2023-12-21 11:51:00
Originally from Clermont-Ferrand, having founded her own agency in Tarbes (Hautes-Pyrénées), Agnès Gallien is not a fan of the mountains. But eager to prove (to herself) that she is “still capable of doing things that are out of the ordinary”, she sets off like around thirty tourism professionals to attack Kilimanjaro with the Cediv Travel network. “An incredible opportunity that absolutely had to be seized,” she declares.
Agnès is more of a go-getter type, even if it means asking questions followingwards. At the age of 22, she decided to live on her own in New York. “I had a lead for work and I left suddenly with my suitcase,” she says. But there, nothing is simple, “I didn’t know anyone, I had to find an apartment, it was super scary”.
She ultimately stayed a year and a half across the Atlantic, and when she returned to France, she said to herself “very proud to have done it”. The Kilimanjaro challenge somewhat echoes his New York experience. “Hyper excited” at the start. Before becoming aware of the potential difficulties. And finally throw themselves enthusiastically into this African expedition. “After being immediately seduced by the project, I still gave myself a few weeks of reflection, and then I said fire, vamos” summarizes Agnès Gallien who once more hopes to be proud of having done it. Challenge when you hold us!
The Vinicunca Mountain Experience in Peru
Having never been to Kenya or Tanzania, the one who founded the agency Break Evasion seven years ago, “another challenge” according to her, however she has great mountain experience in South America. “Last spring I visited Vinicunca Mountain, the mountain of seven colors located in the Cusco region of Peru. From our starting point, we walked a good three hours to get to the top. I think we were at 5,200 meters, it was tough” summarizes Agnès Gallien who understands that she can nevertheless withstand the altitude.
“At the end we must be well underway”
Comforted by this experience, the young woman, mother of two children, nevertheless dreads the climb of Kilimanjaro, “the accumulation of days, the nights in tents, the lack of sleep, in the end we must be well started”. This is also why she continues to maintain physical fitness. Starting by monitoring your diet so as not to “overload” it too much. And then, she said, “I play tennis at least once a week and I try to walk whenever possible”. In recent weeks, she has notably taken three outings in the mountains with friends who took her uphill.
If his 15-year-old daughter encourages him in this Kili challenge, his 12-year-old son is much more worried. “He asked me if I was going to come back alive. I told him that this expedition is perfectly supervised and that there are no risks,” declares Agnès Gallien with a bit of amusement.
“I think I will be dressed like her but in different colors”
In terms of equipment, the founder of Break Evasion only had walking shoes. Before thanking Emmanuelle Llop who put all the necessary equipment for this adventure last month on the WhatsApp group, with supporting photo. “So I made a copy and paste. I think I will be dressed like her but in different colors” laughs Agnès, who was also able to test her equipment in real conditions during her last outing in the mountains.
All that remains is a stress test at the Maison Médicale de la Montagne in Tarbes and everything is ready for the big departure on January 29. “Not everyone is lucky enough to have this opportunity. You absolutely have to grab it. In addition, it will be an incredible human adventure which will create links which will remain forever engraved in our memories” concludes Agnès Gallien, exalted.
* In view of this expedition, we will regularly provide you with participants’ testimonies concerning their motivations and how to prepare for the ascent of Kilimanjaro.
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#Kilimanjaro #fire #vamos
