Indefatigable Hervé Barmasse completes Endurance Italy / The highest mountain of every region by fair means in 30 days

If climbing the highest mountain of every Italian region in just one month sounds like an impossible feat, consider the numbers: 4,250 kilometres travelled exclusively by bike or on foot – nearly 5,000 if you include the nautical miles sailed to connect the islands to the mainland – over 81,000 metres of positive elevation gain (the equivalent of climbing Everest more than nine times from sea level), and an average of 137 kilometres per day. Today, that challenge has a name: Endurance – Italy.

The man behind this extraordinary text of endurance and determination is Hervé Barmasse, protagonist of an extraordinary journey that blends sporting performance, alpinism, and exploration, guided by a single principle: moving exclusively under his own power.

Endurance – Italy was a project of remarkable ambition, a by fair means voyage that pushed both body and mind to their limits. Its defining traits – fatigue and resilience – were further tested by a series of unforeseen challenges, most notably the exceptional heatwave that hit Italy in June, with temperatures reaching up to 42°C and a perceived temperature of 45°C. These extreme conditions made an already extraordinary feat even more punishing, pushing the boundaries of what seemed humanly possible further every day.

"On paper, before setting off, I knew the route was tough and that my body would face fatigue like never before," says Barmasse. "But the heat made this journey much harder than I had imagined. I reduced the kilometres by studying alternative routes, but the elevation gain remained almost unchanged from my original plan. On the bike, the temperatures were unbearable – so much so that during the same period, several sporting events, like the Ironman in Nice, were cancelled. In the mountains, everything was more unstable and extremely delicate. The snow refreeze was above 4,500 metres, and thunderstorms were particularly treacherous in the Alps. In order to reach the summit of some of these peaks before the storms, I had to move faster and at unusual times. It was the only way. But there was a silver lining: these conditions allowed me to be alone on some of the most beautiful mountains in the Alps – Mont Blanc, Punta Nordend, Pizzo Bernina, and Ortles – which are usually crowded in summer."

Starting on 4 June from Cala Gonone in Sardinia with the ascent of Punta La Marmora, Barmasse set off on a journey that took him across the entire Italian peninsula, touching the highest peaks of every region – from Etna and Gran Sasso to Monte Vettore, Cima del Redentore, Monte Cimone, and Monte Prado, all the way to the great giants of the Alps: Monte Rosa, Mont Blanc, Pizzo Bernina, Ortles, Marmolada, and Monte Coglians, the last summit reached on 3 July before arriving in Trieste.

But Endurance – Italy was more than just a sporting performance. What made it truly special were the encounters with dozens of mountaineers, climbers, runners, and local people who answered Hervé's call to be part of the project. They joined him for stretches of trail, waited for him in the mountains, or cheered him along the route.

"Reaching the summit of these mountains and feeling the warmth of so many people – with banners, flags, sweets, and sometimes even a beer – turned my effort into joy," Barmasse recalls. "And the people who waited for me while I was cycling, before I changed shoes to climb, with gifts or words of encouragement, gave me the strength to keep going even when my tired body was telling me to stop. It's thanks to them that I managed to keep moving for a whole month without resting a single day. I received affection, and I turned that affection into energy. A huge thank you to everyone who was there or sent me messages of encouragement."

Counterbalancing the hardship of the journey, day after day, was the extraordinary beauty of Italy. In just over four weeks, Barmasse crossed profoundly different landscapes: from the mountains of Sardinia and Sicily to the Apennines, from the great beech forests of central Italy to the glaciers of the Alps – a mosaic of environments, biodiversity, cultures, and traditions that make Italy unique.

His journey tells the story of an authentic and surprising Italy, proving that adventure is not reserved for remote lands. It can begin just a few kilometres from home, if approached with curiosity, respect, and a genuine spirit of exploration.

"With Endurance Italy, I have united the mountains of our country in one great journey," says Barmasse. "It was an even more intense experience than I had imagined. The continuity of the route allowed me to cross Italy in all its extraordinary variety, discovering, day after day, a surprising nature and a richness of landscapes that we often take for granted. Once again, I was reminded that sport and the mountains are a means of connecting with places and people – a universal language that introduces us to territories, cultures, traditions, and stories, allowing the journey itself to create the most authentic encounters."

Main sponsors: Montura, Scarpa, Vibram, Enervit, Comune di Valtournenche, Cervino Ski Paradise, Julbo, Coros, Kästle, Grivel
Project partners: Club Alpino Italiano, GiottiLine, Pirelli Cycling, Selle Italia and idmatch
Technical partners: Castelli, Pinarello, Shimano, Northwave, Sony, Walbike