INTRODUCING THE WINNER OF A FULLY GUIDED TREK OF THE TOUR DU MONT BLANC
Thank you to everyone who took part in our competition to win a guided trek. As you know we announced the winner last month and here she is! Suzanne, aged 55 entered the competition through our partner Cicerone’s website and is now looking forward to joining a group at the beginning of August to enjoy her free fully fully guided walking holiday of the fabulous Tour du Mont Blanc with us.
People are definitely keen to trek this year as we had 1000's of entrants across the globe, but this year’s winner comes from Cheshire in the UK.
We will be following Suzanne’s preparations for this holiday and publishing her diary to give you first-hand experience of how it feels to be preparing for a multi-day hikeand what the Tour of Mont Blanc is like from day-to-day.
As an introduction, Suzanne has taken some time to tell us a little about herself...
A LITTLE BACKGROUND FOR YOU, FROM THE COMPETITION WINNER HERSELF
“I took up walking relatively late in life when we got our Border Collie, “Lady”, 13 years ago. She was energetic to say the least however it opened up a whole new set of adventures for us as a family. Living in Cheshire meant easy access to so much of the UK’s stunning landscapes and with a highly pressurised job in operations, walking became a real release from the day to day of life. There was nothing better than getting suited and booted and heading out to the Lakes, the Peaks or into North Wales for the day.
Turning 50, 5 years ago I undertook my first long distance walk where, with a group of friends, we walked the Wainwright Cost to Coast path. The simple routine of getting up each morning, breakfast, packing your bag for the day and heading out to then arrive at your accommodation, eat, sleep and repeat became almost addictive. Over the past few years I have walked with family and friends as much as possible in the UK covering The Sandstone Trail, walking in Exmoor, Dartmoor and the parts of the Cornish coastal path.
In 2020, mid Covid and feeling rather burnt out, I made the decision to retire and to celebrate by walking Land’s End to John O’Groats, alone. Why would you want to do that was the question that I was asked many, many times when I announced to family and friends my plans? However, after almost a year of planning, walk it I did. I started at the end of April 2021 and finished at the start of July, walking 982 miles over 64 days and ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!
A life changing experience. I loved the adventure and challenge of each day and the satisfaction as I ticked off the miles and just walked carrying all I might need for the walk on my back.
To now be able to walk the Mont Blanc Massif with Mont Blanc Treks seems like a dream. I had entered the competition on the Cicerone website, being an avid fan of their books, but that was back in March and I had totally forgotten I had even entered. I couldn’t quite believe it when Jane contacted me - and had to even be reminded I had entered and what I had written!
However, with everything now booked, I am so excited looking forward to the trip immensely.”
Suzanne L, Cheshire
WALKING THE WALKERS HAUTE ROUTE - DIARY 2019
If you'd like to read about a first-hand experience of the Walkers Haute Route, you can read Ian’s Diary winner of our competition in 2019