© RTL
Keyvan Safavi, 21, and Ricardo Matache, 23, aim to become the youngest Luxembourgers to reach Mont Blanc's summit at 4,805 metres, despite having little previous hiking experience.
Keyvan Safavi and Ricardo Matache have one goal: to be the youngest Luxembourgers to reach the highest point of Mont Blanc. At age 21 and 23 without considerable experience, they have decided to take on this challenge.
Their adventure begins on 16 June at Nid d'Aigle, where they hike 2,500 metres in altitude to reach the summit at 4,805 metres – a challenge all the more remarkable as, until recently, neither Keyvan nor Ricardo had much experience with hiking.
The only challenge the two young men faced so far was in January when they had to survive in the Romanian mountains for ten hours – at -17 degrees – making their way through the snow. It’s no surprise their training has been intense in recent weeks, with five to six hours of stamina exercises each week alongside targeted leg and back workouts.
When faced with an overwhelming challenge, the right mindset plays an important part, Keyvan Safavi explains. "No matter how prepared we are, it is going to hurt for hours on end. That means that we have to mentally prepare ourselves for pain and get used to it. We have also been exercising our minds in the gym."
© Vidosava Kuzmic
To create the most realistic scenario imaginable, Keyvan and Ricardo train with added weights between 15 and 20kg. As they hike higher up, the air only gets thinner which makes every step more strenuous than the last, especially with heavy backpacks. "I always try to make our training harder than what the actual experience will be", Ricardo mentions. "We do not want any surprises up there."
Ricardo was also the one who sparked the idea of climbing to the top of the highest mountain in the European Union. At 23 years old, he has already travelled to over 40 countries, mostly solo with his backpack. None of his friends were ready to accompany him on this adventure, until his trainer Keyvan decided to not only prepare him but also join him.
Their trainer-client relationship quickly turned into a friendship. Keyvan emphasises the importance of unity in the face of extreme challenges. "We have to get along well. Those are extreme conditions, and there will be hard moments. We have to stick together. I also know that when Ricardo puts his mind on something, he will go through with it. Confidence is crucial at these heights. Our lives basically depend on each other," he explains.
Even though they are motivated and optimistic, Ricardo admits that they harbour just as much respect for the task. The 23-year-old unpacks what they are afraid of the most: "Especially nature, because we cannot steer it at all. And I'm slightly afraid of heights, which is why I want to fight it and prove to myself that I am capable of doing so. Moreover, we aim to spread a message to out generation – there is more to life than sitting at home, doing the same thing every day, and scrolling through social media."
© Vidosava Kuzmic
The adventurers have yet to consider not reaching the mountain’s peak and assure RTL.lu they will not stop their journey unless absolutely necessary, with two guides accompanying them throughout the climb.
To round off their challenge in an even more spectacular manner, Ricardo and Keyvan choose the quick way down: they will jump off the mountain with a paraglide. In case their mission fails, the young men are determined to attempt it again in September.
