Voting Campaign

Monday, 29th of December. Tomorrow I am leaving for a short break in the Alps. Not much snow but it is always a treat to celebrate New Year's Eve in the mountains.

The point is that after nearly 2 months thinking about how to do a video, what to say, in one word "procrastinating", I still think I might be able to do it off the cuff, in a couple of hours or so... Fortunately it seems Santa Klaus has left me an unexpected present (no, I am not talking about the nth lipstick I won't use): when I enter the Experience Tour web site and scan the application form, I find no mention about any video to upload. What??? Have they changed their mind since the kick-off? No video required? Can't believe it... I take it as a sign: no excuse left not to register!

It doesn't take me long to answer the three questions of the form (are they really going to decide who's going to come based on so little piece of information??):

1. WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVATION FOR CLIMBING THE BALMHORN WITH EDURNE PASABAN?

2. TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR MOUNTAIN HIKING EXPERIENCE!

3. WHAT MAKES YOU SPECIAL REGARDING MOUNTAIN SPORTS?

...wanna know my answers?

1. I am a long-time follower of Edurne's initiatives. As a woman I feel particularly impressed and proud of her achievements. But I also feel close to her way of talking about the sacrifices or the choices you have to make in life to define your path and make your dreams come true. Follow what you deeply believe would make you happy.

In addition I love the idea of paying a tribute to Lucy Walker, another legendary woman, 150 years after she made it. This would make the experience very emotional... provided that we use goretex and not long skirt as she did ;o)

And last but not least, I find it really nice to be part of an international team, I feel excited to know mountaineers from all over Europe!!!

2. I am not an expert mountaineer but I have some nice experiences. So far my dearest memories are reaching the top of the Kilimanjaro in 2010 and the Everest base camp in 2012.

Since I was a child, I have always loved skiing in winter in the Alps but I started hiking only at 20. Since then I have planned my holidays so that I can at least have few days hiking: in Peru, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, Morocco, etc. I can walk with crampons but I am not a rock climber specialist (although I did some easy ice climbing and enjoyed it!).

Otherwise I go hiking with friends in the Pyrenees: actually when I moved from Paris to Spain in 2003, I chose Barcelona because of its proximity to the mountains!

I am very respectful about the mountain.

3. More than Mountain Sports in general, I believe I can be a good member for the Gore-Tex Experience Tour 2015 because I am used to share travels and mountain trips with groups of people I don't know. Because I speak French, English and Spanish, which will make the sharing easier with the rest of the international team! Because I like the kind of effort and suffering that mountain sports demand and I don't give up easily. Because I never feel happier, more free to be myself than when I am surrounded by mountains. Because I just belong here, in any mountain.

I click "enter" and that's it! My application is officially submitted. And published in Facebook. As I should get as much votes as I can. Frankly, I am not a Facebook activist, meaning that I cannot count on a tremendous community to support me. Anyhow I play the game and kindly ask friends and family to vote me.

I must admit I get much more votes than I thought I would. I am so thankful to those who took the time and trouble to read what it was about and helped me. Apart from the overdose of Swiss chocolate I promise as a post-climb-party, I swear I gave no bribe or reward!!! A friend of mine even urged her (much bigger than mine) family to vote me, when they knew nothing about me!

When friendship really means doing things for free and make you fell warmly surrounded...

During the month of January I still think about the video and how much I would like to be able to do it. Another challenge. And it might make the difference (as my number of voters won't!). Finally, I gather goodwill and patience, get the inspiration and end up enjoying the video making.

You can click below to see my first "piece-of-art" ;o))

I send it by email to Experience Tour. Get no answer. But can't accept that I've done all this for nothing. So I send it to the Gore-tex Facebook page community manager. And, surprise! get a very nice answer (look, even if I'm not chosen, it felt good for my self-esteem!).

Now I've done everything I could, no regrets. Chosen or not, the game has been played!

#video