Originally from the Pyrénées-Orientales, the 33-year-old French trail runner never stops taking on new challenges. Ambassador Cairn, Vanessa Morales never rests on her past achievements and takes us, once again, on an extraordinary adventure.
DESTINATION GREECE
Always in search of thrills and performances, Vanessa flew to Greece on May 24, 2021. Her goal: to attempt the ascent of Mount Olympus, a mythical peak rising to 2,917 m, in the heart of a massif steeped in history and legends.
But it was not a simple hike. Vanessa aimed for an unprecedented feat: to become the first woman to establish an FKT (Fastest Known Time) on this demanding and technical route.
A DEMANDING AND INSPIRING CHALLENGE
Despite a nasty injury shortly before departure, her medical opinion is favorable: the adventure can begin. This time, she is not looking to break a record but to set a new one.
On May 29, accompanied by her partner Aurélien Valentino, she sets off for an extraordinary challenge: 43 km planned, an intense climb, a demanding descent, and more than 3,400 m of positive elevation gain.
THE ADVENTURE TO THE SUMMIT
The start is given at Litochoro, heading to Prionia and then the summit of Mount Olympus. Very quickly, the route proves to be formidable: technical passages, unstable rocks, narrow paths, each step can become treacherous.
The difficulty is compounded by the lack of access to water. Despite the presence of refuges, Vanessa must rely solely on her provisions and optimize her energy to the maximum. Her first supply stop is at Prionia, but after this point, there are no more available sources.
The second and final supply stop is located only 7 km from the finish. At that moment, Vanessa has already covered more than 41 km, a true marathon but in high mountains, in the heart of the mythical lands of Olympus.
A HISTORIC PERFORMANCE
After 5 hours and 56 minutes of effort to reach the summit, Vanessa completes the ascent and descent in 9 hours and 40 minutes, with 48.2 km covered, 5 km more than initially planned. Result: a historic first female FKT on Mount Olympus, with 3,477 m of positive elevation gain and 3,762 m of negative elevation gain.
Once again, Vanessa Morales embodies the values of determination, passion, and self-surpassing. With this challenge met in Greece, our ambassador Cairn continues to forge her own path and inspire an entire community of adventurers.
