CONSTELLATION is the name of my first expedition.
A 20,799-kilometer journey, following a continuous route from the South of France to the Canadian border, divided into three distinct stages, each inspired by a constellation and a different discipline, all accomplished solely through wind and human power.
THE EXPEDITION
It was at the foot of the cliffs of Cape Finisterre (Spain) that the wild idea of crossing the Atlantic by sail was born, after a nearly 3,000 km journey on foot along the legendary Camino de Santiago. The path took me from my home in Switzerland, through France and Spain and along the Portuguese coast to Porto. From this "end of the world", it seemed only natural that I would continue my journey westward and set the course for my expedition.
I eventually departed from Port St-Louis du Rhône, near Marseille (France) and sailed to Barcelona, Alicante, Gibraltar, Lanzarote, the Cape Verde Islands and Martinique, before heading up the Caribbean islands to Florida, where I completed the first leg of the expedition: Argo. I then swapped my vessel for a bicycle, setting off to conquer the next stretch of my westward route, crossing nine states in the American South, from coast to coast, from the Atlantic Ocean to the beaches of San Diego in California. There, the second part of my journey, Sagitta, came to a close at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
The final leg of the expedition, Orion, was undertaken on foot. For over four months, I ventured deep into the wild nature of the American West, along the famous Pacific Crest Trail. This trail, a rite of passage for thru-hikers, stretches from the Mexican border to Canada. From the arid deserts of Southern California to the snow-capped peaks of the High Sierra, home to Mount Whitney (4,418m), the highest mountain in the contiguous United States. Through the dense forests of Northern California, marked by the frequent fires, to the iconic volcanoes of Oregon and Washington, I spent 134 days immersed in a pristine and untamed landscape, far from any human settlement, until I finally reached what sometimes seems like a mirage: the Northern Terminus near Manning Park, in British Columbia.
296 days of effort, perseverance and courage to complete this unique adventure, which came to an end on September 20, 2024. But this is just another beginning. While this journey has reached its conclusion, the spirit of adventure is very much alive. There are still countless paths to explore, many more challenges to face and as always, new horizons to reach.
Stay tuned for what lies ahead—this is just another beginning...
Partnership
