In 1990, Catherine Destivelle had already climbed in foreign countries and remote places and, after the competition in Snowbird, she decided to focus again on mountaineering.She was ready to climb in the Himalayas. Her first Himalayan ascent was in the Karakorum in Pakistan : she free-climbed the Nameless Tower with Jeff Lowe. Her great alpine achievements during the next few years were naturally leading her to try more and more challenging climbs in high altitude. After an attempt on Latok in Pakistan with Jeff Lowe, she visited Nepal for the first time in 1992... as a tourist. In 1993 she attempted the West Pillar of Makalu with Erik Decamp, but the arrival of the monsoon stopped them at 7800m. In the meanwhile she saw an obvious unclimbed pillar in the huge South Face of Annapurna 1. During the fall 1994, with Erik, climbing the South West Face of Xixapangma was a preparation and acclimatization before this big project. But they did not succeed on Annapurna. " When I climb I need to feel good ; in high altitude you are always bizarre. I don't like it, and it's dangerous... " Catherine is attracted by the Himalayas, but she doesn't like the type of risks she has to face in very high altitude. In 1996 Antarctica was a new dream, becoming soon an nightmare because of an accident. Since 1997 her baby Victor needs her at home. At least not too far and not away for a too long time...