The Full Alpine Traverse by Matheo Jacquemoud

On Thursday, March 26 at 6:15 PM, Mathéo reached the beach in Nice, completing his traverse in 19 days of effort, therefore delivering an outstanding performance: 86,000 meters of elevation gain and 2,200 km in total.

A bold, shared, fast, and visually striking crossing that redefines the boundaries of modern alpine adventure.

Key Figures in detail

• Ski : 715 Km / 60 000 elevation gain / 142 hrs

• Vélo : 1474 km / 25840 elevation gain / 61 hrs

• Total activity time including breaks and ski to bike transitions: 234 hrs

• Time spent moving only: 200 hrs

• Average day: 12 hours of activity, 4,300 m elevation gain, 110 km

• Average sleep per day: 6h10m

• Number of ski to bike transitions: 38

• 86,000 m elevation gain, the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest 9.7 times or Mont Blanc 18 times in 20 days

On March 7 at 6:00 PM, Mathéo Jacquemoud, high mountain guide and ski mountaineering coach, set out from Vienna with an ambitious goal: to reach Nice by completing a full, human-powered traverse of the Alps, traveling exclusively on skis and by bike.

This large-scale crossing was driven by a desire to draw his own “personal” line through the Alpine arc, at an intense, phenomenal, even, pace that is uniquely his. With staggering figures in elevation gain, distance covered, and days of sometimes extreme effort, he pulled off the feat in under three weeks: crossing 19 Alpine mountain ranges across 4 countries (Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France) while summiting some of the Alps’ most iconic peaks, including Mont Blanc. A sporting challenge, but above all a human adventure, shared with friends, photographers and videographers: a true rope team

“I’ve just lived through an incredible adventure, with breathtaking landscapes, an amazing diversity of terrain, and some really powerful moments. I enjoyed every single day, never pushing into the red, never forcing it, just moving at my own pace. I loved the moments alone just as much as the times shared with friends who tagged along.

It was pure enjoyment from start to finish. I never doubted. That said, I constantly had to adapt to the conditions, make route choices, and accept compromises on certain summits, and that is probably my only regret. At this time of year, a crossing like this does not really go hand in hand with climbing every high altitude peak. But the summits were the icing on the cake. We climbed as many as possible, and I’m really happy with that.

Honestly, I still find it hard to take in that it’s over. I don’t feel very tired, just a good kind of tired. I still have more in me, I could have kept going for several more days. Years of competition built an athlete, and years as a mountain guide shaped a mountaineer. My body has been built on those foundations, and today it has the ability to take me far.

Now I have an even clearer sense of what I’m capable of, and I already have plenty of ideas for what comes next. I want to thank my team, always there by my side, and my partners, without whom this project would never have happened. And right now, there is only one thing I want to do, hug my loved ones and head back out again.”

- Mathéo Jacquemoud

19 mountain ranges crossed :

• Dachstein -Tyrol (Vienna, Schladming, Grosslockner)

• Eastern Dolomites - Ortles (Bolzano, Bormio)

• Bernina - Graubünden ( Saint Moritz)

• Gothard - Lepontines Alps (between Bernina et Mount Rosa, Ticino, Simplon)

• Wallis

• Mont-Blanc

• Grand Paradiso - Grées Alps (Aosta Valley, Haute Maurienne)

• Thabor - Queyras (Briançon- Viso)

• Mercantour Argentera (High Ubaye, then Alpes Maritimes)

Raid 1 - A solid warm up - Vienna - Grossglockner (AUS) March 7-11

After the drive from the Chamonix valley where he lives, he sets off at 6:00 pm by bike from Vienna, heading for the base of the Hoher Dachstein (2,995 m). He quickly links up his first summit during the night, alongside his friend and mountain guide Quentin Champagnac, known as Champi, who is supporting him throughout the logistical side of the project.

The very next morning, he is back on the bike, riding towards the Hohe Tauern massif for a ski ascent of the Sonnblick(3,106 m). He then meets up with his team at the foot of the Grossglockner (3,798 m), the highest peak in Austria. At his side are Vivian Bruchez, skier and alpinist, and Pierre Idris Mehdi, steep skier, who have come to share part of this extraordinary adventure. A few hours later, on March 10th, they reach the summit together.

One final push remains to reach Sankt Jakob on the Italian border and bring this first Austrian stage to a close. One final ski above the Anterselva valley rounds off this opening chapter.

• Bike: 611.97 km / 8,299 m elevation gain / 24h37

• Ski: 63.83 km / 6,166 m elevation gain / 12h28

• Total: 675.80 km / 14,465 m elevation gain / 37h05

• 4 days in total (starting at 6:00 pm the first day)

• Average activity time per day: 11 hours

Raid 2 - Commitment and adaptation - Dolomites – Bernina (ITA) March 11-14

On Wednesday, March 11th, Mathéo heads into the Dolomites, taking a small detour. Joined by Vivian Bruchez and Pierre Idris Mehdi, he skis the Piz de Puez couloir, a technical, stunning line that demonstrates exactly why the Dolomites are so legendary. After that unforgettable start, his companions step back temporarily, and Mathéo presses on toward Val Gardena, picked up by Noa Barrau and Alex Oberbacher.

On Thursday, March 12th, he heads to the Sarentino massif and Val Martello, aiming for the Cevedale (3,769 m). Just 150 meters from the summit, the weather closes in with zero visibility so he turns back. A wise decision that leads to a night descent across the northwest glacier down to Santa Caterina.

“I felt strong, so I jumped straight on the bike for a long night ride to reach Livigno. The goal was clear: ski the Bernina range the next day before the storm hit,” Mathéo recalls.

At dawn on Friday, March 13th, the team sets off on skis toward Passo Bernina. With Vivian, Noa, Pierre Idris (PIM) and Champi, they reach the summits of Piz Palü Central and Piz Palü Oriental, then enjoy an epic ski descent from the ridge. Mathéo bikes into Italy and is forced to take a rest day on March 14th when a heavy snowstorm hits.

• Bike: 239 km / 4,952 m elevation gain / 10h09

• Ski: 111 km / 8,875 m elevation gain / 19h13

• Total: 350 km / 13,827 m elevation gain / 29h22

• 3 days of activity

• Average activity time per day: 12h20

Raid 3 - Navigating the storm - St Moritz - Saas-Fee (SWI) March 15 - 18

From the Bernina, under harsh weather, Mathéo heads for Lake Como on March 15th. He takes a moment to enjoy skiing fresh powder above the lake while waiting for a break in the clouds. He then pushes on into the Ticino Alps, tackling long traverses before dropping into Valais via the Nufenen Pass. On March 17th, he reaches Saas Fee, skiing over the high passes above the Simplon. March 18th is supposed to take him to Zermatt, but a new storm forces a change of plans. Together with Clément Parisse, a friend and fellow athlete, they attempt the Adler Pass several times before having to turn back to Saas Fee. That evening, Mathéo adjusts his plan and pedals to Zermatt, keeping the traverse moving despite the elements.

These days and nights are grueling, with over 1.5 meters of fresh snow in Ticino at 1,500 m. The unstable weather and slow progress at high altitude push every stage to the limit.

• Bike: 315.58 km / 6,900 m elevation gain / 14h48

• Ski: 110.57 km / 9,074 m elevation gain / 27h09

• Total: 426.15 km / 15,974 m elevation gain / 41h57

• 4 days of activity

• Average activity time per day: 12 hours

Raid 4 - An impressive display of effort and commitment - Zermatt - Grand-Paradis (SWI-ITA) March 19-21

On March 19th, he sets off at 3:40 am for a major stage from Zermatt to Verbier alongside Paul Lenoir and Clément Parisse on the famous Patrouille des Glaciers route. He reaches Verbier at 12:30 pm after 9 hours of effort and 4,000 m elevation gain. Without taking a break, Mathéo hops on his bike to reach Champex-Lac, then completes a final ski section to the station at Le Tour where he meets his daughter. He ends the day at the Prarion parking lot, at the foot of Mont Blanc.

In a single day - 16 hours of hard work - he links Zermatt to Chamonix. After a short night in his van, he departs at 6 am for the ascent of Mont Blanc (4,806 m) via the normal route in wintery, windy conditions. At the Tête Rousse refuge, he waits briefly for a lull in the wind. Conditions are tough, the Bosses ridge is covered in ice, but he reaches the summit alone at 2:00 pm and begins a rapid descent to Chamonix.

On March 21st at 5 am, he heads toward the Mer de Glace, climbs the Vallée Blanche to the Col de Toula, and then crosses into Italy. After a ski descent to the Skyway parking lot, he hops on his bike and arrives at 3:00 pm in the village of Pont at the foot of the Grand Paradis. He immediately resumes skiing, reaching the summit (4,061 m) three and a half hours later, before descending. This is Mathéo’s most impressive raid: Zermatt to Chamonix / Mont Blanc and Grand Paradis in three days… Averaging 16 hours of activity per day... Mont Blanc in winter, no tracks, exposed ice, strong wind, mental fatigue; Grand Paradis with zero visibility, climbed at night ahead of an oncoming storm.

• Bike: 111.00 km / 2,349 m elevation gain / 4h57

• Ski: 165.07 km / 15,282 m elevation gain / 33h57

• Total: 276.07 km / 17,631 m elevation gain / 38h54

• 3 days of activity

• Average activity time per day: 16 hours

Raid 5 - Long ski traverses - Grand Paradis - Briançon via the Ecrins (ITA/FRA) March 22-24

After a short recovery, Mathéo sets off on skis on Sunday, March 22nd, in a full storm with snow, wind, and zero visibility. He heads for Val d’Isère in a tough day that takes nearly 8 hours of effort. On March 23rd, he crosses the Vanoise National Park to Valfréjus (Haute Maurienne) before dropping into the Thabor range, completing a long day of ski travel. This stage takes him to Serre Chevalier.

On March 24th, he takes on another long traverse to reach the Dôme des Écrins (4,064 m) via the Dômes de Monêtier, covering nearly 40 km with Noa Barrau and Antoine Socquet. On the descent, he meets his father and they share a few turns, a quiet moment in this intense adventure. He then cycles a short section to the foot of the Col de l’Izoard before skiing into the Queyras, continuing south.

• Bike: 74.82 km / 1,525 m elevation gain / 3h15

• Ski: 156.75 km / 11,697 m elevation gain / 28h55

• Total: 231.57 km / 13,222 m elevation gain / 32h10

• 3 days of activity

• Average activity time per day: 10h30

Raid 6 - To the sea! - Queyras - Nice (FRA) March 25-26

After the Ecrins, Mathéo gets to the Queyras on March 25th. He crosses the Ubaye on skis to the Col de l’Arche, pushing south. He reaches Isola 2000 on his skis with a headlamp, marking the last night of this extraordinary journey.

The next day, he traverses the Mercantour massif under clear skies, reaching the summit of the Cime du Gélas. Nice is now within reach. He hops on his bike for a final symbolic section. Less than two hours later, he reaches the Promenade des Anglais on the Mediterranean.

And so his journey ends, from Vienna to Nice, completed in just twenty days. A line drawn across the Alps… and already the urge to draw the next one.

• Bike: 116.57 km / 1,059 m elevation gain / 4h11

• Ski: 113.25 km / 9,127 m elevation gain / 17h42

• Total: 229.82 km / 10,186 m elevation gain / 21h53

• 2 days of activity

• Average activity time per day: 11 hours