It was early Thursday for Corina Kuipers and Monique de Man from Loon op Zand. The two of them hike to the top of the iconic alp at least once during the Alpe d’HuZes event. In addition to a backpack with food and drinks for the journey, all participants also bring their own story upstairs.
“We left at half past four,” says Corina in the morning program Wakker! from Omroep Brabant. Together with Monique she is sitting on a wall in turn nine. Take a break and give your legs some rest. “In principle, we go up once. If we still have energy, we stick to it a second time. It is good walking weather. Later in the day, rain and thunderstorms are forecast.”
Corine and Monique are now half way up the mountain. “It was extremely busy when we left. It was crazy. It’s great that all those people take the trouble to get out of bed. It is now starting to get busier in the bends on the mountain. People are cheering us on.”
The Alpe d’Huez is 21 turns long. It takes about thirteen kilometers to climb to the top. Your mind will undoubtedly wander along the way. Corina walks for her mother who died of cancer in 2014, but also for herself. “I notice that my thoughts are more with my mother. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, which resulted in chemotherapy and a mastectomy. I actually also unconsciously walk to process my own story. How lucky I am to be able to do this. ”