On Friday, 1st of August 2025, I set an unsupported Fastest Known Time on the Gran Paradiso 4061m (well, the accepted route is just up to the Madonna, reportedly at 4058m) in the Graian Alps, Italy.
I departed from the Pont car park (tourist office) at 8:21am, passed through the Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II in about 43'.
I took out my gloves and ice axe and put crampons on right where the snow tongue/glacier starts (circa 3100m at this time of year).
I reached the Madonna summit in 2h04'37" (had to wait a bit on the roped parties which were doing the scramble/airy part).
Spent around 2'30" at the summit just enjoying and taking pictures, then carefully back down through the rocky section and easy downhill running on the snow trace.
I removed crampons at the same point I had put them on. Then all the way down to the starting point to make the round trip in 3h12'45".
Foot note: I lost some time in a section, at around the middle of the glacier climb, where I followed the track to the left which ended up in a rocky section, would have been faster with the path to the right which was all snow (checked this on the way down).
Fuelling: took 1L of water with me, two gels (I only had one) and a bar. I had had two vegan Nutella sandwiches and a coffee for breakfast before departing.
Gear: gaitered waterproof shoes (TNF Flight Vectiv Guard Futurelight), shorts, maillot, arm sleeves, hat. Micro spikes, ice axe. Windbreaker (I didn't have to pull it out, as well as the emergency blanket obviously). Coros Apex 2.