After her achievements as a solo climber, Catherine Destivelle was recognised as one of the best alpinists of her generation. On October 11th 1990 she climbed solo the Bonatti Pillar on Les Drus. In June 1991 climbing alone she opened a new route up the same face : 11 days of efforts and hard aid-climbing. During the following years she did winter solo ascents of the three most famous North Faces of the Alps : Eiger, Grandes Jorasses and Matterhorn. In 1999, young mother, she climbed solo the Direct North Face of Cima Grande di Lavaredo, in the Dolomites. Everywhere she was the first woman.