A crowd of 7126 on top of the

Himlung Himal !

Starting next October 2^nd, 2009, Nicolas Brun and I will depart for an expedition to the ‘Himlung Himal’, the mountain of the wind.

We will remain faithful to our values and ethics, will take no porters at high altitude, and attempt the ascent without oxygen and with a minimum amount of equipment.

The Himlung Himal, at the border of Nepal and Tibet, north of the Annapurnas and the Manaslu, is one of the most remote summits of Nepal. Its normal ascent route, which resembles the shape of a ship’s bow, is beautiful although technically without difficulty. Many climbers have already reached its summit and we will not attempt to realize a first ascent or open a new route, even if it is not excluded that we will explore the neighboring Nemjung (7140m), where everything remains to be done.

For Nicolas and for me this will not be our first expedition (see the links). It is, however, after losing our friend Jean-Noël Urban, the occasion to lead our steps again to the high altitude, a way to feel again the pleasure of discomfort, of adventure, of discovery and friendship, an excuse as any other to replenish our hearts, our eyes one more time.

So we are traveling not to for the success of an achievement but simply for the joy of the journey. 

Now the idea of another somewhat extravagant venture has come to complement this personal endeavor: to realize a virtual gathering of 7126 people at the summit of the Himlung Himal, before the 2^nd of October 2009.

Even if we do not all feel the attraction of the mountain tops, I am nevertheless convinced that we all have our own mountaintop to conquer. Therefore I believe that to reach an altitude of some 7126 meters is not just a job for experienced mountain climbers, but is in the first place a question of solidarity and tenacity. If each of us contributes one meter, we could maybe reach this summit.

Why ?

Because up there one’s sight reaches farther, up there the lines of view converge towards immensity.

Up there one can feel, see, and hear.

Up there you are at home, you find the fruit of your dreams, of your work, your love. Imagine that we all could add one meter to your own personal mountaintop!

This is the goal :

to reach all together a mountaintop that each of us sees as his own!   

This endeavor is completely free and neutral. Your Mountains / Vos Montagnes is not a business, is not an agency, an association, ..  ; I don’t sell anything, on this blog you can’t buy anything; you do not adhere to a club, a religion. If anything you adhere to an idea: the beauty of the mountains, and the need to share and communicate this beauty.

Our objective this time is not to travel up there alone, but to try to gather 7126 people around one undertaking: to share emotions and to reveal the unbelievable beauty of Your Mountains!

To reach the summit all together, each of us has to climb one meter, only one small meter, in the form of a comment to be inserted on the article "7126 L'objectif / The goal !":

… your first name (or pseudonym) … has added one meter !

Please note, we need to reach the 7126 meters before the 2^nd of October 2009 ….. But, for the sake of fair-play and because there is no reason or need to cheat, I request you to be honest and to leave only one comment per person

In order to improve our chances of success, because of our love for the mountains, our love of live, or just because of our love, please pass the word of our venture to all your friends and contacts! There is nothing to gain and there is nothing to loose, your gesture is free and anonymous, and our satisfaction will be immense. Imagine: 7126, that will make a crowd up there!

It surely will not be Nicolas or me who will realize this conquest, this feat will be yours and will depend on you :

one comment, one meter, and a mountain waiting for you !