Denis Collangettes

Denis Collangettes (1945-1999) was a French mountaineer and mountain guide from Mont-Dore, Auvergne. He, along with other guides, was a key figure in the development and reputation of mountain sports in the Massif Central. He became a mountain guide in 1972, becoming the first guide from the Auvergne region. Collangettes played a fundamental role in the development of mountaineering and climbing in the Sancy Massif and around Mont-Dore, where he practiced much of the year. He is recognized as one of the true pioneers of mountaineering in Auvergne. Throughout his career, Denis Collangettes opened and equipped numerous mountaineering and ice climbing routes, including the first ascent of the Cascade de la Dore with a single ice axe and the "Redondance" gully at Puy Redon. He also mentored several well-known climbers and guides, and funded equipment that contributed to the growth of climbing and mountaineering in the region. His name is associated with numerous local achievements, including the opening of major routes in the Sancy, Cantal, and Haute-Loire massifs.