Denise Escande The Chibania

Denise Escande the Chibania

The engraved plaque we placed on the Chamonix cemetery wall. Denise had given her body to Science and we wanted a memorial to her in Chamonix. The plaque is by the side of one placed for Vincendon (whom she knew) and Henry who both died in a tragic accident on Mont Blanc in 1956.

La Tirelire (The Moneybox)

Vincent Couttet, on of Denise's very close guides read the text of Jen Fabre, another mountain guide and also a prefect with a talent for speeches.

After the cemetery ceremony we had a party at La Tirelire very much similar to those which Denise uded to organise for her climbing friends. Quite a few did come down from Paris (the Lesueur and the Moreau for one).

1951: discovery of a Mazot in a farm at Les Plagnes1952: purchase of a 255 m2 field in Les Moussoux (10 old francs per square m)1953: Foundations placed and mounting of the Mazot La Tireline enlarged with a kitchen and shower.1rst May 1953: 2000 tiles drilled and placed by Denise under the supervision of Julien, sitting in the field.Inaugurated 14th July 1953

Pierre-Yves Doré, a long time friend of Denise is distributing Denise's books amongst the members of the party, all old friends of Denise.Denise had donated all her savings to about 50 friends, but some could not get much as she had overevaluated the amount she had saved, but at least 45 got something!

Groucho "Escande"

Le "Matos" La Tirelire with the famous twin pegs of the key belay of l'Echelle à poissons (Le Saussois)

Denise explaining

Denise, Habib (Marcel Zerf), Eric - splendid morning after the bivouac below the red chimneys - Walker spur 1 Septembre 1962.

Harold "Afanassieff - 1rst ascent Harold & Maud - Pointe Lachenal

Maud "Escande" 1rst ascent Harold & Ma

Jean-Hervé Colle - 1rst ascent Harold & Ma

Denise belaying Bernard Pégourié on a Machaby route - 1985

Denise 80 years old with Pierre Alain 90 years old at a La Tirelire party

The new owner of La Tirelire chosen by Denise, a good alpinist and nuclear scientist who Denise nicknamed "Stars' dust". Denise wanted her little chalet to go to a good alpinist after she stopped climbing and could not live in it because of its access and its impossibility to be used in winter as it had no isolatio

"Groucho" Escande smiling - photo Pierre-yves Doré

The plaque we had sealed on the Chamonix cemetery wall is beside the one placed several months before in memoriam of Vincendon and Henry who died tragically on top of Mont Blanc. Vincendon, a guide trainee, was from Paris and Denise had climbed with him in Fontainebleau. Henry was a Belgian from Brussels.

Moring after a very cold bivouac under the red chimneys. Eric, Cabri, Habib and Denise

Denise Escande the Chibania