BE ONE WITH YOUR GOAL
IT’S NOT THE DESTINATION
IT’S THE JOURNEY
To climb and descend the iconic Mont Blanc. This was the goal Marie-Laure presented last season during the inaugural “What’s Your Goal?” contest. Sitting as the tallest peak in the Alps at 15,777ft, it was an ambitious goal to say the least. And through her pure perseverance, one she ultimately brought to reality on May 11th, 2018.
To understand the difficulty and dimension of this project, it helps to also understand that Marie-Laure is a “city girl”, working and living in Paris. Someone that only five years ago began exploring the world of mountaineering. A “city girl” that tried skiing for the very first time just three years ago.
A testament to her determination, sheer will, and passion for high altitude adventure, she’s never allowed the distance between Paris and Chamonix to prevent her from reaching her goals. Friday nights walking subway corridors, waiting to catch the overnight bus to Chamonix with an ice ax in her backpack and ski boots in her hand became the norm.
« Lead The Climb »
The physical preparation was also critical. Running and climbing on weekdays so she could take full advantage of mountaineering sessions during her weekends in Chamonix became essential. The “Lead the Climb” community helped to motivate her even further.
Affiliated to the French Federation of Alpine and Mountain Clubs, “Lead the Climb” offers training that educates participants and allows them to become more autonomous in their approach to the mountains. There she was introduced to other women passionate to expand their knowledge and gain valuable mountaineering and ski touring experience together. The community not only allowed Marie-Laure to share these magical experiences in the mountains, but forge strong links with a network of other women just like her.
« I WAS LOOKING FOR A GROUP THAT ENCOURAGES WOMEN TO GROW THROUGH OUTDOOR SPORTS WHILE GAINING CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES AND THEIR ABILITIES.THE CONCEPT OF LEAD THE CLIMB SPOKE TO ME IMMEDIATELY. »
From mountaineering to ski touring to freeriding, someone who didn’t even know how to ski three years prior, is today at relative ease in the mountains. It’s these moments in the mountains that she now savors more than anything. Moments where she can breathe deeply and clear her head. To feel that shot of adrenaline. To feel more herself. To feel free. For Marie-Laure, there’s no going back. In the mountains her mind and body are both fully engaged. And it’s these moments that to her, make a life worth living.
“The journey I’ve been on has made me just as happy as actually meeting my goal. The competition motivated me and forced me to clearly define a goal. I also had to be really engaged in the process. But step-by-step I was moving forward and progressing. The preparation was really just as exciting as the outing itself. I also had the accountability and encouragement from the “What’s Your Goal?” community which helped a lot.”
Today, Marie-Laure is a woman who’s not only achieved her incredibly ambitious goal, but a woman with an even greater passion and appreciation for being in the mountains. A passion that grows greater with each passing day. A passion that will stay with her for the rest of her life. The Parisan with the wide smile is already committing herself to new projects, including one of the most famous ski mountaineering tours in the world, the Chamonix – Zermatt route. She’s also continuing to progress and gain confidence skiing the steeper slopes of the Alps.
"I’m just so happy. To prove that a non-expert, city-girl like me can come this far in such a short time – I really feel like I’ve achieved a beautiful goal..."
Marie-Laure
Born in Paris on July 19, 1985, her interest in the mountains started early-on in childhood when she’d attend three-week summer camps in the Alps. She’s since held a variety of jobs and interests, including research work in Canada and Alaska, shepherding in the Mercantour, and breeding dogs for dogsledding. Today, she is a cartographer in renewable energies living is Paris, France, a soon-to-be children’s illustrator, and a passionate ski mountaineer.
Be the next to realize your dream!
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