Sophie Lavaud has become the first Swiss woman to reach the summit of K2

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Sophie, whose latest achievement is the conquest of K2 (8,611 metres) on 21 July 2018, has been supported by REYL & Cie since
last year. Although records are less important to her than enjoying the journey, the Himalayan climber has become the first Swiss woman, as
well as the first French woman, to successfully climb eight summits of over 8,000 metres, earning her the nickname “64,000 Lady”.

Sophie Lavaud is a French, Swiss and Canadian national. After her careers in the hotel, luxury and cosmetics industries, she became head
of an events management company. Now a speaker, mountaineer and more specifically Himalayan climber, Sophie climbed ShishaPangma
(8,027 metres) and Cho Oyu (8,2012 metres) in 2012, Everest (8,850 metres) in 2014, Gasherbrum II (8,035 metres) in 2015, Makalu (8,845
metres) and attempted K2 (8,611 metres) up to 7,000 metres in 2016; in 2017, she attempted Kangchenjunga (8,586 metres) up to 8,200
metres, and reached the summits of Broad Peak (8,051 metres) and Manaslu (8,163 metres), Kangchenjunga (8,586 metres) and K2 (8611) in 2018.

Following a first film on her ascent of Everest in 2014 “On va marcher sur l’Everest” (“We’re going to walk on Everest”) by director and
mountain guide François Damilano, a second film, “K2 – une journée particulière” (“K2 - A special day”) relates her ascent of K2, which
was interrupted by an avalanche: the tents and all the equipment needed to reach the summit were destroyed, forcing the expedition
to turn back when its goal was within reach. This documentary was shown at various specialised festivals, as well as during an evening
for REYL employees. It was also awarded the adventure prize at the Morocco Adventures Film Festival and the Grand Prix at the Verona
Mountain Film Festival in 2017.

A patron of NGO Norlha until the end of 2017, Sophie now supports project “Mahila”, which means “woman” in Nepalese. This programme
supports women affected by discrimination and the negative consequences of male migration in the rural communities of the Rasuwa
district.

“The scale of the Himalayas fascinates me. You have to break out of your normal frame of reference and lifestyle. I love contrasts, to go
home for a week, put on a dress and high-heels for an evening out, then head back to the mountain tops, my Holy Grail. At heart, I am
a wanderer”.

About Sophie Lavaud

After a career as a manager in the hotel, luxury and event industries in Geneva, Sophie Lavaud made a remarkable entry into the world of mountaineering in 2012. She had successful climbs just ten days apart at Shishapangma (8'020 meters) and Cho Oyu (8'201 meters). 

Her climb of Everest in 2014 and first attempt to climb K2 in 2016 were the subject of films directed by French filmmaker and guide François Damilano ("On va marcher sur l'Everest" and "K2, une journée particulière"). 
 

Sophie’s Road book:

 

Latest interview:

26.08.2018 - Swiss TV
26.08.2018 - Swiss Radio
15.08.2018 - 20minutes.ch

 

K2

July 24, 2018: text and pictures
July 21, 2018: text and pictures
July 11th, 2018: text and pictures
July 3th, 2018: text

Kangchenjunga

May 12th, 2018: text and pictures
May 3th, 2018: text and pictures
April 24th, 2018: text and pictures
April 16th, 2018: text and pictures
April 14th, 2018: text and pictures