High: This Luxembourgian duo wants to go to Mont Blanc
The gym is still quite empty this morning. The dumbbells are all still in their shelves, the mats are hung. Only in the cardio area can be heard: someone sprints on the treadmill and grabs for air. Right next door, on the Stairmaster, rises Ricardo Matache, masked and equipped with a weight vest, up the stairs. His trainer Keyvan Safavi stands next to him and gives him instructions.
Above all, the mask may look strange for outsiders, but it has a purpose: it should simulate the conditions that will prevail when mountaineering. In June, the two young men will go to Mont Blanc. The mountain on the border between France and Italy is the highest peak in the Alps with 4805.59 meters. Whether this or the Elbrus in the Russian Caucasus is the highest mountain in Europe depends on the definition of the inner -neurasian border.
The two quickly became friends and want to climb the Mont Blanc together. Photo: Marc Wilwert
It is an ambitious project that Ricardo Matache has put in his head. And otherwise in the life of the 23-year-old everything is about sport. If he is not working as a lifeguard in the « Piscine Municipal de Bonnevoie », he likes to go bouldering or jogging. In May he would like to take part in the « Ing Night Marathon Luxembourg ».
He also likes to travel, and he has already discovered more than 40 countries with his backpack. He now wants to combine his two passions – sports and travel. He wants to climb the Mont Blanc. « The Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in our region. It is a big challenge because you have to train a lot, » said Ricardo.
He comes into contact with Keyvan Safavi, a personal trainer who is supposed to prepare him for his project. The 21-year-old, who has been working in the fitness industry for three years, is enthusiastic about the idea and quickly decides to simply take part. « In the beginning it was all about making Ricardo fit. In the course of the process, I decided to take part, Ricardo’s determination is contagious, » he laughs. In the meantime, the two not only combine the same goal, but also a friendship.
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Months of training
The two have been preparing for their great commitment since January. Four times a week, train in the gym, twice pure cardio units, the other two times the focus is on strength training. « In strength training, we focus primarily on building the leg and back muscles, » says Keyvan.
For endurance training, please use the Stairmaster or the stepper, each with a mask and weight vest. The oxygen mask simulates the height air. The weight vest stands for the backpack that you take with you. But even outside of these units, the focus is on endurance training: « On the other days, I either go or swim, » says Ricardo.
But of course the conditions can best be simulated outside in nature. At the end of January, both were still with mountain guides in the Carpathians in Romania, on Piatra Arsă at 2,000 meters. And in May both want to go to the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany with almost 3,000 meters. The Mont Blanc is of course a number larger, but both tours are well suited to see how the body reacts to the changed height conditions.
None of us will give up. The only thing that can happen is that the weather doesn’t play along.
Keyvan Safavi
Personal trainer
A parachute jump at the end
It should be ready in June. The stay is planned from June 6th to 12th, whereby the climb should only take two days. Nevertheless, they have planned more time because the body has to slowly get used to the new environment and the height difference.
They travel between 8 and 16 hours at a time every day – but not alone. Because they are accompanied by two guides. « You can’t go up without a guide. That also comes towards us because we are not yet experienced. It is good to have someone who knows the way and can also correctly assess the constantly changing weather conditions, » explains Keyvan.
The climb begins at Nid D’Aigle (2,372 meters). Then it goes uphill for several hours. On the way you also have to cross the « Couloir du Goûter », also called « Couloir de la Mort ». This passage is delicate because it is heavily frequented and the risk of rockfall is increased in the hottest afternoon.
Then it goes up a further five to six hours, partly through snow. On the way you are catered for in so -called « refuge » and spend the night in multi -bed rooms. Overall, they have to overcome almost 2,500 meters of altitude between the start at the « Nid D’Aigle » and the arrival at the summit of the Mont Blanc.
If you have made it to the top, as a crowning glory there is a parachute jump on the program. « Many say that you only rise properly when you descend again. Well, we fly down. But that’s the crowning glory that we cannot miss, » says Keyvan. Ricardo adds: « At first I didn’t want to, but then I thought why not? This is a great experience, and then I can look my fear of heights! »
Ricardo Matache (left) and Keyvan Safavi are convinced that they can do it. Only the weather could be thwarted. Photo: Marc Wilwert
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No space for doubts and fears
But what if the climb doesn’t work? Both are only partially considered by this option. « It doesn’t work. None of us will give up. The only thing that can happen is that the weather does not play along and we have to reverse. We have no influence on that. We can influence everything else, » says Keyvan.
Both also have fear and respect of their challenge, but the motivation to make it is bigger. « We are determined. We have to be, otherwise we would give up on the first pain on the way, » added the fitness trainer.
« It is important that you prepare for the fact that everything hurts at some point, » says Keyvan. « And then it says: hold out. » What if you do it? Then of course a Luxembourg flag is first hoisted. « We won’t be one of the first Luxembourgers, but we will be among the youngest, » says Keyvan Safavi proudly. And with your project you want to be a role model for the young generation.
« In January we had no idea about mountaineering and now we want to go directly to the highest mountain in the Alps in two months! That is possible, » he says. And even more. At the end of the conversation, Ricardo Mataache reveals that you already have other plans for the time after the Mont Blanc. The two sports cannons do not yet want to reveal what exactly that is. But it shouldn’t stay a secret for a long time, because both want to let their followers share their plans on social networks in the next few weeks.
