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