Born in 1946 in Cison di Valmarino in Italy, Walter Cecchinel arrived in France in 1949 and lived mainly in Haute-Savoie. After having studied technical mechanics, he discovered the mountains at the age of twenty. He obtained the diploma of aspirant-guide in 1968 before obtaining that of high mountain guide in 1971. The following year, he became the youngest teacher at the National School of Skiing and Mountaineering in Chamonix and teaches a new technique he has perfected, the ice axe-traction. ...