It's in Chamonix, the mecca of alpinism where the mountaineers history started. With stories about triumph and tragedy, fellowship, loneliness and conquering. It's about men with courage and spirit, but also men who had to accept defeat, disappointment and sacrifice. It's also in Mont Blanc massif where the story of The Mountain Academy started in April 08, and naturally ended in Chamonix after the 6th stage (06/25 - 07/05).
Benjamin (AUS) | Photo by David Ravanel
It's crazy landscape with huge rutted glacier rolling almost down to the village. High granite mountains with needles, spines, ridges and steep snow and ice couloirs make Chamonix be a paradise for mountaineers, climbers and extreme-skiers. Our young guns were really impressed being able to climb in this famous area!
Patricia (DE) | Photo by David Ravanel
Gullies, but also spurs, and shinny rock faces and sun on the Arête des Cosmiques. Night walks over the Glacier du Tour, amazing sunrises over the Valle Blanche, yellow granite and exhausting needles on the Aiguilles du Diable...The program of this 6th and last stage was compact but versatile, exhausting but very satisfying and the candidates really pushed their limits.
Seb Foissac, Mountain Academy Guide | Photo by David Ravanel
Right after having climbed les Aiguilles du Diable Sana explained: "This day was quite challenging for me. Climbing this route was long, difficult and very scary. But after hours and hours of progressing, at the end of the adventure I could be only tired and satisfied to have over pushed my limits and done it."
Benjamin (AUS) | Photo by David Ravanel
Realizing it was their last stage, Patricia, started to feel nostalgic about the adventure: "When I summarize my participation in The Mountain Academy first I remember the people that were involved. It was a great opportunity to meet different people from different countries with the same interest : sharing time in mountain activities, exchanging knowledge and taking in unforgettable experiences in nature with your team. Second, the opportunity to visit places where maybe I would never had the opportunity to go to, like Taghia in Marocco and where I collected impressions that will shape my mind forever. And third, the opportunity to meet professionals in mountain activities to learn a lot from them and to exchange knowledge, stories and discussions about how to leave with secure gear".
Mountain Hardwear Athlete Simon Anthamatten. Read about his 2009 renowned Piolet D'Or mountaineering award | Photo by David Ravanel
From sport climbing in Austria to Ice climbing in l'Argentière-la-Bessée. From ski mountaineering in the Mont Blanc Massif to traditional climbing in Morocco. From the Pyrenees to Chamonix...Mix 8 young mountain enthusiasts from 8 different nationalities, add Mountain Hardwear and Black Diamond sponsored athletes, and end with experienced mountain guides: that's the recipe of The Mountain Academy. A special thanks to all the candidates, the athletes and the mountain guides who really made this 1st edition fulfill its mission: create a multi cultural group of people who aim at communicating their passion for Mountains.
Candidates : Ferran Martinez (SP), Patricia Schanne (DE), Jiri Novak (CZ), Tito Arosio (IT), Sana Zulic (Serbia), Benjamin Bickel (Austria), Mathias Rambaud (FR)
Athletes : Tim Emmett, Simon Athamatten
Guides : Seb Foissac, Fred Bernard, Kurt Asner, Manu Ibarra
MHW Staff: Fred Meynent, Anne-Cécile Charreyre, Jérôme Blanc-Gras
BD Staff: Thomas Hodel, Kathi Krause
Partners: Black Diamond, Sport Schuster, Gore, Verical Magazine
Cameraman: Bertrand Delapierre
Photographer: David Ravanel
Routes climbed :
Aiguilles Rouges :
Frison Roche, Brevent
Aiguille du Midi South Face:
Voie Contamine ED+ 200m
Arête des Cosmiques AD
Aiguilles du Midi North Face :
Goulotte de la Passerelle (glace 4) 250m
Triangle du Tacul:
Contamine/Grisolle route AD 300m
Direct mixtes routes : TD 300m
Pyramide du Tacul Arête Est Dinf 300m
Aiguille du Chardonnet:
Eperon Migot AD +450 m
Arête Forbes AD 500m
Goulotte Escarra III/4 400m
Grand Capucin:
Voyage selon Gulliver ED -450m
Aiguilles du Diable: D+ 1000m
The Mountain Academy Uniform | Photo by David Ravanel
More info on : www.themountainacademy.com