Samaya x Benjamin de Molliens
800 KM AND 49,000 M OF ASCENT SOLO
From his arrival at COP26 in Glasgow by sailboat to his triple-zero expeditions (0 waste, 0 new equipment and 0 carbon footprint), Benjamin de Molliens is known for his outdoor sporting adventures and his commitment to the environment. For Samaya, he looks back on his latest expedition.
Your crossing of Switzerland is part of a larger project, based on traveling as carbon-neutral as possible. What does it involve?
Benjamin de Molliens: As part of my "Expedition 0" project, I set off to cross Switzerland with a Samaya OPTI1.5, from the French border to the Austrian border, for the whole month of July 2023. Expedition 0 is a series of itinerant sporting adventures, mainly solo, in which I try to respect my self-imposed ecological principles as far as possible: produce zero waste, buy no new equipment and have the lowest possible carbon footprint. I use these sporting adventures in the great outdoors, and the wonder they bring, to capture people's attention and make them aware of all these issues.
When you're away for so long, you need the right equipment. How does managing your equipment fit into your thinking?
BM : When it comes to equipment, I make it a rule never to buy new. I look for quality, highly technical equipment, in particular through rental, a system that is developing enormously.
What career path did you want to take?
BM : I left and returned from my home in Marseille by train. As for the walking part, I started in Saint Gingolph on the shores of Lake Geneva, on the Alpine pass route to Saint-Maurice. According to my measurements, I covered 815 km and 49,000 meters of ascent over 26 days, sleeping independently and refueling every other day in the villages. By doing this route, I wanted to show that we don't need to go very far to get a change of scenery. I was in a country right next to mine, where one part spoke French, another Italian and the last German. It was great to see the approach to the mountains, the traditions and architecture that varied from region to region.
Over a month's journey, you've had to deal with a number of difficulties, both physical and external. How do you deal with them?
BM : That's right. I'm thinking in particular of the moment when I went from a state of great fitness to a state of illness. The first 10 days had gone very well, I was walking well, 38 kilometers on average, my body was functioning well. Some friends joined me to make a documentary in a very short space of time. The pace became very intense, it demanded a lot of energy, I put a lot of pressure on myself, I wasn't eating properly anymore. The day we stopped and the group was able to catch their return train, I fainted as the pressure came down. I woke up with a lady holding my legs in the air, I was totally feverish and sick, it was lunar. Instead of taking my foot off the gas, I continued on my way each day, maintaining the fever. Eventually I came to a valley and stopped at a small hut for some doliprane. A local, seeing me in this state, took me to the village below so I could rest. It was Swiss National Day, and once I was feeling better, I joined in the festivities. I found myself among 300 Swiss, eating polenta in a barn and singing bawdy songs. It was magical.
Once back on your feet, you set off to conquer a beautiful summit. The bad weather didn't stop you?
BM : Indeed, the adventure was coming to an end and I wanted to reach 3000 meters. A bit of bad weather was forecast, but I went for it anyway. I found myself in the middle of a huge snowstorm, wearing trail sneakers and shorts, with a headlamp. It wasn't great. I came across an alpine farm. A couple opened the door and were amazed to see me there, at that hour, in that outfit. After a marvellous evening of remaking the world together, I continued on my way the next day, into the storm for a long part of the day. I finished this adventure on a magnificent summit at 3000 meters, with a beautiful ridge run.
When you weren't sleeping at a local's, were you snug and warm in your tent?
BM : Exactly! I slept a total of fifteen nights under the Samaya OPTI1.5. It was super easy to assemble. Once I'd planted the Pegs in the four corners, all I had to do was tighten the Guylines with the poles - it was very intuitive. A friend joined me and we were able to pass the tent in its configuration with the awning open thanks to the second pair of poles, which was great. I had a few nights of heavy rain. I'm still amazed that such a light tent is so waterproof.
