Stage 4: Aosta to St Bernard's Pass

This is what months of hard training had been building up to. From our base camp at Aosta,we would attempt to climb the 6000ft to the monastery and guest house at the top of the St Bernard Pass, an ancient route across the Apls.

A brief glance out of our hotel window revealed we'd have to tackle the day's 20 miles of sheer climbing with no cloud cover, meaning temperatures reaching over 30 degrees.

With an atmosphere of apprehension hanging over the team, we stocked up on supplies for the barren road ahead and set off, immediately hitting a viscous gradient, knowing there would be no let-off until we reached the summit.

For hours we ground our way up the snaking road, gradually leaving the rooftops of towns far away on the valley below. We shared the thoroughfare with other groups; long chains of motorbikes or Ferraris thundering past were a constant companion.

Soon we left the main road for a quieter one, where the sound of cow bells now filled the valleys. After hours of slogging it was time for lunch and Chiro prepared pancetta and ricotta rolls which we ate in front of a church.

Buoyed by the intake of energy, we didn't realise the worst was yet to come. Not long after our aching legs had restated their constant effort, the gradient worsened, landscape became more barren and the temperature dropped. The team now spread out, we looked up at the miles of road precariously snaking up above us.

One last effort with burning legs and light heads pushed us around the last bend where we were greeted, like many weary travellers before us, with the glorious view of the monastery.

After a quick vov (sweet eggy liquor) to celebrate we were welcomed into the monastery by Frederick the monk who poured us some sweet tea "to avoid cramp". After our customary nap in our huge dormitory, we dined with the other guests on a simple hearty meal.

The night was given a surreal and slightly scary edge with a huge thunder storm, terrifyingly expensive bar, organ music and full team participation bell ringing! We drifted off to sleep (contending with Tom's snoring) satisfied that we had conquered the mountains!