Mont Blanc Challenge 2007
In June 2007 fifteen members of St. James's Place will attempt to climb Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe at 4810 metres, with the aim of raising £250,000 for the St. James's Place Foundation.
They will negotiate crevasses, traverse thin snow ridges with enormous drops either side to reach the lofty summit of the mountain at dawn.
Preparation and training started in January when the team got to grips with climbing in crampons and using ice axes whilst roped together. They climbed on Ben Eighe, Glen Etive, Ben Nevis and the infamous Cuillin Ridge on Skye to prepare for the Alps.
Members of the team are drawn from throughout the company, and are located countrywide. The eleven men and four women work in a variety of roles, from administration to sales.
The team will arrive in Chamonix in June, will train and acclimatise themselves thoroughly before the summit attempt, where world-class British Mountain Guides will guide them. If conditions allow, they will attempt a climb to the summit.
During the day they will climb the lower flanks of the mountain. At dusk they will shelter at one of the mountain huts on the slopes of Mont Blanc.
Starting at midnight, they will climb by head torch light along the thin ridges and through crevasses with temperatures well below zero, wind-chill will make it still colder. They will climb until dawn to the summit slopes, where they should see a clear dawn and views of 50-60 miles. The curvature of the earth will be visible from this altitude.
The mountaineers will then start their descent. This is often the most dangerous part of the climb and it may take 10-12 hours before they reach safety. Hopefully before dusk the team will arrive at one of the mountain huts and can relax for the first time in 18 hours.
This is not a subsidised holiday, every climber is paying in excess of £2000 of their own money to take part in the attempt and fund themselves in full. This is a brave and challenging endeavour. We wish the team every success in their efforts, both the climb of Mont Blanc and in raising funds for such a worthy cause.
Every penny of sponsorship is matched by St. James's Place and goes to the Foundation and the worthy causes it supports, such as Hope and Homes for Children, Teenage Cancer Trust, Help the Hospices, CIDA Foundation UK and the many charities helping young people with special needs and hospices that apply to the Foundation for funding.
Should you wish to sponsor the team you should contact Roger Owen at St James's Place, on 07796 191635, or via e mail on roger.owen@sjp.co.uk.
