Escape Project → A soft mobility adventure

Explorateur et récit
Mayeul Beauquier + Rémi Thibault + Théo Gentit + Thimothée Debicki
localization
March 2023
Période
France
Four young adventurers, one shared dream: to reach the summit of Europe, Mont Blanc, and the Mediterranean Sea without an engine or gasoline, using only their energy, determination, and the power of the natural elements.

matériel(s) utilisé(s)

Packraft Gaia 4.0
Packraft Gaia 4.0
ULTRA VERSATILE
€1.420,00
JAWS Carbon 4-part Paddle
JAWS Carbon 4-part Paddle
Additional accessories
€218,00
Bikerafting Cover
Bikerafting Cover
Additional accessories
€110,00

The Escape Project

The ESCAPE project's challenge: a 100% soft mobility expedition, combining ski touring, cycling, packrafting and kitesurfing, to cross the Alps and return to the sea. A sporting challenge, but above all a committed message, an inspiring way to show that another relationship with travel is possible—slower, more respectful, more connected to nature. Throughout their journey, these four outdoor enthusiasts ingeniously combined disciplines, tackling elevation changes, currents, and the elements, without ever resorting to a motor. Through this project, they aim to raise awareness of the environmental impact of our travel and demonstrate that it's possible to experience intense adventures while reducing your carbon footprint.

The Escape Project
The Escape Project
The Escape Project
The Escape Project
We equipped the entire team with Gaia 4 packrafts. An ultra-versatile packraft that allowed them to combine several disciplines (including bikerafting) while remaining light during their trip.

A human, sporting and committed adventure

The ESCAPE project is much more than an itinerary or a performance. It's a human adventure, driven by values of respect, self-improvement, and environmental awareness. Each team member has dedicated their skills, passion, and energy to a shared vision: to prove that powerful experiences can be had without compromising the planet. Throughout their journey, they met with local residents, local stakeholders, and outdoor sports enthusiasts, sharing their thoughts on the impact of tourism and the ecological transition. A wonderful lesson in humility and a call to change the way we move, consume, and live.

A human, sporting and committed adventure

Bikerafting: when the bike meets the river

At the heart of this adventure is one discipline: bikerafting. It involves combining cycling and packrafting to cross both mountain passes and rivers. The bike is securely attached to the packraft while sailing, then the boat is stored in a bag once on dry land.

Bikerafting: when the bike meets the river
Bikerafting: when the bike meets the river
Bikerafting: when the bike meets the river
Bikerafting allows for the creation of unique itineraries, combining cycle paths, mountain trails, and waterways, with great freedom of movement. It's the ideal tool for an independent expedition, like the one led by ESCAPE.

Soft mobility: moving forward differently

The ESCAPE project is part of a sustainable mobility approach, that is, all environmentally friendly modes of travel. By favoring cycling, walking, skiing, and even packrafting, we drastically reduce CO₂ emissions while rediscovering the pleasure of traveling differently: at the rhythm of the wind, the water, and the terrain. It's a way to reconnect with the land, to experience each kilometer, each climb, each crossing as an adventure in its own right—and not just as a simple journey.

Soft mobility: moving forward differently
Soft mobility: moving forward differently
Soft mobility: moving forward differently
One goal achieved: the Mediterranean Sea.