In July 2017, Flavien HILLAT and Vincent LAVROV traveled on foot and in complete autonomy the 223 km (D+ 13,000) of the Grande Traversée du Mercantour (GTM). They made their first film there…
"It was at the end of a hike towards Mount Pépoiri that the idea came to us: And why not more? Why not further? And our answer was this beautiful adventure that we shared in this magnificent Mercantour massif. "
What preparation for the Grande Traversée du Mercantour?
"We knew nothing about the question of autonomy in the mountains and long-distance hiking. We had to be ready in 8 months for departure and we had identified everything that could make us fail: To get there, we needed a lot of physical training, a two outings per week on various hikes covering different types of terrain, always with a backpack loaded between 10 and 14 kg. We also had to sleep well and eat well in order to have the energy necessary for this adventure."
Flavien and Vincent therefore opt for MX3 freeze-dried meals, MX3 energy bars as well as energy drink pods which they dilute in their water bags.
- 1 muesli in the morning
- 2 meals (1 lunch, 1 evening)
- 1 bar per day (snack!)
- Energy drink throughout the day
How did the adventure unfold?
Our two hikers, who left with 15.5 kg on their backs for 16 days of total autonomy in the mountains, took with them their bivouac equipment, image and sound equipment, a t-shirt, boxers and a pair of socks. change, a fleece and rain gear, a solar panel, batteries and a ukulele, essential survival companions and finally 16 days of freeze-dried meals, energy bars and MX3 energy drink. On average each day, the 100% MX3 diet will provide 1875 Kcal to our adventurers, which represents 82% of their daily energy needs. So, did they suffer from lack of energy?
"NOT ONCE! Everything went wonderfully! Fatigue made itself felt much later than expected. We were almost never traumatized from the efforts of the day before. When the slack came, we didn't have than to take a break and enjoy an MX3 bar as a treat, sometimes only a few sips of energy drink were enough and we didn't even stop. Only the arrival was very difficult, this moment when we see Menton and its beaches, where we know that there are only a few km left, then all the pain awakens. Of course we quickly forget! Because once we arrive, all that remains is great pride and immense pleasure !”
Want to leave again?
"Of course !" Vincent tells us, “this is only the beginning” Flavien retorts! The next challenge for our novices will be to climb Mont Blanc while being as independent as possible! They will go to the Mont Blanc massif for 8 days to make their new film: “Eternal Snow”. They will try to provide answers to the frenzy that Alpine climbs cause for certain mountaineers, in a fraternal atmosphere carried by the captivating high mountain landscape of the highest peak in Europe!
"Our love of nature, of these grandiose spaces that are sometimes almost inaccessible, will soon take us to Mont Blanc, but also to the African continent! The enthusiasm for our project, for our film, galvanizes our motivation! We are dreamers, and we want you to dream with us!”
