"WIND POWER": THE GMHM'S CROSSING OF THE PATAGONIAN ICE CAP
  

 

45 days of immersion and bivouac in some of the most extreme conditions imaginable. Total autonomy. From October 30 to December 13, 2022, Didier Jourdain, Léo Billon, Jordi Noguere, Thomas Auvaro and Christophe Malangé, from the Groupe Militaire de Haute Montagne (GMHM), will embark on an expedition to Patagonia, linking Lake Leones on the northern Hielo to the Grey Glacier on the southern Hielo.

 

The north-south crossing of the Patagonian ice cap, in total autonomy, seems to meet all the conditions for the GMHM to carry out an expedition there: a remote, inhospitable, inaccessible zone suffering from the most extreme weather conditions, making air rescue and evacuation virtually impossible. Captain Didier Jourdain sums it up: " We're simply going for complexity .

 

The GMHM, aware of the conditions and risks associated with this expedition, embarked on an intense and meticulous two-year preparation program. Nothing was left to chance, and attention to detail proved vital. "In the words of Captain Didier Jourdain, " There are certain details that are not really trivial, but as important as they are simple. Indeed, the expedition is tinged with a new complexity. First of all, the duration of the expedition means that we have to think about our initial supplies, given the self-sufficient nature of the expedition. Then there's the terrain, with over 600 kilometers of glaciers to cross, by kayak, ski, kite and on foot, towing the 60-kilogram pulkas. And last but not least, the weather conditions, which put both people and equipment to the test.

 

Equipment is therefore an issue in its own right. Captain Didier Jourdain explains this by saying that you should only bring "the essentials and the minimum. This mantra sums up the challenge of preparation. A perfect balance between weight and usefulness must be found for each object taken along: " something that has several uses, it does everything wrong. That's something we have to deal with all the time. We try to have equipment that is very versatile, but that doesn't necessarily perform well in all areas. [...] We develop equipment, we make choices. ". With this in mind, a new Samaya tent has been designed in conjunction with the GMHM. The tent is to be a perfect triptych of performance, lightness and comfort.

 

First and foremost, performance, insofar as the tent represents the only shelter, the only refuge protecting the members of the group from the destructive elements outside. Captain Jourdain tells us: " As far as weather conditions are concerned, we can talk about the worst. The wind creates doubt in everything. Not least in the choice of tent. It's clearly the thing most exposed to the wind. [...] It has to be the thing that holds. ". It must be able to hold its shape without collapsing in the wind or under the weight of snow, be robust in all conditions, and be easy to erect and dismantle, even in 80 km/h winds.

 

Secondly, lightness is a sine qua non for shipping. An extra 100 grams of fabric is like taking off 100 grams of food or gas. " Sometimes you think [...] no, but that doesn't make a big difference and then you weigh it up and yes, it does make a difference. "says captain Didier Jourdain. The lightness of the Nanovent® single-wall and Dyneema® materials proved indispensable. Weight will therefore be a closely monitored criterion throughout the development of this new tent.

 

Comfort, after all, because in addition to providing protection, the tent must enable the group to rest, recharge their batteries and regain their strength. It is imperative that the walls do not vibrate during windstorms, to ensure the group's rest. Captain Didier Jourdain describes a moment when the group found itself trapped in the middle of a storm, forced to retreat inside the tent. " The wind started to pick up, we finished putting up the tents and there was a steady 80km/h wind, gusts to over 100, and pouring rain. When we finished, we were completely soaked. [...] It's important to have a little space in the tent. So there's also the environment in the tent and the space. In the morning, it was -10C°. ".

 

Confidence is essential. Firstly, GMHM members need to have confidence in themselves, from an individual point of view, in their physical and psychological ability to withstand the conditions of the mission. Secondly, they need to be able to rely on their team, despite the difficulties encountered. Finally, they must have confidence in their equipment. A loose seam or thread can cause the tent to break, putting the whole group at risk. The tent is their only bulwark against external conditions. Without it, the group finds itself exposed, vulnerable and unable to progress.

 

Starting in 2021, the GMHM began a cycle of expeditions to Antarctica and Greenland, during which the Samaya tents created for them were tested in the field. These test phases enabled the product to be fine-tuned to suit the group's needs and the reality of the terrain. Confidence in the tent was only achieved by virtue of the joint work of the GMHM and Samaya, the assurance that the tent's technical characteristics were in line with the expedition's weather conditions, and the mastery of this equipment thanks to the tests carried out beforehand.

 

The extreme conditions encountered during an expedition like this enable the GMHM to return with operational methods and techniques that can be directly transposed to the mountain commandos and then to the army. At the end of the mission, the group is also able to make material recommendations. This enables Samaya to make technical progress in order to push the ultra-performance of its products even further.

 

 

What is GMHM? The GMHM was formed in 1976, with the primary aim of promoting high-level mountaineering within the French army. This elite unit, numbering around ten people, brings together the best mountaineers and high-mountain guides from both the civilian and military worlds. Its vocation has broadened over the years, and today includes the exploration of inhospitable and polar zones, and the training of EMHM mountain commandos and instructors in the extreme cold. The group is responsible for strengthening the army's operational skills, as well as innovating practices in extreme conditions, from both a civilian and military perspective. In this context, they put to the test material and human techniques enabling them to get to know, understand, apprehend and master mountains, verticality and extreme cold.