Frenchman set a record in less than five hours on Mont Blanc and back
French mountaineer Benjamin Vedrines on Saturday set a record in the speed of ascent to Mont Blanc (4809 meters) starting from Chamonix and then descending back to the valley. He beat the previous record of Spanish climber for three minutes Kiliana Jornet from 2013, they are for agency AFP messages from his team.
The average climber beat Mont Blanc in two days using the Chamonix gondola to Aiguille de Midi. Then the hikers sleep in the hut to the highest mountain in the Alps, after which there are another ten or 14 hours to the summit. On Saturday, Vedrines headed out of the church in Chamonix and returned to this place below the famous mountain in less than five hours.
His return journey took exactly four hours, 54 minutes and 41 seconds, exceeding the previous speed record set by Jornet in 2013, when he took four hours, 57 minutes and 40 seconds to climb the mountain and descent to Chamonix.
The challenge included nearly 3800 meters of ascent between Chamonix, located at 1035 meters above sea level, and 4806 meters high.
« Honestly, I didn’t believe it was possible, » admitted the 32-year-old Vedrines, who also climbs In the Himalayas. Last year, it took ten hours and 59 minutes to climb K2 (8611 meters) from the base camp at 5350 meters, without the use of additional oxygen and carriers. “I really didn’t believe it first. This is a record that fascinated me but never thought I would be able to do it, I really missed self -esteem to try it, « the alpinist said after a defeated alpine challenge in a statement, sent AFP. The exceptional athlete also expressed his astonishment on social networks in this achievement.
The alpinist did not just walk on the venture. Part of the route has passed, part of the trail, according to some unverified information, is also expected to help with the mountain with a sailing parachute.
He set out at nine o’clock in the morning, and returned in front of the Chamonix church at 13.37, otherwise smiling, Av a slightly worse shape due to ankle spray and eye problems when his cornea froze, they are at AFP learn from his team.
« Bravo, the huge achievement of the artist, » the owner of the previous milestone Jornet greeted the new venture on social networks, while he is currently preparing to participate in the 160-kilometer test of Ultratrail Western States, scheduled at the end of June in California.
