Career
Desmaison had climbed more than 1,000 mountains since the 1950s. He made the first ascent of 114 previously unclimbed mountains throughout the Andes, Alps and Himalayas. He is also credited with creating several new winter routes in the Alps.
René Desmaison died on September 28, 2007, at Louisiana Timone Hospital in Marseille, France.
He was 77 years old.