Right on the edge of France

To follow as closely as possible France’s land and coastal boundaries without using motorised transport – that is the aim! Nevertheless, there was no “officially set” maximum distance. It was just a matter of following the lie of the land and avoiding breaking the law!

For Lionel Daudet (known as “Dod”) adventure can be right there on his doorstep. Due to the fact that the border is a link between different countries, the mountaineer adds a human, or historical and scientific dimension to this route. “Right on the edge of France” is a rediscovery of our country; of encounters with nature and of mountains and men. The GORE-TEX® brand and Eider sponsor this adventure.

After having passed over the multiple stages of Mont Blanc up as far as Brittany, Lionel Daudet is now preparing himself to travel along the Atlantic coasts to get to the Pyrenees. He will move along the Mediterranean coast and from there go to Corsica and then undertake a monumental crossing of the Alps, finishing his journey in September 2012 at Chamonix.

Lionel Daudet will have to travel along approximately 1850 miles of land frontiers and some 2140 miles of coastline without using any motorised transport. A real geographic challenge! Travelling around this hexagon, following as closely as possible the exact line of the frontier, is something that is far from easy because it passes over high mountains, the crests of which are seldom visited even by mountaineers.

One year, over 4000 miles travelled and more than 100 peaks to conquer. His first six months have been full of physical and moral challenges. Lionel Daudet has in fact already climbed in the Alps, travelled by dugout canoe on the rivers of the Jura as far as Lake Geneva and practised the art of double canoeing on the River Rhine.

And we mustn’t forget the miles that have been covered on foot and by bicycle on green lanes and on parts of Normandy and Brittany where there are no pathways. “Dod” is now looking forward to travelling round Corsica in a sailing boat – just one of many different activities prior to paragliding, climbing, hiking on foot, etc.

Find out where “Dod” is currently on his tour.