they planted their feet firmly on the ottoman. To think that François-Guy Thivierge would continue to indulge in comfort would be to misunderstand him. After all, you can’t conquer 55 mountains in five years while sitting down.
“My climbing companion Alfred Boivin was on vacation after returning from Peru. I came home and after two weeks left for Colorado and Utah. The call of the mountains was too strong. One of the biggest challenges on my list is finding people to climb with. It was a nice opportunity,” he said.
With kind approval
This ascent was made by François-Guy Thivierge with his accomplice Alfred Boivin. Everything was made possible by the commitment of corporate partner SiliCycle.
26 years later
Though he’s often scaled much more dizzying peaks, Thivierge said he was amazed by his time in Utah.
In 1996, in the same corner of the United States, he attacked Castleton Tower, about fifty kilometers away.
Even then he had the feeling that he was missing something. Twenty-six years later, it was high time to take on the soaring monoliths of the Fisher Towers.
The structures of petrified sand on the ancient sea floor gave him an instant crush.
“We climbed a small, easier climbing route nearby to familiarize ourselves. We then walked to the Fisher and his corkscrew finish. It’s quite unique in the world,” he says like a kid surprised by his Christmas presents.
With kind approval
The corkscrew-shaped gable wall of the Fisher Towers in the USA has become one of the most photographed spots in mountaineering circles over the years.
different challenge
At around 4:30am, in the middle of the night, Thivierge and his pal started the march to arrive at the foot of the track in the first light of the sun. We had to climb quickly before the sun beat down so low it turned the place into a blast furnace by late morning.
The duo quickly understood that the challenge would be more mental than physical.
“You are extremely exposed to the wind, from all sides, from all sides. Emptiness is everywhere. Just looking down makes you almost tremble with nervousness. You see what there is to climb and the last part, it gives goosebumps. We wonder if we’ll be able to attach properly.
“The protections stuck in the rock are crumbling. We’re talking about a rock that looks like frozen mud. It’s a very strange formation and I had never climbed such a sandy rock structure,” said the man who has seen virtually everything related to mountain faces.
With kind approval
Utah’s desert landscape with its sandy rocks offers sublime landscapes.
This climb, which he classifies as moderate in terms of difficulty, earns a large place in his huge memory box, partly because of its photogenic aspect and its unique character.
“I appreciated the diversity, the differences in the rock. You wonder if you will have enough strength and if there will be enough space to set the anchors. As long as you’re not in there, there’s a lot of stress. I’m welcome to venture into the unknown, it’s normal to ask questions,” said Thivierge.
A region to explore
Here’s another mountain on his list of 55 for the perpetual mountain hiker to be proud to check off.
“I wanted this challenge to include a variety of climbs and not just the highest peaks in each country. I don’t want to specialize in just one mountain type. I wanted to climb mountains I’d never explored,” he said before going there with a proposal for anyone following his exploits.
“The state of Utah is full of impressive desert landscapes. There are many nature parks in the area that you can visit. I would recommend this area to everyone. Once is not even enough to explore everything.”
fishing towers
Mountain #22
- Height : 1780m
- Country : United States
- Region : Near Moab, Utah
- First ascent: 1960s
- rise: 150m
- Duration : 5 hours
► To follow his adventures: francoisguythivierge.com | Facebook | instagram @francoisguythivierge