Matthias Giraud makes audacious first ski BASE Jump off Aiguille du Plan North Face

Aiguille du Plan North Face ski BASE Jump: an intimidating idea that Aurélien Lardy told me about 2 years ago. When I first looked at the descent, I understood the magnitude of the project: alpinism, steep skiing, tight séracs, rope manipulations and a precision ski BASE in a narrow rock funnel over a goulotte.

My friend Alex Perinet, professional mountain guide, took Stefan Laude, our cameraman, and myself to the top. The 20kg of gear made staying agile on skis a real challenge: ice screws, crampons, ice axe, rope, carabiners, slings, belay device and a parachute on my back.

Two weeks earlier, Milo Cravero, respected Chamonix steep skier and alpinist, lost his life on the same route in an avalanche. The heavy thought was with me from top to bottom; a poignant reminder to not get carried away.

Prior to my descent, heavy snowfalls and wind slabs made conditions tricky for weeks. When the snow finally stabilised, a heatwave brought stable air but created a narrow weather window — the snow was too soft during the day, and rock hard at night. The Cosmiques hut warden warned us of snow bridges breaking with rising temperatures.

We left the refuge at 5:30 and summited at 9am. At the top of the line, I felt extremely anxious, having only slept one hour the night before. I kept repeating the same sentence: «Trust your vision… You know what to do and how to do it». My thoughts drifted to Milo. Stay focused, nothing loose, don’t get carried away — each movement needs to be precise.

I dropped in at 10:30. The snow was firm on top but like sugar underneath — great edge grip, but I couldn’t push too hard. From top to bottom, I had to stay precise with every move.

Anchoring on séracs, I did two rappels of about 60 meters each through the crux, surrounded by blue ice and rocks. On the first rappel, I could see rock and ice below and realised I was rappelling on a snow bridge. I had to stay light but progress efficiently.

But the worst section was the last steep, icy passage after the second rappel. I had to descend little by little with my ice axe while rock, snow and ice debris kept falling down the whole time. I felt in the line of fire throughout. Maybe one more rappel would have been better.

At the final section the snow was deep, punchy and heavy. I managed four more cautious turns on the last tongue of snow before putting my pilot chute in hand, and straight-lined to the edge of the sérac.

The speed, angle and direction were perfect. As soon as I took off, I knew I had the separation I needed. The sérac was only 30m (100ft) vertical with 25m (80ft) of angled ice below, and rocks were on each side. Opening in the wrong direction would have been catastrophic. As soon as I was flying between those rock walls, all the pressure disappeared. Seven and a half months of preparation paid off. I couldn’t stop smiling and screaming!

This descent is the highlight of my career. The ultimate combination of alpinism, steep skiing and BASE jumping.

Back in Chamonix, staring up at the tongue of ice and snow visible from downtown, I had one more thought for Milo: "I didn’t know you, but this one goes out to you." Thank you Alex Perinet, Stefan Laude, Aurele Mayol and Remi Portier for your help and support.

- Matthias Giraud, Megève, France