In March 2018, Renaud Langel, Algorigin co-founder and seasoned athlete, set off to join Arnaud Cottet and Niko Sanz in the Dolomites for their new project, “Humans of the Alps”. A look back at an extraordinary journey.
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Text & photos: Renaud Langel
When Arnaud called to tell me about his new project, “Humans of the Alps”, I knew I wanted to be part of it. The problem, as for most of you, is that setting off (at the last minute) on a month-long trek to cross the Alps from the Dolomites to Montreux remains a dream when you have a young child and professional projects piling up. Never mind: I would join them for a few days to start this superb journey with them, while Algorigin would do everything it could to support the project.
My plan is simple: two days of skiing in the area, then three days to reach Bolzano, some 40 kilometres away.
Theirs is a little more complicated: from Bolzano, they have to reach Austria and cross part of the Austrian Alps to get to Graubünden, then make their way steadily to Montreux in Switzerland, several hundred kilometres further on.
I am lucky enough to take part in the final preparations as if I were doing the whole trip myself: those rather magical moments when you discuss routes, plan the first stages, check the weather and snow conditions, and go through the kit to make sure nothing has been forgotten. Simple moments, but incredibly rich in human terms.
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Setting off from San Pellegrino, Dolomites
So what exactly is the “Humans of the Alps” project?
The aim of the project, as Arnaud Cottet and Niko Sanz put it in a few words: “To cross the Alps on skis from San Martino in the Dolomites to Montreux, capturing the journey with our camera and our pen, through the lens of the people we meet.”
You will soon be able to read the full story of the journey on the website of Algorigin, a committed Swiss brand.
Nikola Sanz captures the moment
The first turns after the first 700 metres of ascent on a long journey – Skier: Arnaud Cotte
A glimpse of the magical atmosphere of the Dolomites – Skier: Arnaud Cottet
Arnaud Cottet enjoys the region’s fine slopes
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