 In just a few days I, and 4 other chaps, head down to the south of France and attempt to scale the highest mountain in Europe. Mont Blanc stands at over 4800m and for most people is a 2-day climb, with an overnight stay (3-4hrs) in a mountain hut. The challenges we will be facing are altitude sickness, extreme exposure, avalanches and rockfall, changing weather, and a long test of endurance. To increase the challenge, this is a self-organised trip without the use of a guide, but there is basic experience of mountains and climbing in the group and we have been training to increase our fitness levels. I’m raising funds for a great charity called ACET (AIDS Care Education and Training) that works at grass roots across the world to bring education and a compassionate response to the AIDS/HIV epidemic. Thousands continue to die of AIDS every day and this is particularly relevant at the moment as South Africa, which has one of the worst AIDS and HIV rates in the world, plan to host football fans from across the world. You can sponsor my climb at www.justgiving.com/BenPopplestone, or using the button to the right – all donations, small and large will be much appreciated. I aim to bring back plenty of photos, including a summit photo with the ACET flag, and hope to be tweeting my progress up the mountain (dependent on connection). You can follow me on Twitter at @benpopps. |
Tags: adventure, LinkedIn, mont blanc, mountaineering
