On April 23, the waves of the Mediterranean welcomed two remarkable women at Larvotto beach in Monaco, closing the final chapter of an extraordinary human and sporting adventure. After 54 days of relentless effort, Ironman World Champion Loubna Freih and Swiss Mountain Guide Mélanie Corthay completed Alpine Quest, a daring crossing of the Alps from Vienna to Monaco — by ski touring, cycling, and trail running.
Watch the Alpine Quest video:
video credit: Aurélie Gonin
From Austria to Monaco via Switzerland, Italy and France, their journey wasn’t just a feat of endurance, but a living, breathing tribute to the mountains, to resilience, and to the human connection with wild spaces.
Alpine Quest - 1500 km across the Alps in 54 days - Photo credit: Aurélie Gonin
Alpine Quest: A Human-Powered Dream Through Europe's Highest Peaks - Photo credit: Aurélie Gonin
Loubna Freih, Ironman World Champion in her age group and a Monegasque resident, and Mélanie Corthay, an experienced Swiss mountain guide, set out with a bold ambition: to traverse the Alps under their own power, following a line that stretched across five countries, 1500 kilometers, 79 mountain passes, and 47 glaciers.
Alpine Quest - from Vienna to Monaco - Photo credit: Aurélie Gonin
At 57 and 52 years old respectively, these women demonstrated that age is no limit when combined with determination, trust, and a shared love of mountains.
What makes Alpine Quest truly remarkable is not just the scale of the route, but the conditions they faced:
Faced with unpredictable snow cover and constantly evolving conditions, Mélanie Corthay took on the herculean task of route finding and adapting the plan, often redrawing it on the fly.
Loubna Freih, Ironman World Champion and Expedition Leader - Photo credit: Aurélie Gonin
Alpine Quest Cycling - Photo credit: Aurélie Gonin
Along the way, 13 women joined the expedition for certain stages — including athletes, scientists, filmmaker-photographer Aurelie Gonin, and photographers. Together they explored more than just summits and valleys. They created a living narrative of adventure, science, and education, connecting with school children across Switzerland, France, and Monaco through the Water Family project, inspiring the next generation to love and protect these fragile mountain environments.
Moments of solitude gave way to moments of powerful human encounters - Photo credit: Aurélie Gonin
Moments of solitude gave way to moments of powerful human encounters — a common thread that Mélanie Corthay describes as the expedition’s true treasure:
"What I will cherish the most is the way we managed our emotions together. Giving each other space and time. Plus all the unforgettable encounters, full of so much generosity." says Mélanie Corthay.
They moved through territories still ruled by ibex, wolves, and eagles - Photo credit: Aurélie Gonin
Both women highlight how the wildness of the Alps shaped their journey. They moved through territories still ruled by ibex, wolves, and eagles. They endured blisters, back pain, and 12-kilo rucksacks — but every sunrise brought a new dose of wonder, reminding them why they were out there.
As Loubna Freih puts it:
"In the face of the beauty of the landscapes, the pain becomes secondary. I endured everything because every morning, the body knew. It knew it was part of something bigger. Crossing the entire Alpine arc is a dream — and like all dreams that come true, I'm also sad that it's already over."
Saskia Gindraux Glaciologist - Photo credit: Aurélie Gonin
Alpine Quest wasn’t only about athletic achievement. It also served as a platform to document the changing face of the Alps in the era of climate change. Filmmaker Aurélie Gonin captured every stage, soon to become a documentary sharing the rawness and beauty of the adventure, and the silent transformations of Europe's mountains together with glaciologist Saskia Gindraux.
Aurelie Gonin, Film Director of Alpine Quest used the DJI Flip drone for aerial shots - Photo credit: Aurélie Gonin
For film director Aurélie Gonin, Alpine Quest was exactly the kind of project that pushes her out of her comfort zone. Specializing in mountain sports, she thrives on challenging shootings that require adaptability, endurance, and creativity. When she heard about Alpine Quest, the ambitious crossing of the Alps from Vienna to Monaco by bike, ski mountaineering, and trail running, she knew it would demand a unique approach. Filming in such harsh and remote conditions meant carrying all essential safety equipment—alongside camera gear—on multi-day traverses.
The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro camera. - Photo credit: Aurélie Gonin
To keep up with the athletes and capture their journey without adding extra weight, Aurélie relied on lightweight, high-performance tools like the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and the DJI Flip drone.
“Having lightweight, reliable technology like DJI’s allowed me to stay agile and fully focused on telling their story." says Aurélie Gonin.
These compact devices allowed both Aurélie and the athletes themselves to film in total autonomy, ensuring key moments were captured even when she couldn’t be physically present.
Having lightweight, reliable technology like DJI’s allowed Aurelie Gonin to stay agile and fully focused on telling their story - Photo credit: Aurélie Gonin
“Alpine Quest is more than a journey — it’s a call to reconnect with the wild, to face discomfort, to adapt, to trust, and to embrace the generosity of women as athletes. It reminds us that technology and innovation, when placed at the service of human stories, can amplify these messages and inspire beyond borders,” says Aurélie Gonin.
arriving in Monaco on the 23rd of April 2025 - Photo credit: Aurélie Gonin