Belgian crosses Alps and addresses climate change
Belgian mountaineer and long-distance hiker Sander Van Poeck has successfully crossed the Alps from East to West.
When talking about his impressive achievement, which took six months, 2,576 kilometres, 166,612 metres of elevation gain, and a heck of a lot of grit, Van Poeck drew attention to climate change, asserting that he saw with his own eyes what impact global warming has had on the mighty mountain chain.
He wrote that "the body has suffered but as a mountaineer, I feel honoured to be part of this incredible environment and at the same time I feel obliged to draw attention to the effects of climate change on it," referring to retreating glaciers, changing weather patterns and how fragile the ecosystem is, all things he says he experienced first-hand. He has implored everyone to look at their carbon footprint and see how they can reduce it.
An important take-home message following a seriously impressive feat from this man on a mission.