An emotional roller coaster - Mont Blanc Diary

“I began to realize how important it is to be an enthusiast in life. If you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it full speed, embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it, and above all become passionate about it. Lukewarm is no good!” – Roald Dahl

I couldn’t think of a better reason to embrace this challenge.

Hug the mountain! Literally at some point…

Wednesday July 1^st 2015 – Support is key!

It’s my last day at work before I’ll be going on the big adventure. It being an adventure is evident from the heartwarming support I get from friends, family and colleagues: from a pat on the shoulder till hugs, good-luck-charms, chocolate hidden in my bag and got-me-to-tears postcards. I’m overwhelmed!

Thursday July 2^nd – Saturday July 4^th – Do I need a bigger bag?

Stressing out over packing!! I can honestly say I’ve studied the gear checklist, provided by Mountain Network, to the best of my abilities. Check-check-double-check. I gather all required, and some more, clothing plus everything I suppose might be convenient at some point during the trip. From soap-without-water till (nail)scissors and from a bathing suit (you never know ;)) till a sleeping mask. I rented most of the wind- and waterproof clothing from Mountain Network, along with all the technical gear like the pickel, crampons and gaiters. The last few days before heading full speed into this adventure I stay over at my parents house for some pampering. On Saturday I head to the store to buy me some pack-food; snickers, granola bars and chocolate. Because you turn into a right diva when you’re hungry.

Everything fits in the bags. Yet another thing I need not to worry about. Ready to Rock!

Sunday July 5^th 2015 – Dinner with a view!

I’m travelling to Chamonix with fellow expedition members Bart and Y.  They left home at around 8 am and pick me up near the highway, where my mum, dad and sister Chelsi dropped me off and will be waiving me goodbye. It’s on! Did I pack everything that was on the list? Did I train enough? What’s the weather like on the mountain? What the hell was I thinking taking on this challenge? A number of questions that pop into my mind at some point along the way, but vanish once we approach our destination and have a first glance of Mont Blanc. This is what brought me here!

Yay, almost there!

We arrive at the hotel; Les Campanules in Les Houches. A beautiful hotel located slightly uphill overlooking Mont Blanc, a view we take in while enjoying our menu du jour. It feels magical being so close to this mountain with its invisible summit. #FromWhereIStand

Monday July 6^th 2015 – Try-out in Chamonix

After a delicious breakfast, in the scenic environment, we head to our “basecamp” for the next week, Chalet Tissières in Les Bossons, only 8k from our current location.

Upon arrival we each pick one of the beds in the assigned dorms and read the message from our guide, Jehan-Roland Guillot, whom ‘ll be with us the entire week. In conclusion he tells us to go ahead and drop by the gear shop to collect our rental shoes in order to start early the next day. And so we went.

Meanwhile we get in touch with the other expedition members to see if any of them are interested in going for a try-out walk in Chamonix area. Arnold and Bjorn, father and son whom have been camping in the area for several days, are in. Wim, Yde and Watze, our Frysans in heart and soul, will be taking their time to drive up from Switzerland where they camped out for a few days awaiting the expedition to start.

Arnold, Bjorn, Y., Bart and I go for a beautiful walk through the forest making approximately 1000 altimers. The legs feel great!

Back at the chalet, the weather is perfect and we enjoy our delicious 3-course meal on the patio as a team. Everyone is excited and ready to go at it full speed. Our guide Jehan drops by to give us a little briefing about the next day, Mer de Glace. Jehan is, besides being a guide d’Haute Montagne for several years, coach of the French National ice climbing team, former guardian of the Refuge de Tete Rousse, passionate rock climber, a ladies’ man, a tease, Frenchman in heart and soul and owner of an impressive 100+ ascents of Mont Blanc. A true expert so I’d say. After the briefing we start packing our bags according to his instructions.

Later I’m experiencing trouble sleeping because of the heath and, inevitably, some nerves. But who cares, I’m in Chamonix!

Tuesday July 7^th 2015 – Let the fun begin!

After breakfast we meet our second guide for the week: Seb, short for Sebastien. He appears to be as fit and experienced as his buddy Jehan. We’re in good hands and ready to go!

The ten of us head for the train that will take us to the glacier. Once we get there we will practice walking on crampons and learn how to use the ice axe. Keeping our priorities straight we make a quick stop at a bakery first to buy us some lunch.

Before we actually get on the train Jehan demonstrates us how to carry our ice axe walking in a crowded, touristic environment. Our main priority is to avoid decapitating any small children, which could definitely happen if we would have the axes attached to our backpacks. That would be a bad start to say the least.

 #LifeOnTheTrain

Upon entering the glacier we have to descend several stairs, ledges and some scree slopes. For our safety, but also to practice moving as a roped party, we descend being roped in a guide-student ratio of 1:4. Theoretically everyone should have brought his or her harness, in real life not everyone did! Fortunately we are on day 1 and after some serious remarks about efficiency and doing-as-you-are-told a solution is found and we’re on our way. Let the fun begin!

Once we reach the glacier we learn how to attach and tighten our crampons by using “the fuckin’ knot”. This knot should ensure we don’t lose our crampons halfway in. Sounds easy right? Well not sooo much…

After some muttering all around we start our walk on the glacier. Pretty flat at first, so no problem there. After approximately 15 minutes we arrive at a little playground where we’ll be testing our crampon skills. Jehan introduces us to instructions like “proud cowboy”, “ten to two” and “walk like an Egyptian”. The latter obviously like the song. These instructions all represent techniques that should ease the walking on crampons in steep terrain. Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy! Or not? We’ll see….

Glacier-smiles!

We enjoy our pack-lunch in the sun. It’s almost like we’re on holidays.

After lunch we continue our walk and follow the guides on some steeper parts. They are obviously looking for a good spot to abseil into the glacier, cross the water that flows through the crevasse and climb back up using the ice axe. Great idea! Jehan asks me to belay the others while they descend. Perhaps he chose me because of my trustworthy face, but more likely because I turn a bit pale by the whole idea. When it’s my turn, last but not least, I have some trouble detaching the karabiner and am not too comfortable making the step across the water. But when climbing up with the ice axe I realize how totally awesome this actually is.

We undo our crampons and walk, no...more like run, back to the train station. Full speed! When arriving at the stairs and ledges we get two options. One go up by yourself, without rope, or two form a roped party with Seb. Y. and I decided to be roped, which results in a short detour on the “ledge of the guide” and some via ferrata. So much fun!

When we arrive back in Chamonix, without decapitating any small children (+1000 points for team 4), we are (de)briefed in a park around the corner from the train station. The next day will be all about our departure to Gran Paradiso, the highest, and only +4000m, summit of Italy. Once back at the chalet Jehan shows us what he’ll be bringing on this trip and tells us what to expect with regards to layers of clothing for each phase of the climb. Nevertheless we spend the entire afternoon, and evening, packing and re-packing our backpacks, making sure not to forget a single thing. Check-check-double-check.

Tension is rising! WhoopWhoop!!

Wednesday July 8^th 2015 – Gran Paradiso and the draughty hole

Finally! We are leaving in the direction of the Mont Blanc Tunnel on our way to Italy, where our first challenge awaits us; Gran Paradiso (4061 m). While driving in the Mont Blanc tunnel, one lane only, one should keep at least 150 m distance to its predecessor for safety reasons. Because of signs on the side of the road inform you that it might take a while to cross the 11,6 kilometer tunnel. And so it did.

Unfortunately, our little expedition on the glacier the day before resulted in an injury. Arnold sprained his ankle and won’t be able to join us on this trip. Huge downer for the team, but especially for Arnold’s son, Bjorn. Nevertheless, being the trooper that he is, at age 16, he joins us in this challenge.

After the most enervating car-ride, which might be the understatement of the year!, passing a number of small Italian villages, we arrive at Pont, literally the end of the road. Since we are getting better and better at prioritizing we head for the toilets first, have our lunch second and start walking up to hut, Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II (2735 m), third. An hour, 45 minutes, 750 altimeters and lots of sweat later we arrive at the hut. It’s so so hot! Fortunately there’s a tap for water, which we use extensively.

At the beginning of the trail to Vittorio Emanuele II

#TheView

Thou shalt drink enough water!

We stick to Jehan’s advise for a good recovery: dry clothes, stretching, drink lots of water and rest. In summary the six of us are lying in two three-layer bunk beds, at 4.30 pm, in the tiniest dorm one can imagine. Every single one of us has a bottle of water at hand and we try to rest in between frequent visits to the toilet. Because when your guide tells you your pee should have no color, you just keep drinking water until it doesn’t.

“We don’t have WiFi, talk among others” – Duly noted!

At 7 pm the Italian dinner is served: ‘pasta or soup’, ‘meat and veggies’ and ‘chocolate, cheese or pineapple’. We devour our meal, which is delicious, while Jehan and Seb tell us to be ready for breakfast at 03.40 AM sharp the next morning. Ready meaning dressed “comfortably cold”, harness on, shoes and headlight for grabs and have both gaiters and crampons easily accessible in your pack. To check whether you are dressed “comfortably cold” you’d just walk outside and stand there for a little while…just see how it feels.... simple as that.

So next thing you’d find yourself lying in your bunk bed at 9 pm, both giggly and nervous. There is no way back now!

Thursday July 9^th 2015 – Maria, Maria!!

03.00 AM – Wakey wakey, rise and shine. Alarms ringing and the six of us are up and running. Because of the crazy lack of space we relocate to the hallway to get dressed and pack or last stuff. Probably 90% of the people staying at the hut will go for the summit of Gran Paradiso at some point during that day. Since we don’t want to be waiting in line 100m below the summit, we’re one of the first ones up and since it is 3 AM we need to be as quiet as possible. Efficiency and timing are key. The guides told us that should there be a queue near the summit, and we’d have to wait for other people leaving before we can actually reach it, we won’t go there. The purpose of this trip is to acclimatize, not to get cold and sore standing in line waiting for other people enjoying the beautiful view at the summit. All the more reason for us to actually be ready at 3.40 AM; +1000 points for team 4!

Breakfast consists of bread, butter, jam and nutella with coffee or tea from a soup bowl. Everyone is quiet and excited for what’s ahead of us. At exactly 04.00 AM we leave the hut. The first part of the trip is quite flat, but consists solely of rocks, bigger rocks and the biggest rock. We should be careful where to place our feet and I’m so relieved to have my headlight with me.

A little light in the dark

We carry on like this for a while, cross a little waterfall (with a little (or more.. no names ;)) help form Jehan) and arrive at the glacier. We plow our way up to a spot where we can attach our crampons, drink some, eat a bite of snickers (yes, I know..it’s only 5 AM) and form the roped parties. Bjorn, Yde, Bart and I are with Jehan. Watze, Wim and Y. are with Seb.

We start walking upwards along the glacier.

And up.

And up.

We stop for some super sweet tea (grose, but warm!), an extra layer of clothing, something to eat and a picture of the stunning views. The sun rises and it’s beautiful; we can see Mont Blanc from where we stand. I’m not sure I fully realize the beauty, since my focus is on the summit. From the thorough information provided by Mountain Network I’m well aware of the rocky part that is still ahead of us; it starts to give me the nerves.

Very critical judgment on the tea’s part.

Full speed ahead!

After the second break my fingers stay cold. Okay, no that’s an understatement: they’re freezing! Dammit, I have a warmer pair of gloves in my backpack, but I’m sure Jehan won’t be too happy having another break. Now what? I start muttering to Bart and he advices to ask for a break anyway. When worst comes to matter I drop my pole and it slides into a shallow crevasse… my fingers are just too cold to get a grip. Great! It’s out of reach and “we’ll get it on the way back” is what Jehan says. On the bright side, always look on the bright side of life, the pair of gloves from my backpack is warming up my fingers nicely. Once I have my pack on my back it appears that Seb saved my pole from abandonment. A true lifesaver! The journey continues.

We continue heading upwards and arrive at an extremely steep slope. Fortunately hikers that went up, and down, the day(s) before eroded some sort of a staircase and we ascend fairly easily. We arrive at the rocky part and start climbing. The crampons hitting the rocks give me an uncomfortable feeling, but I’m mimicking Bart’s footsteps as good as it gets. Jehan belays us to the rocks and all of the sudden we’re standing besides Maria. The view! It’s amazing and being at the summit gives such great feeling of accomplishment. Pictures are being taken and Yde is filming Watze, Wim and Y. climbing the ridge that leads to the summit.

Maria, Mariaaaa!!

Hi there!

Time to descend! I didn’t think about it until that moment, but when descending the roped party turns around; head becomes tail and vice versa. Meaning I’m to one going in front during the descent. Not good… myself, the crampons and the rocky slopes appear an extremely incompatible combination, especially when I’ve no one to mimic. After some, or more, grumbles from Jehan we arrive at the glacier safely. We continue descending on the snow and the pace is good, but I’m well aware of the fact the guides being really unsatisfied with my fumbling on the rocks. I start worrying there might be consequences, lose my focus, lock my left crampon in my right leg and instantly my knees hit the ice…&*#^@#$*&^#!! We need to keep going, so I get back on my feet. FOCUSSSS! I’m taking this “hugging the mountain” waaaaayyy too serious

The remaining part of the descend goes, besides Bart’s stubborn crampon, according to plan. When we arrive at the hut we eat soup. Soup for comfort! We all share our experiences of the trip. The general conclusion: AWESOME!

When we walk back to the cars both Jehan and Seb tell me about the next day: rock climbing in Chamonix. They both advice me to practice a lot in order to be more comfortable climbing Mont Blanc. Point taken.

Friday July 10^th 2015 – Let’s Rock ‘em

It’s a rest day! A relative rest day, because after all we are going rock climbing for some active recovery. On our first day in Chamonix we passed this spot where people were rock climbing in the sun. It looked scenic and relaxing. The views when you arrive at the top of your route are breathtaking, because you get to turn and face Mont Blanc!

I’m climbing the easiest route to begin with, after belaying Watze in the hardest one… show-off ;). Once we get the hang of it the guides tell us to declimb the routes as well… face down! This shit is scary, but after a few trials I’m feeling more and more comfortable. This should be it!

Rock-climbing with a view!

Going up. 

Aaand.. going down.

We have the afternoon off and Bart, Y. and I follow up on Jehan’s advice to spend it at Lac Passy. We bring crêpes and Nutella for lunch and spend some time swimming in the lake (yay for bringing my bathing suite!). While swimming you have a great view on Mont Blanc. It’s the weirdest thing to realize that less then a day later we’ll be up on that mountain wearing several layers of warm clothing.

Keep on swimming!

During this day it becomes clear that Arnold, Bjorn and Y. won’t be going up to Mont Blanc. Arnold’s ankle is still too swollen and sore, therefore Bjorn can’t go because he’s a minor and his dad won’t be there to accompany him. Y. decides not to go through because of physical reasons. Everyone is a bit shocked by these dropouts. Fortunately, Mountain Network arranged an alternative program for Y. and Bjorn, where they too will experience the mountains and learn some mountaineering skills.

This all means there will only be the five of us attempting to summit Mont Blanc. A third guide will be with us during these days. His name is Guy and he joins us for dinner that evening. We enjoy our meal and struggle through the “pack-the-bag-ritual”. Although it must be said it was a lot easier compared to packing for Gran Paradiso. At least now we know what to expect… sort of.

Evening chills!

Saturday July 11^th 2015 – Let the world see what you have got!

The bags are packed and we are ready to go. We take the cable car from Les Houches to Bellevue station where we get on the Mont Blanc train to Nid d’Aigle (2380 m). Meanwhile I listen to the surprised conversations amongst other climbers about Guy being a guide. They seem to think he’s too old, but what these people don’t realize is that Guy, at age 60, might actually be stronger than the five of us together. Even knowing I like to exaggerate I’m probably not too far off. Besides being strong he’s also a very experience alpinist and rock climber, having climbed all summits surrounding Mont Blanc and many, many more. The climbers not surprising themselves about Guy’s age are mostly discussing their strategy with their guides. It is interesting to know that every guide has it’s own preferences and makes different choices based on experience and external factors. I feel very confident with the strategy Jehan, Seb and Guy have set out for us and I am glad we are in such experienced company.

We eat our lunch at Nid D’Aigle before we start the walk up to Refuge de Tête Rousse (3167 m). The walk is very relaxed with its 800 altimeters and the same amount of pretty views.

In the hut we’re assigned to one of the dorms. It’s a 12-person dorm with two lagers; basically a giant bunk bed with six spots in the upper bed and six on the lower one. We have 5 spots on the lower bunk and Yde makes sure all are beds are made. We go back up to the common room, buy a bottle of water at 5,50 euros a piece and find a nice spot outside to stretch, drink and enjoy the view. Everything in the hut is extremely expensive since all it’s supply has to be flown in by helicopter.

We can see the Gouter hut at 3835 m altitude from where we stand. In between the two huts there’s a 700-meter rock climbing adventure awaiting us. During this climb we have to cross the Grand Couloir, a dangerous passage know for frequent episodes of rock fall. The guides will refer to this passage as the “Fuckin’ corridor” or “The corridor of death”. Both sound very comforting, but I think I prefer to call it “Grand Couloir”. If you want to see what I’m talking about, you should watch this youtube-movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr-DCBEXDzk

For a little while our gaze is locked on this passage and we see several roped parties go up or down. Theoretically it’s the safest to go there as early in the morning as possible. However, since it has been crazy hot the past few weeks, which increases the change of rock fall, our guides decided to go a little later and have the rising sun as our source of light. “So you can at least see the rock that is going to kill you”

Checking out “the fuckin corridor” carrying my water.

We need to be at our best game tomorrow so therefore we need to rest. Since I’m not able to actually sleep, I’m listening to some appropriate music:

“Don’t stop

Never give up

Hold your head high

And reach the top.

Let world see what you have got

Bring it all back to you”  - S Club 7

Bedtime stories.

Dinner is pea soup with cheese, lamb stew with couscous and chocolate mouse for dessert. The perfect “last meal”. I could get used to this mountain food for sure. Jehan briefs us on the next day by telling us what layers of clothing we should be wearing and who’s with whom to form a roped party. I’m with Guy, which I’m very pleased with. He’s experienced, friendly and patient, but strict and clear on his instructions. I feel very comfortable going up the mountain with him. Wim and Watze are with Seb, where Bart and Yde are with Jehan. The advice is to start with one layer of clothing on the legs and just two on the upper body, because of the warm weather. If the weather stays like this we probably won’t need our ultimate layers. Furthermore Jehan tells us not to bring anything we won’t need, so don’t bring to much water or tea. One liter of tea and half a liter of water should be enough. We’ll drink lots and lots once we get to the Gouter hut after summiting Mont Blanc.

Bring it on, I’m ready. Let’s hug that mountain…Hopefully not literally this time.

Nighty, night!!

Sunday July 12^th 2015 – Highs and Lows - “Don’t stop believin’”

03.30 AM – Time to bring out the best version of me, because it’s summit-day! Highly efficient we get dressed, put everything we won’t be needing in a locker, bye, bye shorts…see ya soonish!, and eat breakfast at 04.00 AM. Two layers on the upper body appear to give me the right feeling of comfortably cold and Guy instructs me to get ready.

At 04.40 AM sharp Guy and I start our ascent. Out of our three parties we are the first ones to start. Headlights are on, because it is still quite dark. The first part is very steep on snow and ice. Great start of the day. After approximately 20 minutes we arrive at the “Grand Couloir”. The sun is rising and visibility is good. Guy belays us to the cable that is put there to ensure you won’t fall down several 100 meters if you slip or get hit by a rock. We start to cross the corridor and get to the other end without any problems. Guy tells me to take of my crampons and to put them away. I remember seeing Jehan, Bart and Yde starting to traverse the corridor. Next thing I hear someone yelling and see Bart, Yde and Jehan running along the ridge. Rocks are falling and Guy pulls me below an overhang, where we won’t be able to get hit, puts his arm around my face to protect me and at the same time makes sure there is enough space for Jehan, Bart and Yde to hide as well. Shit this is real! I’m flabbergasted and so relieved when they are safe.

Watze, Wim and Seb are on the other end of the ridge and are unsure of whether or not to traverse. They’ve really seen the impact of the rock fall. Jehan and Guy tell us that would it be them on the other side they would turn around and end the summit attempt, but the decision is up to Seb. Since we are on this side already we continue our ascent. Which means rock climbing! Guy leads me through the climb as the true expert that he is. I could not have done it without him. And it is not until the end that I weaken for a moment, slip and almost fall on Jehan. Sorry, blonde girl falling! Fortunately we’re almost at the Gouter Hut were we get to have a nice thirty minute break. It has been tough, especially at the end where I was getting hungry and thirsty and it made me feel a little weak. However, I’m happy about the amount of energy it cost me and I feel confident on reaching the summit. 

Guy tells me “you are going to Mont Blanc!”

During the break at the Gouter hut we enjoy our well-deserved can of coca cola and a snickers. Bring on the sugar rush!! We’re also that Wim, Watze and Seb have gone back to Chamonix and ended their expedition to summit Mont Blanc. Dammit! What the rest of their program will look like isn’t sure yet, but that they will be missed definitely is. And then there were three…

Gouter-hut

Work the muscles.

Before we continue our ascent to Dome du Gouter and Bivouac Vallot, an emergency cabin, we put on an extra layer on both the upper and lower body and attach our crampons. On a flatter part just after passing Bivouac Vallot we have a short break. We drink, eat, put on another layer and I put on my warmer gloves. No cold fingers for me this time! Along the route we meet some friends of Jehan and Guy. All guides seem to know each other, which makes it a friendly and comfortable environment.

The next part of the route will take us to Arête des Bosses, a steep, sometimes very steep, ridge. There is not much space to put your feet and therefore we need to be fully focused on staying on the path. Fortunately climbers that were there before us made a good trail, which makes it a little easier to get around. The Arête des Bosses might fool you in thinking you can see the summit where you actually can’t. I know this from the information we got from Mountain Network and am dedicated not to get fooled.

Any sense of time is lacking, when Guy says “5 more minutes”. Wait, so that actually is the summit??! Not long after Guy lets me go in front and we are arriving on the summit of Mont Blanc. Bart and Yde just got there a little before me and are already enjoying the view. We made it! The first thing crossing my mind: “Where are the mountains?”. We’ve spent the entire week being surrounded by mountains and all of the sudden all summits are below us, the weirdest feeling. We take lots and lots of pictures, both with and without the Mountain Network and Frysian flags. It’s amazing and the views are awesome. Obviously we drink and eat something. Those snickers really do taste better on the summit. A few other roped parties arrive at the summit. Some followed the same route as we did; others come from the Italian side. The altitude doesn’t bother me. No headache, no nausea, no shortness of breath. I feel relieved, because I wasn’t sure how my body would react to the altitude.

At the summit!

My hero, Guy!

Pretty strong roped party; Jehan, Yde and Bart.

Time to descent! Bart, Yde and Jehan have already left and it’s time to follow them. Full speed! Not much later we catch up and pass them. This is going great! While descending we get to chat some more. I tell Guy about my job, about how I prepped myself for Mont Blanc and what my plans will be once I get back home. Guy tells me about Madrid, where he lives, about his passion for rock climbing and a spectacular route he recently completed and his motivation for being a guide on Mont Blanc, a mountain that isn’t a challenge to him at all. He tells me it is all about the people. He loves to inspire and motivate people, get to know their stories and make them enthusiastic for mountaineering and rock climbing. I think he did it again.

Before passing Bivouac Vallot we have a short break with the five of us. Yde is suffering from nausea and has some issues with his coordination, but fortunately we are on our way down. Guy wants to test the navigation on his watch and therefore we make a few more short breaks so he can see if it works and show me what it looks like. He prefers a compass though. All of the sudden we arrive at the Gouter hut. It’s a wrap for today! Don’t stop believin’!!!

We go into our recovery mode, which almost feel like a second nature: dry clothing, hydrating, food (pastaaaa!!), stretching and a nap. What a life!  The new Gouter hut just recently opened (in 2014) and despite all dorms being connected you’ve got your own little space. Great napping-spot!

Dinner is served at 6.30 PM and because of all excitement on the Grand Couloir, Pieter, head of the Mountain Network expedition department, offers us some red wine to go with the lasagna we’re having for dinner. Yum!!

Cheers! Merci, Patron! 

After dinner we go to bed and we actually get to sleep in, because breakfast won’t be served until 6 AM. Let’s see if sleeping feels any different now I’ve been on the summit of Mont Blanc.

See you later alligator!

Monday July 13^th 2015 - “Supergirls don’t cry!”

05.30 AM – Alarms ringing. D-day! Because today will be my biggest challenge; descending the 600-meter rocky wall. We’ve become fairly efficient in our morning ritual and therefore we have to wait ten minutes in front of a closed door before breakfast is served. As we are having breakfast Guy comes up and tells me “When you’re ready, I’m ready”. Say no more. I jump up, flush my last piece of bread with some tea and get out to put on my big shoes. Let’s get this over with!  Before we leave I munch half a snickers. Gonna need that lifesaving energy.

We start our descent and pressure is on. The guides really want to catch the 09.40 AM train from Nid d’Aigle to Bellevue train station. Should we miss it we’d have to wait an hour and ten minutes for the next train to arrive. Let’s add some more pressure!

I have some start up issues, but having Guy’s instructions on my side we are making progress. After a few minutes Guy figured out my problem: “You’re too tall and that’s why the ground seems so far away!”. I think he nailed it. We keep going, me in front looking for the route, Guy behind me making some comments on my choices every once in a while. Bart, Yde and Jehan catch up on us and because I get to mimic Jehan’s steps we can keep up with them for a while. At the end of the rocky descent the “Grand Couloir” awaits us. Bart, Yde and Jehan just traversed when Guy and I arrive at the ridge. They keep a close eye on the rocks for us. You fix those rocks with your eyes! Guy belays us to the cable and off we go. Me in front this time, following Guy’s instructions as good as it gets, but again no problem in getting to the other end.

We can see the bivouac tents at the Tete Rousee hut and continue our descent along the rocky trail towards the snowy and icy part. Walking on the snow without crampons is very slippery. I keep sliding on my butt and my legs don’t seem to function anymore. I fall under the suspicion of them knowing they’ve had the worst part and have left for holidays. I feel a bit desperate, because I’m not getting anywhere. Fortunately Guy unties the rope so I can walk the last 300 meters by myself, at my own pace. Once I get to the hut, I slip around the corner where no one can see me, sit down and some tears roll over my face. I made it. This was my ultimate challenge and according to Guy I did well.  Not very well, but well. Which really does it for me!

Bivouac tents near Tete Rousse.

I wipe my tears, because supergirls don’t cry, and make a little victory dance. Guy tells me we’ll be leaving in 10 minutes and that we have plenty of time to catch the train. I quickly put on my shorts, because in Chamonix it is hot!

We arrive at the train station of Nid d’Aigle at 09.30 AM (+1000 points for team 4). I call my parents to tell them I got down safe. The adventure is over. I’ve got some mixed feelings. I’ve been working my ass of for the last 6 months to achieve this goal. The feeling of success is great, but I feel a bit lost. Like a sunny shower!

You climb with your feet, not your knees! Uhh.. you’d say?

When we get back to Chalet Tissieres we have to return al the borrowed clothing and equipment. Once all of this is done, Jehan and Guy give us our certificates for reaching Mont Blanc Summit. We’re also reunited with Bjorn, Y. and Arnold. Bjorn and Y. had a great trip as well with Damien as their guide. I’m sure we’ll hear all about it in the car. After all there is still a 10-hour car ride ahead of us.

Look at me smiling!! #certificate

Time to say goodbye to the guides. Jehan and his jokes, his favorite sentence “Keep up the smile” and his fascination of the feminine gender that made us cry of laughter several times, but also his drive to inspire and motivate us and teach us as much as he could about mountaineering and alpinism, given the short amount of time. He shared his passion, for which I’m grateful.

My hero Guy: friendly, but compelling, respectful and with trust in my abilities. Just what I needed to get me up that mountain. I thank him for his excellent guidance and his advice to continue climbing after this trip. Whenever, wherever I’m travelling he is willing to give advice on routes and guides.

Our next stop: the shower! After a long cleansing shower we attempt to return our rental shoes, which fails miserably because the shop is closed. I think one successful attempt is it for the week ;). In the downtown area of Chamonix we run into Watze, Wim and Seb, whom just got back from their glacier trip at Aguille du Midi. Back at the chalet we say goodbye to the team. Arnold and Bjorn will stay a little longer in France, near Annecy, to enjoy their holidays with the family. Watze, Wim and Yde will also start their trip back the Netherlands, like Bart, Y. and I will be doing.

Time to say goodbye to Seb as well. I enjoyed his company, encouragement, friendliness and fondness of my hiking speed. He’s also willing to return to the shop later that day to hand in our rental shoes. Much appreciated!

In the car we start sharing our stories, while I scroll through Bart’s beautiful pictures. Quite the trip!

I can honestly say I loved every minute of it! A true emotional roller coaster.

Xo