THE -PILGRIMAGE

Several hours earlier, we’re turning in early in a gite in Valfrejus, in Savoie, France. Our original plan to stay at the Refuge du Mont Thabor was thwarted by it being fully booked, thus we’ll be starting our ascent from the valley floor rather than halfway up the mountain.

We trade pidgin French and English with Vincent, a Parisian financial advisor walking the length of the Alps on his own. Despite the language barrier, our dawn raid party grows from three to four, with one on foot. Leading the charge through the darkness would be Ben Jones and Chris Deverson.

Five minutes to 1 am. The alarms screech and we slowly make our way down to breakfast before sidling out into the cool, dark air. Nothing tastes as good as it should in the witching hour. We struggle to take on enough food for what’s to come, but force it down; we don’t want