72 hour Mont Blanc challenge

In an effort to raise funds for CWS and create awareness of the plight of the children of Nepal, Michael Williams, Michael Nugent, Bruce and Duncan Harkness embarked upon an unsupported tour of the Mont Blanc Massif in the central European Alps on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of August this summer.  Here, Bruce Harkness, the team leader, describes their adventure: 

The team set themselves the task of covering a total distance of 166 km, with a total height gain and loss over the entire distance of 9400m, and all this within 72 hours! The journey itself crosses the borders of France, Italy and Switzerland and passes by some of Europe's most spectacular glaciers.

Day one saw the team set off with a bounce in their step (which was short lived) with the back drop of a beautiful rising sun from the village of Les Houches upwards to their first mountain pass of the day col du Voza at 1653m, followed by col du Tricol at 2120m, col du Bonhomme at 2329m, col des Fours at 2665m and then finally col de Seigne at 2516m. After 17 hours on the go the team settled down for a hearty meal of mixed nuts and fruit, dry sausage and slightly stale bread prior to doing their best to sleep for an hour or two; during which time they enjoyed the light patter of rain and the gentle rumble of thunder as a storm passed overhead.

The next morning and day two saw some stiff muscles and the team reduced by one due to fatigue on the first day. From the Italian side of col de seigne the team made their way down to the valley of Courmayeur to inhale a cappuccino and a ham and cheese thingy before heading back over yet another mountain pass to cross the Swiss boarder with the village of Champex in their sights.

Day three saw a very bruised, battered but optimistic team pushing hard for the Chamonix valley with the promise of pizza and a warm bath but only once they had crossed col de Forclaz and col de Balme, which the team renamed „col de Bomb" at 2196m; any slower and the team would have been walking backwards. As they crossed over col du Blame the team were able to see the small village of la Tour and the Chamonix valley.

Despite the ups and downs and there seemed to be a lot more ups than downs the team was able to complete the tour but more importantly were able to raise over £4,500 for CWS!

Inspired by the journey the team is now looking for an even greater challenge to take part in for CWS in 2010!

As for the Tour du Mont Blanc, Bruce has kindly offered to lead a fundraising trek in 2010, but this will have the added attraction of being over 8 days, and will be fully supported with ample time to enjoy both the fantastic views and culture of the mountains while raising money for CWS.

If you would like to organise a similar trek, please contact Gurvinder at the CWS London office on 020 7922 8004 or gurvinder@cwsuk.org. Or for further information about Bruce Harkness, please see www.alpine-trek.com.