A SOUTH Lakes mountaineer is planning to celebrate a milestone birthday by climbing his way across the Alps.

John Fleetwood, from Longlesddale, will mark his 50th year with a journey on foot from one end of the European Alps to the other.

But it won't just be a walk. John plans to take in as many summits as possible on a high level route from Triglav in Slovenia to the outskirts of Monaco in the South of France, tracing the Italian border all the way.

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This will involve linking up many via ferratas in the Eastern Alps, mountaineering on some of the highest Alpine peaks and long days averaging 30km and 2,400m of ascent.

John, who described the route as 'challenging', is using the endeavour to raise money for Manna House, which works with homeless people in Kendal, and Amazon Savers, a charitable organisation that works with farmers in Bolivia to build livelihoods and slow deforestation of the Amazon.

He will begin his epic trek on June 11 and says it should take 60 days.

"The total length is around 1,850km with 135,000m of ascent," said John, who is an experienced ultra-distance fell runner and a member of the Alpine Club of Great Britain.

"I will largely be self supported, carrying kit apart from a rope and mountaineering boots which friends will bring out for the glaciated sections."

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