Hey, 

CLIMB RESULT: 

On the 24^th of June I summited Mt Blanc. During
the 3 days prior to climbing Mt Blanc I completed 7 Italian peaks who’s names
are listed below – here is an idea into the journey I have had over the last
week

Italian Peaks: Pyramid Vincent, Bahrain, Coronel,
Ludwigshohe, Parrot Spitze, Signalkuppe, Zumsteinspitze.

Day 1.

4:30AM. This was the first day of The Italian Odyssey, my
guide and I drove from Chamonix over to The Aosta Valley in Italy.Today would
hold two peaks for my guide and I to climb; Pyramid Vincent and Bahrain. It was
so hot that I was climbing the peaks in a T-Shirt over 4000m high, but this was
a good warmup and start to our challenge ahead. We then retreated back to the Gnifetti
hut where we stayed the night. Knowing that the second day would be long and
tiring.

Day 2.

4:30AM. 4 Peaks were to be attempted today, the Coronel,
Ludwigshohe, Signalkuppe and Zumsteinspitze. All were comfortable climbs, but
required lengthy hikes between them. The heat was much more moderate and due to
our early start, we were able to get most of the work done before the mountain
warmed up. We then stayed overnight at the Margerita Hut, the highest building
in Europe, which sits on the top of The Signalkuppe at 4554m high.

During the night both me and my guide got headaches whilst
our bodies adjusted to the altitude. You had to move slowly through the
corridors and up and down the stairs in order to avoid getting a head-rush.

Day 3.

4:30AM. One peak was to be climbed today, the Parrot Spitze.
We had passed it on our way up to the Margerita Hut with the intention of
climbing it on our way down, and so we did.

When we reached the cable-car we had arrived quicker than
anticipated and had to wait for three hours before we could catch the first box
down. This was okay though as a the Mantova hut was not far and Italian coffee
is lovely.  

Day 4.

5AM. The day of the Mt Blanc climb. The plan was to get the
first Cable-Car up to the top of the Aguille Du Midi at 7AM and take Les Trois
Monts (the three mountains) oute from there to climb Mt Blanc, this would involve
summiting Mont Blanc Du Tacul and Maudit before reaching Mt Blanc. It took 5h30
minutes to reach the sumit of mt blanc from our 8AM set-off. It then took the
same amount of time to decend as there was an ice face just on the top of the
maudit that we had to tackle. This face usually has a fixed rope in it which
makes it safe and not too technical to climb, however with conditions the route
had changed 30m to the left and there was no fixed rope. Thie face had an angle
of about 80°, two metre and a half crevasses and was sheet ice. In order to
combat it the first time we had to trust our ice-picks and crampons dearly,
whilst using ices-crews up the face to secure ourselves.

To return, we had to abseil down, doing 5 rappels using a 60m rope. This meant
that during the decent, I had to secure myself into the ice with ice-screws, my
icepick and crampons before detaching myself from the main rope so that my guide
had enough rope to get down to me on each rappel. From there, we found our way
around the crevasses without any difficulty. The wind however was brutal and I
learned the next morning that I had gotten wind burned, so half my face was
completely red.

My guide and I stayed at the Cosmique Hut that night, near
the Aguille Du Midi and took a cablecar back down to Chamonix the next morning.

Thank you for your incredible support, I’m so pleased to
have raised such an amount with you.

19/06 CLIMB UPDATE: With a heatwave passing through Chamonix at the moment, the last two weeks has been relentless heat and it doesn’t seem to be subsiding. This means that on MT Blanc, freezing point will be well above 4000m, meaning that there will be heavy rockfall throughout the mountain. There is a traverse called the “Grand Couloir” Which we would need to pass as part of our route on Mt Blanc which currently has constant stone fall going through it, therefore my guide has deemed the risk unacceptable and has called the climb off. I’m upset to say that The Mt Blanc climb has been cancelled.

HOWEVER! Tomorrow morning at 5am (21.06.17) we will start a 3 day
journey in which we will attempt to climb 7 4000m+ Italian Peaks. This is a demanding physical challenge, requiring myself and my guide to stay overnight in the highest building in Europe, The Margerita Hut, which sits on the peak of one of our 7 mountains at 4554m high.

We are naming this adventure The Italian Odyssey.

The challenge has changed but the cause still remains! All
donations will go towards the MS Society of Ireland. I’m disappointed not to be summiting Mt Blanc this time, but excited for the even more strenuous adventure ahead. Thank you for all the support.

Original Story: Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that approximately 250 people are diagnosed with, every year, in Ireland alone. Estimated that over 50% of people diagnosed with this disease in Ireland are unemployed, it changes the way that patients live their life, limiting their physical and sensory abilities. I feel I have been incredibly privileged in my life, granted with health and opportunity, and I would like to take this chance to give something back. The ability to raise money for such a worthy cause is both inviting and exciting. This event will not only raise awareness for the cause, but the donations will help many people suffering from this disease feel more comfortable with their condition and may also be used towards research towards cures and inhibitors against the disease. 

This summer, between the 20th and 24th of June, I plan on climbing Mt Blanc, the tallest mountain in Western-Europe and the tallest mountain in France to help raise funds for the cause. Summiting Mt Blanc leaves you at 4,810 metres, a strategy to tackle the mountain will be decided closer to the date of the climb as the time taken and the route chosen often depend on the weather and snow conditions. 

The very first time I passed Mt Blanc, I was in a car, at four weeks old, and every year, I pass it again, towering beside the town of Chamonix. Having looked up at this mountain since I was a child, it has always been one of my aspirations to climb it. A window has finally opened, with time enough for me to train, prepare and climb this peak.

Thank you for taking the time to read about the climb. If any, all donations are entirely appreciated, no matter the amount. Your details are safe with JustGiving, they'll never sell them or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, your money goes directly to the MS Society of Ireland.

Thank you for your consideration! 

Finlay Ray