Now That's Inspiration

For proof that climbing can be a lifetime sport, look to Marcel Rémy, who is still climbing 5.10 in his 80s. The Swiss father of two of the most prolific first ascensionists in European history, Claude and Yves Rémy, Marcel was born in 1923 and is still at it 84 years later, despite two hip replacements. Luca Albertoni describes a trip to Kalymnos, Greeece, last spring where Rémy led routes up to 5.10b without falls and followed harder routes.

John Harlin recalls a funny story of arriving at the base of the Miroir d'Argentine, a 1,200-foot slab near his boyhood home in Leysin, Switzerland, and being disappointed to see an old man start up his chosen route just ahead of him. But that old man, Marcel Rémy, easily stayed ahead of Harlin all day. Magnifique!