On Thursday, 17th Aug 2023, I ran the first part of the route from Cervinia to Theodulpass as a recce, in order not to find myself in front of something completely new the following day at my FKT attempt. Conditions were wet and cold but I know they would improve significantly overnight.
On Friday, 18th Aug 2023, after having breakfast and packing all my camping gear at Campeggio Glair, I drove 20 minutes to Breuil-Cervinia. Sunscreen on skin, quick water fill-up at the fountain in the square right in front of the Church that serves as starting point, and I was off to my challenge at 8:54am.
I was carrying with me evertything I needed: 1L water, a caffeine gel, some jelly beans (I only had one), piolet and trail running crampons. I took the decision not to carry a helmet as I had been informing myself of the route characteristics and I thought it would be an unnecessary weight - fortunately, I wasn't wrong.
I ascended to Plan Maison on the more 'trailly', nicer section, and then to Theodulpass on the dirt roads and dry ski slopes (this part is a bit boring and looks like a construction site). When I reached the glacier, I put my crampons on (it took a bit longer than expected as I got nervous when taking them out from my backpack). Ice axe in the hand for safety and to help me progress on the steeper parts.
At the ski tunnel, I chose (kind of... or got wrong) to go on an virgin slope (straight over the tunnel, towards Gobba di Rollin) rather than the uglier but easier/shorter flattened ski slope (left at the tunnel, towards Klein Matterhorn). This meant I took a less direct way to the Breithorn and that I had to traverse the plateau with no footprint (so I was slow and sinking in the snow). Finally I gave my best at the summit push when I got to the footprint, even if overtaking and crossing paths with the crowds/tourists didn't help.
I got to the summit of Western Breithorn (4164m) in 2 hours, 27 minutes, 58 seconds. Quick picture, received some comments from tourists about my summit sprint, and off to the descent.
This time, I took the faster way down on the footprint and by Klein Matterhorn. When I was about to finish the snow/ice part, I stepped on a slushy ice puddle which broke and I fell, hurting my right knee - I cleaned the bleedy wound with my own spit and continued even if a bit wronged. Crampons off at the same point where I had put them on and I went on with the descent.
Finally, I got back the church in Cervinia in 3 hours, 42 minutes, 17 seconds.
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Gear:
- Clothing: Evadict tank top, Blagnac 10km arm sleeves, Deportemania CxM shorts, Kiprun socks, Trail de Barèges cap, Cébé sunglasses
- Footwear: The North Face Flight Vective Guard (Futurelight)
- Backpack: Evadict 10L
- Winter pack: Trail running crampons (the cheapest ones on Amazon), Simond ice axe, Asics warm running gloves
- Nutrition: Crown sport nutrition caffeine gel (1x), jelly beans
- Watch: Coros Pace 2
- Phone for navigation and emergency comms
- Other stuff I didn't use: windstopper, emergency blanket