Mental Handicap in Nepal : A challenge crowned by success

Having already climbed several summits of over 4000 metres (the Swiss Valais, the Tubkal in Morocco and other, lesser peaks in the Alps), the group ALTI-REV, affiliated to the French Federation of Adapted Sport, dreamed both of taking things a few steps further and of discovering new landscapes. So, why not a 5000-metre summit … in Nepal, symbolically slightly higher than the Mont Blanc? To outsiders, it must have looked like a rather crazy project. But reality was to prove, once more, that mental handicap does not necessarily prevent people from carrying out adventurous projects. And the fact that they succeeded in the challenge bears witness to all the determination, willpower, courage and enthusiasm of the handicapped people who took part in the exploit. It was also the first time that a mountain-climbing group, Sport Adapté, had set out for an expedition to Nepal, with the aim of climbing a 5000-metre peak. The 23-day expedition took place in April and May 2013. They set out from Katmandu, with a 14-day trek in the Langtang Valley (between 1500 and 3840 metres), camping in tents overnight at base camp (4760 metres), then the Tsergo-Ri peak (5000 metres), and back to Katmandu to complete the circuit. A group of 20 people made the trip, including 7 mentally-handicapped sportspeople (aged between 20 and 50, workers in a CAT, a work-based live-in support centre), accompanied by a high-altitude mountain guide, a doctor, a nurse, a cameraman, 10 club members who were there to accompany them, as well asa team of 25 Nepalese guides, carriers and cooks. The wonderful thing is that the whole caravan made it as far as base camp, and, although two of the group (one of the sportspeople and an accompanying member) had to stop at 4800 metres because of tiredness and headaches requiring rest, 18 out of the 20 managed to climb right to the top of Tsergo-Ri. It was a magnificent picture, with the prayer-flags flying in the wind at the summit. This was a first-time exploit, with a lot of pride, happiness, emotion, and a lot of hugging. The group was exhausted, but delighted to have got so far, in a place where few people would have thought such an exploit possible. So, the high-altitude path is now open, with the hope that other mountaineering clubs will take up the challenge and set off for similar adventures with handicapped people, who have shown that they are equal to such a challenge. And, for the ALTI-REV group, the dream continues, with more trekking and mountaineering projects. Annexes : « La caravane des Sages », a 60-minute film about the Nepal expedition is currently being made, and is expected to be released in November 2013 : www.jeudi15.com (producer : jeudi 15 producteur). In the meantime, an extract from the film can be seen on the « lacaravanedessages.jeudi15 » website. The next issue of « Direct’cimes », the magazine of the French Mountaineering Association (www.ffme.fr), will several pages dedicated to ALTI-REV’s Tsergo-Ri adventure.

Bientôt... La Caravane des Sages. Trek dans la vallée du Langtang, Népal from Jeudi15 Films on Vimeo.