Jacuzzi at 5km altitude

Posted on 29. Sep, 2009 in Bizarre and Odd, Featured

Jacuzzi on top of Mont Blanc 4807m,
September 13, 2007

After over six years of evolution, the concept of “jacuzzi events” has led to the realization of a dream. After increasing the size to host more than 70 people for a concerto on the shore of Lake Geneva, after winter jacuzzi events that became progressively crazier, after successes at higher and higher altitudes, we wondered if a jacuzzi on top of the Alps would one day be possible.

3.00 pm, Aiguille du Midi cable car parking lot in Chamonix: Distribution of the gear

For us, Jacuzzi Events are parties that are thrown in unexpected and exceptional places. It is a hobby invented, created and organized by our own means with the help of our friends. Indeed, to organize such an Event in the most remote places, it is not enough to spend evenings designing and construction, the most important is to have lots of friends. As it was out of the question to use the assistance of a helicopter for a leisure, the entire system had to be light enough to be carried by the participants.

During almost one year we searched for means to make the system more reliable and lighter. All components had to be as light as possible still functioning in an oxygen depleted atmosphere, under wind and freezing temperatures. We soon realized that a Jacuzzi at the top of Mont Blanc would be just as much a social challenge than technological.

We had to find amongst our friends enough people that could climb Mont-Blanc by night, with a backpack of more than 45 lb and stay at the summit during several hours before descending. Additionally, since the weather had to be perfect, all needed to be able to leave with very short notice, possibly during the week. After four falls alerts, the long awaited weather window finally came, with no clouds and minimum wind…

3:30 pm Weighing of the gear

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