Did you ever dream of being part of a great adventure? Do you enjoy epic challenges? If so, you must hear about what Alison, Lauranne, Douglas and Xavier —aged between 18 and 25— will do in September.
This team of four Belgians are the winners of the first edition of the Lotto Young Adventurers contest, created by world traveler and pro paraglider from the Red Bull team Thomas de Dorlodot.
As a result, they will face a challenge named 'the Sočadrenaline'. Coached by Thomas, they will go from Slovenia’s highest point to its point zero. Mitja, Slovenian IFMGA mountain guide and member of Explore & Share, will guide them on their ascent of Mount Triglav (2,864 m), the highest peak in the country.
The challenge
The itinerary of this group of adventure lovers combines mountaineering, canyoning, packrafting and hiking.
First, they plan to climb Mount Triglav, Slovenia's highest mountain. From there, they'll go down canyoning to the source of the Soča River, navigate 120 km using packrafts and finally hike for the last 120 km till they reach the country's lowest point: the Adriatic Sea. Sounds amazing!
For the 2-day ascent of Mount Triglav, the team will be guided by Mitja, who has already climbed this legendary mountain in Slovenia over 200 times (and counting!). According to him,
“Triglav is a unique mountain, which you have to climb at least once in your life.”
His expertise and local knowledge will help the team accomplish the 2,864 m ascent, but also allow them to share experiences together and learn more about the Julian Alps and the local culture.
In the last few years, Slovenia has become a fast-growing travel destination among outdoor lovers. Combining imposing mountains, green meadows, beautiful alpine lakes and even a short coastline, this small country has no shortage of activities for those seeking an active holiday.
If you are planning to go there, you can join Mitja for an exciting mountaineering, hiking or rock climbing trip, or surf through the many (many!) adventures listed at Explore-Share.
About the contest
The idea of the Lotto Young Adventurers contest is simple: teams of four young adventurers propose the most original and daring trip they can imagine in Europe, and a jury of professionals selects the best one. For the winners, their dream come true: they carry out their adventure, sponsored by Lotto, and supervised by Thomas and his team.
Thomas de Dorlodot —who is supported by brands like Garmin, Salomon,VW, Gradient and Black Diamond, among others— explained us why he created Lotto Young Adventurers, and the philosophy behind it:
“I traveled around the world for many years and enjoy sharing my experience to everyone. So I wanted to focus on young people and inculcate the idea of dream and dare! Encourage them to go outside, explore the world and boost their confidence. That’s how the idea of Lotto Young Adventurers was born”.
Like Thomas, one of our main goals at Explore & Share is to encourage people to go out to the mountains, explore nature, go beyond their own limits, discover new experiences and share them with others!
That’s why we’ll follow and keep you informed about Alison, Lauranne, Douglas and Xavier’s Sočadrenaline adventure develops. So keep posted!
Update on the Sočadrenaline!
Our adventurers have successfully completed their challenge. As a prove of their epic achievement, here are some pictures of their journey in Mount Triglav taken by John Stapels & Thomas de Dorlodot.
If you aim to reach the top of Slovenia like these travelers did, you can get started by reading our guide to climbing Mount Triglav.
