Scaling Mont Blanc for Mountain Rescue England & Wales and Combat Stress

-----------UPDATE-----------

Sadly weather prevented us from making our summit attempt. The last few days were interrupted by white outs and hurricane force winds (75+ mph) that meant it was impossible to continue our trek.

We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved, nevertheless. In the first half of the week, we were able to complete three days of training activities and acclimatisation. These alone totalled 15.65 kilometres travelled at an altitude of ~4000m, 1318m of altitude gained, 23.5 hours spent at altitude, 4 self arrests to avoid falling off the mountain, 1000 pieces of rock and ice smashed with an ice axe (Scott making up 50% of this), 1 crampon lost down the mountain, and 2 Assez Difficile (fairly hard) routes completed, considered demanding even for experienced alpine climbers.

A huge highlight for all of us was completing the Cosmiques Arête, which is considered one of the most superb and famous routes in the French alps - one of us completing it with half the number of crampons required.

Although we are disappointed that we weren’t able to complete our aim of summiting Mont Blanc, we are very proud of what we have achieved and the money raised for two fantastic causes.

----------------------

Join Us on Our Journey to the Top!

This June 2024, five friends—Jordan, Scott, Matt, Pete, and Anthony—are embarking on an extraordinary adventure to conquer Mont Blanc. Our mission is twofold: to challenge ourselves and, more importantly, to raise vital funds for Mountain Rescue England & Wales and Combat Stress.

Meet the Team:
- Jordan (Expedition Leader, Army): With years of experience in challenging environments, Jordan is the backbone of our team, leading us with expertise and determination. He often finds enjoyment in miserable conditions (like wet Welsh mountains), and hopefully will not subject his team to too much hardship.

- Scott (Novice, Ex-Army): Our Team Photographer/Videographer, Scott recently left the military to focus on his businesses. Scott is ready to tackle the mountains with the same zeal he brought to his service with a GoPro strapped to every limb, and fully customised B2s on his feet.

- Matt (Novice): A newcomer to technical mountaineering, swapping his BJJ purple belt for a prusik, Matt is no stranger to big mountains having hiked in the Dolomites. Mont Blanc represents a new challenge that Matt is eager to submit. Oss.

- Pete (New Climber): It's easy to know that Pete is fairly new to climbing by how shiny his gear still is. But he is the most psyched, getting up at 5am to go hiking in the cold. His energy and positive spirit are contagious, giving us an extra boost on the trails.

- Anthony (Experienced Climber): With years of climbing under his belt, Anthony brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to our team. Though according to Strava he has the worst cardio of the group... best get the trainers on.

Our Goal:
We aim to raise £5,000, a goal as ambitious as our climb, to support the incredible work of Mountain Rescue England & Wales and Combat Stress. These organizations play a crucial role in rescue operations and in supporting the mental health of veterans, respectively. To read more about what they do, just click on their logos above.

Training Schedule:
To prepare for this challenge, we have planned four training climbs across the UK in Autumn, Winter and Spring to train for whatever conditions we're met with on the mountain. In addition to this, long walks with weighted vests and heavy backpacks are filling the weekends up quickly. These climbs and hikes will not only test our physical limits but also strengthen our teamwork and resolve.

How You Can Support:
- Donate: Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. Your support will directly benefit those in need and keep our spirits high as we train and climb.

- Follow Our Journey: Stay updated with our training and climb. We'll be sharing updates, photos, and stories along the way.

- Spread the Word: Help us reach more people by sharing our page and our story with your friends and family.

Together, we can make a difference, one step at a time. Join us in supporting these noble causes as we climb towards our goal.

Donate Now and Help Us Reach the Summit for a Cause!

We are self funding all travel and expenses for this expedition. All donations will be going to the charities we have selected.