Nicolas Jaeger (20 October 1946 – 27 April 1980) was a French physician, alpinist, and ski mountaineer.

Early life

Jaeger was born on 20 October 1946^[1] in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, the son of photographer Janine Niépce. He made more than 100 solo ascents in the Mont Blanc massif, including more than a dozen first ascents.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Jaeger became a mountain guide in 1975. On 15 October 1978, he participated in the first French ascent of Mount Everest. The team leader was Pierre Mazeaud. Other team members included Jean Afanassieff and Kurt Diemberger. In 1978, Jaeger and Afanassieff became one of the first to climb and then ski down an eight-thousander mountain, which they did from the south col of Everest.^[2] From 27 July to 27 September 1979, he spent 60 days alone at 6,700 metres (22,000 ft) altitude on Huascarán to study the effects of "super-acclimatisation" on himself. He published an account of his experience in Carnets de Solitude the same year.^[3]

On 27 April 1980, Jaeger was seen for the last time at 8,200 metres (26,900 ft) altitude during an attempted ascent of Lhotse Shar in Nepal, and is presumed dead.^[4]

First solo ascents

• 1972 – Arête Sans Nom on the Aiguille Verte
• 1972 – North spur of Les Droites
• 1973 – North–south traverse of the Chamonix Aiguilles
• 1975 – Bonatti–Gobbi route on the Grand Pilier d'Angle