Welcome to the Team Odlo UK website.

On this website you will find information on the races we are competing in, the expeditions we are doing and how to get in touch with us.

My name is Maria Leijerstam. I'm an expeditioner and adventure racer and have competed in challenges all over the world.

This is our second year racing as Team Odlo UK and we have a very exciting calendar of races lined up for 2010.

I'd like to thank Odlo UK as well as all of our other sponsors for providing us with kit, clothing and gadgets!

Maria & Zoe 1st placed Female Pair in the Keswick Open5+

Friday, 3 July 2009

A summit of Mt Blanc

At 06:10 on July 2nd, myself and my two climbing partners, Adam and Dan summited Mt Blanc.

We began our long ascent at 01:00 in -5 degrees after having spent the early part of the night in a snow hole at 3500m. The climb to the top of the highest mountain in Western Europe at 4808m took us along narrow ridges with 1000m drops on either side, over glaciers and past cravasses.

Having not spent any time altitude training I really felt the affects of being so high up. In two days I went from sea level to almost 5000m where the oxygen in the air is noticable less. I had a constant headache and felt nausea for most of the time above 3000m. It wasn't bad enough to stop me putting one foot in front of the other and reaching the summit.

The views were absolutley spectacular and I'II post some pictures, video footage and my diary of the expedition as soon as I get back to the UK.

I'm enjoying the sun in chamonix at the moment and plan to spent the day rock climbing!