Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your background in climbing and mountaineering?
My name is Claude Torres, I'm 65 years old and I'm in very, very active retirement as far as outdoor activities are concerned! I was a dental surgeon for 30 years in Toulon, Var. When my daughters finished their studies, I needed less money but more time, so I took the Mountain Leader diploma to live closer to my passion for the mountains. In the mountains, I was very much a "climber" (too modest to say so, I made her say it): in 1990 she was the3rd woman in the world to reach level 8b, after the famous Isabelle Patissier and Lynn Hill, the route is called "Sortilèges", on the Cimaï cliff, in the Var) and summer mountaineering, mainly rock (for connoisseurs, the West face of the Drus, Le Nose on El Capitan and Half Dome in Yosemite...). Later, I discovered ultra-trail. I wasn't very fast, but I had a lot of stamina, and the commitment is so much less than in mountaineering, so I did the classics of the discipline: Diagonale des fous in Réunion, Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, Tor des géants... Today, I do just about every mountain activity, depending on the conditions... In fact, after our interview, we're going to re-equip a few climbing routes on the Châteauroux-les-Alpes cliff.
-
What's your favorite activity in the mountains today?
It's still climbing... I've got 50 years' experience! I've always practised climbing in all its forms, always taken people climbing and shared moments of life around this passion. Our community is strong, and as climbers in the 80s, we've all stayed close and connected despite the years that have gone by... in fact, many of us have come to settle in the Hautes-Alpes, for the quality of life and the year-round sunny cliffs.
-
What is your approach to the mountains? Has it evolved with time and the evolution of society?
As I get older, I naturally do things with less commitment. I'm also much less into performance, I accept myself and adapt. I think I'm lucky compared to the friends I had when I was 20, many of whom are no longer alive... I'm in good health, I'm still very active, and that's just my temperament, I don't complain. "You can't be and have been.
-
Where does this deep-seated passion for the mountains come from, and what's the secret to its longevity?
I can't live without mountains. I just like it there. I'm naturally fast and dynamic, it's always been that way. I have a very good diet, I pay attention to it and it interests me a lot. Overall, I have a very healthy lifestyle.
-
Why did you choose to live in Embrun? It's not the place with the most cliffs!
Yes, it's true, there are no major cliffs in the immediate vicinity... but within an hour's drive there are many world-class cliffs in a variety of styles and rock types (Ceüse, Ailefroide, Orpierre, the many spots in the Argentière and Briançonnais regions...). Personally, I'm happy with the very nice cliffs we have around the house. I need the mountains, and here you can climb all year round, generally to the north in summer and on the south faces in winter. The Southern Alps are a mountaineer's paradise, the perfect combination of favorable weather conditions and the presence of numerous mountains and cliffs. After the choice of Embrun, it was the choice of quality of life. For people who love the mountains, all the ingredients are there: climate and weather, a pleasant town and dynamic associations (I'm a member of the "forme et lumière" watercolor association and the CAF Embrun). The quality of life is exceptional, everything is on a human scale, and you can do everything on foot: my grandchildren love it when they come to see me, between the lake, the mountains, the activities...
-
What are your favorite spots?
I love the Viso and the bottom of the Queyras. Céüse, of course. The cliff at Châteauroux-Les-Alpes, 5 minutes from Embrun. I feel a bit at home here. This cliff was a bit abandoned, and my partner and I are currently re-equipping several routes to improve comfort and safety.
-
Do you have any favorite peaks?
Mont Guillaume is my home. I think I've walked all its slopes, in every season. It's a magnificent panorama. There's also Les Aiguilles de Chabrières, with its mountain-style climbing routes and terrain that's ideal for introductory mountaineering, a great way to learn about the mountains. We often do Le Méale, which can be climbed from several sides and is a practical half-day summit! Le Pic de Morgon, of course, but especially since my involvement as a volunteer on the Grand Trail de Serre-Ponçon... So I've spent a lot of time on this mountain!
Can you tell us about your involvement in local associations?
My partner and I are involved in the local local section of the Club Alpin Français (my partner is vice-president), particularly with the youth climbing groups, from 7 to 18 years old. It's a big organizational job, managing registrations and finding instructors to supervise the groups. Management of the climbing gym has been delegated to Pierre Lesne, and it's working well. He's a responsible climber, and the popularity of this small gym has made it a great success. Since last year, 2021, I've been volunteering to organize the Grand Trail de Serre-PonçonIt's a superb event with a top-notch spirit and a lot of autonomy. I'm in charge of the Embrun-Le Lauzet section, so basically I do almost everything on this part of the trail: reconnaissance, marking out, clearing, finding volunteers, which is no mean feat... It's a 24-hour commitment over the 3 days of the trail, and a lot of preparation. It's a huge amount of energy, and even more so this year with the opening of the event to solo runners, so it's a great adventure! The Club Alpin Français volunteers, the Grand Trail volunteers and the trail community are all very close.
Do you have any advice for mountain lovers visiting Serre-Ponçon?
The advantage of Serre-Ponçon is that there are mountains and hikes for all levels, and conditions are good almost all year round. You can ski tour and climb in good conditions on the same day. It's an excellent base camp for discovering the Hautes-Alpes on a star circuit, with the added bonus of a lake, beaches and water sports for relaxation. So no, no specific advice, just enjoy, live, vibrate: be passionate and curious about what surrounds you.
