On Saturday, August 21, 2010, a Finn expedition conquered Mon Blanc in France, the highest peak in Western Europe. Reaching the summit in sub-zero conditions of Mont Blanc, 4 adventurous Finns set up sauna by using a specially designed wood-fired oven and tent standing at 4,810 metres above sea level. In order to erect such a nice sauna before dawn, mountain climbers had to embark up the mountainside in darkness. Thanks to a specially designed wood-fired oven in sauna tent, the Mon Blanc expedition was warmed up and continued their venture. Setting up saunas on the peak of Mon Blanc is a project supported by Helo, the engineering company Aaro Peltoniemi, Savotta and Scandinavian Outdoor Store with a view to promoting Finnish sauna culture. Let's have look at the most breathtaking images of the Finn expedition to conquer Mon Blanc by sauna on August 21.
Under the sub-zero weather condition on the top of Mon Blanc, the Finn expedition enjoyed sauna in just underwear
The sauna with a specially designed wood-fired oven inside was erected at the height of 4,810 metres above sea level. The mountain climbers took a sauna bath to be ready for the next day
The Finn expedition consisting of Kari Härkönen, Tuomas Poikela, Sami Vähänen, and Aaro Peltoniemi began to climb the mountain early in the next morning in a favorable weather
In a cold weather of sub-zero condition, wood used for burning oven in sauna were carefully chosen and best functioned to burn well in the high altitude from the mountain
Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, Western Europe and the European Union is also called Monte Bianco or White Mountain
With the height of 4,810.45 m above sea level and being covered with white snow around the year, Mont Blanc is popular for mountaineering, hiking, skiing and snowboarding
Sauna is an important part of the Finnish culture. There are over two million saunas of five million inhabitants in total in Finland; therefore, there is averagely a sauna of one per household
Sauna is the place not only for physical but mental relaxation as well. Thus, after enjoying sauna, Finnish expedition felt comfortable and energetic enough to conquer the way to the summit of Mon Blanc
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