Going on an expedition, but not on the world's highest mountains in the Himalayas, but as close to home as possible: That's what professional climbers and adventurers Stefan Glowacz (56) and his partner Philipp Hans have undertaken. They are starting their three-month "Wallride" expedition through the Alps in summer 2021 and want to realise three first ascents on high walls throughout the Alps. They want to cover the distance from the starting point at Lake Starnberg to the foot of the wall and back again using their own muscle power on a mountain bike. Following the example of the Alpine climbing pioneers 100 years ago, who also travelled to their summits in the Alps by bike. Today it's called bikepacking. The climbing destinations are called Cimon del Froppa in the Dolomites, the Wetterhorn in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland and the Aiguille Dibona in the French Alps. Glowacz has 3500 kilometres and around 55000 metres of altitude on the agenda for his bike. The expedition starts on 25 June 2021 and is set to last around three months. We spoke to Glowacz in advance about his sustainability-focused Alpine expedition.
Glowacz: "The limiting factor should be your own performance."
BIKE: How difficult is it for a professional adventurer to reconcile CO2 and work? After all, most of the adventures are far away, often only accessible by plane.
Stefan Glowacz: I have been trying to integrate the issue of sustainability into my expeditions for many years out of conviction. Under the motto "by fair means", my team and I reduce the technical achievements for transport - such as aeroplanes, helicopters, snowmobiles or motorboats - to a minimum. From the last point of civilisation, we always try to get to a remote wall under our own steam using sledges, skis, snowkites or even sea kayaks and to return in the same way after a successful first ascent. My ambition for the future, however, is to start sustainable expeditions from the doorstep. On the last venture to Greenland, we only used an electric vehicle, the train and a sailing ship to get there. The next venture will take place exclusively from the front door using a mountain bike to get around.
Why has this topic been so important to you for a few years now?
For me, the topic of sustainability has been a matter of course since my earliest childhood. I was brought up in the mountains by my parents and, looking back, I realise that people can only be convinced to actively participate in environmental protection if they can and are allowed to "understand" nature in the truest sense of the word. In future, we will go to great lengths to "save" the world. But in truth, it's all about saving ourselves. The greatest evil for this planet is us, the humans.
For your latest project in the Alps, you're travelling by mountain bike. How are you transporting all the climbing equipment, tent etc.?
We have now ordered almost the entire product range from our outfitter Ortlieb to find out how we can stow and transport the equipment on and around the bike. We don't want to ride comfortably on normal roads in the valleys to the walls, but want to ride as much as possible on trails and over the mountains. That's why we can't do without a trailer. We'll have to reduce to the minimum and if we're still faced with a pile of equipment that we can't fit in, we'll reduce again.
How heavy will the luggage be that you have to transport on the bike?
That must add up to 30 kilograms per bike. But I console myself with the naïve thought that I only weigh 68 kilos myself and am travelling with Ninja Warrior Philipp Hans, who I can easily put ten kilos more on his bike. Commit to the title.
Why didn't you make it easier for yourselves and choose an e-MTB - that's still very environmentally friendly in comparison.
When we were at our last Greenland expedition When we travelled to Scotland to our sailing ship in an electric car, we became slaves to the catastrophic charging infrastructure after just a few hundred kilometres. The limiting factor in our current company should always be our own performance and not the technology of the means of transport.
Apart from the climbing, what do you see as the biggest challenge in the project?
With 3500 kilometres and, above all, around 55000 metres in altitude. Peter Brodschelm planned the stages between the walls for us. He is an absolute professional when it comes to mountain bike tours and MTB Alpine crossings. And when such an authority says that we have really taken on something, then the respect, but also the doubts, grow from day to day as the departure date approaches.
What will be the biggest challenges in terms of bike technology?
As I said, we have been able to recruit Peter Brodschelm for this area. He knows the respective sections and the challenges. He warmly recommended a riding technique training course with him in his bike park on the Samerberg. Of course we went through with it. But with such crazy and ambitious goals, I always stick to the advice of our skipper on the Greenland expedition, Wolf Kloss, and my own experience: "Just be in good spirits and expect the worst." We are always in good spirits and expect the worst. But in the end it always gets much, much worse.
Laurin Lehner
Editor
