to French parents, Serge and Annie Destivelle. Catherine was the eldest of six: four sisters Florence, Sophie, Martine, and Claire, and one brother Hyacinthe (born Laurent). Her father was an amateur climber and mountaineer. As a young teenager, her family moved to Paris, France, where she attended the Lycée Corot in Savigny-sur-Orge.

At the age of 12, Destivelle became a member of the Club alpin français,