Reuters — Ski climbers Bernhard Hug and Tony Sbalbi recently (May 15-17) made an attempt to climb the highest peaks in Switzerland and France in 50 hours.
This follows their seven-peak tour two years ago, which saw them climbing all peaks over 4000 meters in the Aletsch region using touring skis in just 20 hours.
Setting off from Zermatt the two climbers encounter soft snow as they ascended the Dufourspitze, over 4600 m above sea level and Switzerland’s highest peak.
Accomplishing this in six and a half hours, the two started a descent but decided to take shelter in the Refuge de Bouquetins at 2980 m for a couple of hours, before descending again, in the dark, on skis.
The straight line distance from Dufour to Mont Blanc is 78 kms but the cross-country route involves climbing over a number of mountain passes and is at least 140 kms.
The morning route for the two involved a trek towards Bourg Saint Pierre and the Grand Saint Bernard Pass, but the soft snow exhausted Sbalbi, who decided he had to miss out some of this section to rest.
Beni Hug continued, however, crossing five passes on his way to Mont Blanc.
A rested Sbalbi met him at La Palud before the two climbed to the peak of Mont Blanc.
Hug, having completed the entire tour of the two mountains, reported his journey was completed in 50 hours with 13092 m of ascending and 14622 m of descending on the route.
The pair reported their route taken as: Zermatt – Furi – Gletschergarten – Gornergletscher – Dufourspitzer – Furi – Col de Valpeline – Col du Mont Brule – Refuges des Bouquetins – Col de Sanadon – Bourg St Pierre – Col du Grand St Bernard – Col de St Rhemy – Col des Ceinglis – Mont de Rots – Palud – Col du Midi – Mont Blanc.
Departure from Zermatt was at 7:32 on May 15. Arrival at Mont Blanc peak was at 9:32 on May 17.
