In a month, he conquered the highest peak in every Italian region, crossing the country entirely under his own steam, by bicycle, on foot, and by sailing boat to connect the islands to the mainland.
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Climbing, in the space of a single month, the highest peak in each of Italy’s twenty regions, covering 4,250 kilometers solely by bicycle and on foot—nearly 5,000 kilometers when including the nautical miles sailed to the islands—tackling over 81,000 meters of elevation gain, equivalent to more than nine ascents of Mount Everest from sea level, and maintaining a daily average of 137 kilometers. What once seemed like an impossible feat now has a name: Endurance Italia.
It was completed by Hervé Barmasse, the protagonist of an adventure that combines mountaineering, endurance, and exploration of the Italian territory, following a very specific principle: moving exclusively under one’s own power, according to the by fair means philosophy.
An extreme project also put to the test by record heat
Endurance Italia proved to be an extraordinarily complex project, testing the mountaineer’s body and mind. Fatigue, resilience, and adaptability became the defining characteristics of the journey, made even more challenging by the exceptional heat wave that hit Italy in June, with temperatures reaching 42°C and a perceived high of 45°C.
Extreme weather conditions further increased the difficulty of an already exceptional challenge, pushing the limits of what seemed possible every day.
“On paper, before leaving, I knew the route was very tough and that my body would be subjected to an unprecedented strain. Then, the heat made this journey much more difficult than I had imagined. I reduced the kilometers by studying alternative routes, but the elevation gain remained almost the same as those drawn on paper. The temperatures were unbearable, especially on the bike, so much so that on the same dates, while I was traveling, many sporting events, such as the Nice Ironman, were canceled. Furthermore, in the mountains, everything was more unstable and extremely delicate. The snow was refreezing above 4,500 meters, and the thunderstorms were particularly treacherous in the Alpine section. To reach the summits of some of these mountains before the storms, I tried to move faster and at unusual times. It was the only solution. But there was also a positive note: these conditions gave me the opportunity to be alone on some of the most beautiful peaks in the Alps, such as Mont Blanc, Punta Nordend, Pizzo Bernina and Ortles, which are particularly crowded mountains in summer.”
Hervé Barmasse
From Sardinia to Trieste, crossing all of Italy
Having set off on June 4th from Cala Gonone, Sardinia, with an ascent of Punta La Marmora, Hervé Barmasse crossed the entire peninsula, reaching the highest peak in every Italian region.
The mountains tackled include Etna, Gran Sasso d’Italia, Monte Vettore, Cima del Redentore, Monte Cimone, Monte Prado and, subsequently, the great four-thousanders and the iconic peaks of the Alpine arc such as Monte Rosa, Mont Blanc, Pizzo Bernina, Ortles, Marmolada and Monte Coglians, reached on July 3 as the last summit before arriving in Trieste.
A journey shared with hundreds of people
Endurance Italia wasn’t just a sporting endeavor. What made the project even more meaningful were the encounters along the route with enthusiasts, mountaineers, runners, and the merely curious who chose to accompany Hervé for parts of the route, in the mountains or along the roads he cycled.
Reaching the summit of these mountains and being embraced by so many people with banners, flags, sweets, and sometimes even a beer, made my hard work a joy. And then, the people who awaited my arrival when I pedaled, before changing shoes to climb the mountains, with gifts or encouragement, gave me the strength to keep going even when my tired body told me to stop. It’s also thanks to them that I managed to move for a month without a single day of rest. I received affection, and I transformed that affection into energy. To everyone who was there or to those who wrote me messages of encouragement, a huge thank you goes out to everyone.
Hervé Barmasse
Italy told through travel
The difficulty of the undertaking was counterbalanced by the extraordinary variety of the Italian territory.
Over the course of just over four weeks, Hervé Barmasse traveled through profoundly diverse environments: from the mountains of Sardinia and Sicily to the Apennines, from the great beech forests of central Italy to the glaciers of the Alps, discovering a heritage of biodiversity, landscapes, cultures, and traditions that makes Italy unique.
The journey revealed an authentic and surprising country, demonstrating that adventure doesn’t just happen in remote places, but can begin even just a few kilometers from home if approached with curiosity, respect, and a spirit of exploration.
“With Endurance Italia, I combined the mountains of our country into one great journey. It was an even more intense experience than I had imagined: the continuity of the route allowed me to traverse Italy in all its extraordinary diversity, discovering, day after day, a surprising natural landscape and a wealth of landscapes we often take for granted. Once again, I was confirmed that sport and the mountains are a means of connecting with places and people: a universal language capable of revealing territories, cultures, traditions, and histories, allowing the journey itself to create the most authentic encounters.”
Hervé Barmasse
Thanks to the project’s supporters
Special thanks go to all those who believed in Endurance Italia and made its realization possible, as well as to the Club Alpino Italiano, which sponsored the project, recognizing its sporting, cultural, and educational value.
- Main sponsor
- Montura, Scarpa, Vibram, Enervit, Comune di Valtournenche, Cervino Ski Paradise, Julbo, Coros, Kästle, Grivel
- Project partner
- Club Alpino Italiano, GiottiLine, Pirelli Cycling, Selle Italia e idmatch
- Technical partner
- Castelli, Pinarello, Shimano, Northwave, Sony, Walbike
