{"id":807,"date":"2026-03-18T10:39:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T10:39:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hikingandvolcanoes.com\/?page_id=807"},"modified":"2026-07-10T08:20:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T08:20:28","slug":"a-propos","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hikingandvolcanoes.com\/en\/a-propos\/","title":{"rendered":"Laura Bennati-Rassion | Guide de Randonn\u00e9e & Volcanologue"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Laura Bennati-Rassion
Hiking Guide & Volcanologist<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Laura\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHiking Guide\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tState Diploma - 2021\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVolcanologist Geophysicist\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMaster's Degree, IPGP, France - 2006\nMaster's Degree, Purdue, USA - 2010\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\u201cWalking is pointless, just like all essential activities.\u201d<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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David Le Breton, a French anthropologist and sociologist.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Laura Bennati-Rassion - Hiking Guide & Volcanologist<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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It all started, of course, with the mountains. I come from a family of ski instructors, mountain hut wardens, and amateur mountaineers\u2026 Thanks to them, I spent my childhood surrounded by nature. As a young adult, I studied Earth Sciences in Nice and quickly specialized in volcanology in Clermont-Ferrand, then in Paris, before completing my studies at Purdue University in the United States. I spent five years in the corporate world working at ExxonMobil. But I felt trapped in an office\u2026 so one day, I walked away from it all to return to the field, where the Earth comes alive and where people marvel at its wonders.<\/p>

I\u2019m the only one who holds both a Mountain Guide certification and degrees in volcanology. This isn\u2019t a coincidence, it\u2019s a lifetime\u2019s journey that has led me here. Today, my job is to take you hiking in the mountains and on active volcanoes during trips that combine sports, scientific knowledge, and contemplation. I\u2019ve fulfilled my childhood dream, and I\u2019m the person I\u2019ve always wanted to be !<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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A remarkable journey...and above all, a unique one !<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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1980\u20131990<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Childhood in the Mountains<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A family of mountain lovers: grandparents who are mountaineers and hikers, parents who are ski instructors, an uncle and an aunt who work as mountain hut caretakers\u2026 The mountains came first, even before I could walk !<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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1998-2001<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Science track high school diploma - I've made my decision<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Life and Earth Sciences track. My passion for volcanoes began in middle school. My goal is clear: to become a volcanologist.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2002-2010<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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8 years of study in volcanology<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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DEUG in Nice
Bachelor degree in Clermont-Ferrand
Master's Degree IPGP Paris
Master's degree from the EAPS Department at Purdue University<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2010-2015<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Geophysicist - ExxonMobil<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Five years of office work, data processing, meetings\u2026 I\u2019ve had my fill. But I need some fresh air and, above all, a sense of purpose \u2014> The Big Turn.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2017-2021<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Career Change - Hiking Guide Certification\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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4 years of education at the CNSNMM - National Center for Nordic and Mid-Mountain Skiing<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2022-2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Chamonix Guides Association\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Full Member
Dozens of guided trips: Tour du Mont-Blanc, Chamonix-Zermatt, GR5, Vanoise, Grand Paradis Tour (Italian side), Swiss Oberland\u2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Since 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Independent Hiking Guide and Volcanologist\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Full-day or half-day hikes in Chamonix and the surrounding area
Customized trips to the mountains and active volcanoes
All over the world !<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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1980\u20131990<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Childhood in the Mountains<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A family of mountain lovers: grandparents who are mountaineers and hikers, parents who are ski instructors, an uncle and an aunt who work as mountain hut caretakers\u2026 The mountains came first, even before I could walk !<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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1998-2001<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Science track high school diploma - I've made my decision\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Life and Earth Sciences track. My passion for volcanoes began in middle school. My goal is clear: to become a volcanologist.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2002-2010<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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8 years of study in volcanology<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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DEUG in Nice
Bachelor degree in Clermont-Ferrand
Master's Degree IPGP Paris
Master's degree from the EAPS Department at Purdue University<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2010-2015<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Geophysicist - ExxonMobil<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Five years of office work, data processing, meetings\u2026 I\u2019ve had my fill. But I need some fresh air and, above all, a sense of purpose \u2014> The Big Turn.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2017-2021<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Career Change - Hiking Guide Certification<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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4 years of education at the CNSNMM - National Center for Nordic and Mid-Mountain Skiing<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2022-2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Chamonix Guides Association\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Full Member
Dozens of guided trips: Tour du Mont-Blanc, Chamonix-Zermatt, GR5, Vanoise, Grand Paradis Tour (Italian side), Swiss Oberland\u2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Since 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Guide de Randonn\u00e9e ET Volcanologue ind\u00e9pendante<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Full-day or half-day hikes in Chamonix and the surrounding area
Customized trips to the mountains and active volcanoes
All over the world !<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Legitimacy built through education...<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Hiking Guide<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Master of Science<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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American Master of Science<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Certificate of Qualification<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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And on the field !<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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I'm not hiking guide<\/strong> who has only seen active volcanoes from a distance as a tourist. Of course, I went there for my own enjoyment. But I have also carried out numerous scientific missions.<\/strong> Field studies, data collection, approaching erupting volcanic craters using safety protocols that only researchers are familiar with\u2026 I have gained extensive experience in active volcanic terrain.<\/p>

It's this dual role that makes my trips unique : You\u2019ll benefit from real-world experience that traditional agencies can\u2019t offer you.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\ud83c\udf0b <\/b>Piton de la Fournaise – France<\/strong><\/p>

1 mission \u00b7 active lava flow survey and lava sampling<\/p>

\ud83c\udf0b\u00a0 Etna \u2013 Italy<\/b><\/p>

1 mission \u00b7 walking across an active lava flow and approaching erupting craters<\/p>

\ud83c\udf0b Vesuvius \u2013 Italy<\/b><\/p>

1 mission \u00b7 descent into the active crater \u2013 an extremely rare experience, inaccessible to the general public<\/p>

\ud83c\udf0b <\/b>Stromboli & Vulcano \u2013 Italy<\/strong><\/p>

4 missions \u00b7 approaching erupting craters each time<\/p>

\ud83c\udf0b <\/b>Erta Ale & the Afar Rift Valley \u2013 Ethiopia<\/strong><\/p>

6 missions \u00b7 including 3 that approached the active lava lake<\/p>

\ud83c\udf0b <\/b>Ubinas (5,434 m) & Misti (5,838 m) \u2013 Peru<\/strong><\/p>

3 missions \u00b7 ascents to active craters<\/p>

\ud83c\udf0b <\/b>Santa Maria \/ Santiaguito \u2013 Guatemala<\/strong><\/p>

1 mission \u00b7 approaching the erupting crater<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What they say<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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