Portrait: Follow Anna to conquer Mont Blanc

Portrait-Suivez-Anna-à-la-conquête-du-Mont-Blanc Algorigin

After Kilimanjaro, Anna (micronutrition advisor for Algorigin) wanted to climb Mont Blanc. She tackled the 2500m of positive altitude difference allowing her to reach the summit of the roof of Europe at the end of August. She comes back for us on this climb on which Algorigin accompanied her!

ALGORIGIN: Why this somewhat crazy challenge of attempting Mont Blanc?

ANNA: I admit, the idea seems a little crazy, it’s true that such an adventure is not without risk. But since I climbed the summit of Kilimanjaro (5895 m) in 2011, the ascent of Mont Blanc (4810 m) has become a dream.

Lacking the opportunity before, I set myself other challenges: my first marathon, in Toronto (2014), the 90 km of cross-country skiing in Vasaloppet (2016), the 300 km of cycling at the Vätternrundan (2016). Mont Blanc, I had almost forgotten it! Until the day I moved to Geneva, right next to this mountain that fascinates me. She taunted me on my ski vacation and on my weekend hikes! Suddenly, the desire awoke and I started to think about it seriously. It was in May that the plan came to fruition and I booked the dates (from August 27 to 31) with a friend and the mountain guide, Stéphane Comte.

What motivates me is to see if I will succeed and if I can surpass myself, is that the great satisfaction?

A: How did you prepare?

A: I had heard that you should prepare for Mont Blanc like you would for a half-marathon… My half-marathon run last year should work in my favor!

Since the start of the year I have continued to run twice a week and go on hikes with an elevation gain on the weekends. Despite a busy schedule this spring and summer, I was still able to do the Salève about ten times and other beautiful hikes nearby: the Môle, the Plateau des Glières, the Voirons, the Tournette, the Grand Colombier, la Dôle and le Reculet… often adding bottles of water to my backpack to weigh it down!

Unfortunately, I trained a little less than I would have liked. I like to be well prepared on the big day, but this time I had to do the best I could with the shape I was in!

Read also: Interview with Yann Senjaric

A: What was your week like?

A: Monday and Tuesday we get used to crampons and ice axes on the Mer de Glace in Chamonix and from Punta Hellbronner in Italy. Great days!

Wednesday is the first day of the ascent, we start the climb from Nid d'Aigle at around 10:30 a.m. (2372 m) to the Tête Rousse refuge (3165 m) where we spend the night. The departure is under the sun, but rain and storm await us on arrival. It’s impressive to see the bad weather from the refuge!

Thursday, the big day: After a very short night, we start our walk with headlamps at 6:15 a.m. It is mild and very calm. Concern rises, despite everything, as we approach the famous Goûter corridor up to the old refuge of the same name. These technical passages pass without incident. Arriving at the Refuge du Goûter, we empty the backpacks as much as possible to climb lighter because we sleep there the same evening. Around 9 a.m. the last stage begins on the cooler, towards the summit, slowly but surely, one step after another. When we start to meet people who have already succeeded in the climb, it gives us hope.

A: Once you reached the top, what were your impressions?

A: At the moment the guide says: “Now we have a quarter of an hour!” , I am overcome by emotion, this is the moment when I realize that we are going to succeed! There is still a narrow and very steep passage where I only concentrate on my steps and not on the beautiful view!

Arriving at the summit is a great relief and a great moment of happiness. From the “roof of Europe” I was able to admire the magnificent white plateau, Chamonix in the valley and the impressive massif with the Aiguille du Midi.
After 10 minutes we go back down to the Goûter refuge – a quick and very fun descent, almost in snow trail mode where we fully enjoyed the sensations and the panorama.

The descent towards Tête Rousse is not without danger (stone falls due to the strong wind) and high in adrenaline. The arrival in the valley took place in the rain. On the radio, all attempts on high altitude summits are discouraged. One more day and we wouldn’t have made it to the summit!

A: Which Algorigin products have you climbed with?

A: A week before the climb, Tiphaine called me: "Anna, I can't do Mont Blanc, I have tendonitis". A little shocked, I told myself that I would still suggest a seaweed cure to her. As soon as she arrived in Chamonix, I advised her to take 20 ml of Spirulina Elixir and 4 AFA Klamath tablets per day to speed up her healing.

Before and during the climb I took Spirulina Iron (4 tablets each morning), to help my body create red blood cells at altitude. In my camelbak I mixed my sports drink with Spirulina Elixir to speed up recovery, I drank it during and after the effort. To improve concentration I also took AFA Klamath (2 capsules) during the week of the climb. (I had to concentrate well to not make a misstep on the last ridge of the summit!).

Algorigin surely helped us! The proof: we both succeeded!

A: Like Sophie Lavaud, Algorigin ambassador who has just completed her 8th 8000m after starting mountaineering on Mont Blanc in 2004, do you want to go higher now?

A: We should never say “never” but the highest mountains on the planet don’t appeal to me at the moment – I’m too afraid! On the other hand, I hope one day to hike Kungsleden in the north of Sweden and climb Kebnekaise which is the highest peak (2100 m). One day I would also like to do the famous Inca Trail.