CLIMBING legend Marcel Remy – one of the world’s most-celebrated mountaineers – has died at the age of 99.
Remy, father to his famous climbing sons Claude and Yves Remy, passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday.
Born on February 6 1923 in Gruyere, Switzerland, his daring ascents and love for mountains made him a household name throughout Europe and, later, globally as he continued his ascents into his ninth decade.
Only five years ago, at the age of 94, he scaled his favourite peak – the Miroir de l’Argentine in the Vaud Alps – “one last time”. His journey was chronicled by outdoors brand Mammut as he summitted the 2,421m peak with his sons.
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Asked how many times he had reached the top of the Miroir, he shrugged before guessing “…maybe, 200, 220, 240…”. He then made a tandem paraglider descent to the foot of the mountain.
“I can’t figure out people who don’t understand that at my age, you can still be active,” Remy laughed in Mammut’s documentary of the climb.
“I just don’t get it.”
Despite two hip replacements, Remy was, until recently, an avid downhill and cross-country skier.
Earlier this year, the alpinist toasted his 99th birthday at the top of his local climbing wall following a gym session. At the time, he was filming a documentary about his incredible life.
It is anticipated the documentary will be released next year to mark what would have been Remy’s 100th birthday.
