Industry News
Pablo Dulac was no stranger to solo hikes—the 26-year-old Parisian had embarked on multi-day treks before, often venturing deep into the wilderness. But this time, something was different. For nearly a week, his family and friends had heard nothing. His phone was silent. On Monday, February 24, his girlfriend, Juliette Leterrier, growing increasingly alarmed, sounded the alarm. “His cell phone no longer responds, and none of his relatives can reach him,” she wrote in a Facebook group post, attaching photos of him and pleading for help.
Dulac had set out from Paris on February 17, bound for Grenoble, where he planned to hike through the rugged terrain of the Belledonne massif. That evening, he sent a message to his loved ones, letting them know he would camp near the Jean-Collet refuge, east of Grenoble. The next night, he planned to sleep under the stars. Along with the message, he shared a photo of the snow-covered peaks ahead of him. It was the last time anyone heard from him.
By Monday, the CRS Alpes police unit had issued a call for witnesses, describing Dulac as 1.75 meters tall (5 feet 9 inches) with an athletic build. He had been last seen wearing dark-colored pants and a military-style jacket. Authorities urged anyone with information to contact them at +33-04.76.84.70.46.
The last clue to his whereabouts came midday Wednesday, February 19, when he sent a final set of photos to his relatives. The images placed him near the Cirque des Cascades du Boulon, a remote area not far from Jean Collet. After that, silence. One Facebook user analyzing Dulac’s final photo noted three distinct peaks in the background, resembling the Col Cottet and Col du Lac Blanc. “The selfie makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact location, but the picture was likely taken on the trail between Jean Collet and ‘Sous le Rajout’ or between Jean Collet and the Grand Replomb,” the commenter wrote. The area is known to be very steep and dangerous.
Rescue teams launched an intensive search on Tuesday, combing the vast and unforgiving landscape around the Jean-Collet refuge. A ground team from the CRS Alpes scoured the area while civil security helicopters conducted aerial reconnaissance when a break in the weather allowed. Still, there was no sign of the missing hiker. Search efforts are expected to continue on Wednesday, weather permitting. But conditions are deteriorating—heavy snowfall is forecast, threatening to further obscure any trace of Dulac.
Now, as the search stretches into its second week, friends and family hold on to hope, but with each passing day, grave concerns for the wellbeing of the experienced hiker are growing.
