Trail of the week / 30 Sept. - 2 Oct.
ITRA gives you a quick overview of some races organized this weekend !
4 Deserts Atacama Crossing - Chile
The 13th edition of the Atacama Crossing will begin on the 2nd of October, 2016. The course of the Atacama Crossing takes competitors across a wide variety of terrains and includes approximately 1683m of ascents and 2508m of descents over the 7-day race. Starting at just below 3200m in the
Arcoiris Valley, the race gradually descends over the 6 stages to finish in the pretty town of San Pedro de Atacama at an elevation of 2400m. Competitors will tackle sand-dunes, river crossings, gravel, loose rocks, hard packed earth and even waist high grass during the event. This is in addition to the infamous salt flats that even the most dexterous of runners find nearly impossible to cross at full-speed.
The 4 Deserts is a unique collection of world-class events that take place over 7 days and 250 km in the largest and most forbidding deserts on the planet. Competitors are challenged to go beyond the limits of their physical and mental endurance.
Racing self-supported in the most inhospitable climates and formidable landscapes, they must carry all their own equipment and food and are only provided with drinking water and a place in a tent each night to rest. Each of the 4 Deserts is completely unique. In every race competitors find themselves immersed in ancient cultures and surrounded by stunning scenery and indigenous wildlife. The 4 Deserts takes competitors on a journey through the driest, hottest, coldest and windiest places on earth !
Ultra Trail Atlas Toubkal - Morroco
The 2016 edition of Ultra Trail Atlas Toubkal (UTAT) will take place in Oukaïmeden, Morroco, on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd of October. They will celebrate the 8th anniversary of this event ! The Ultra Trail Atlas Toubkal occurs in a famous ski resort of Oukaïmeden located 63 km away from Marrakesh in the High Atlas, near Toubkal mount (4167 m) the second highest in Africa after the Kilimanjaro mount.
Oukaïmeden is the base camp where races leaves and arrives. There is 5 differents races formats: Ultra Trail Atlas Toubkal (UTAT) 105km 6500 D+; Marathon de l'Atlas 42km 2600 D+; Virée d’Ikiss 26km 1400 D+; Amazih trail 10 km 400 D+; Challenge de l’Atlas which combined Marathon de l’Atlas and Virée d’Ikiss.
Trailers who run the UTAT 105 km have to cross passes at more than 3000m high. This is one of the race specificity : 2 passes at 3000m, 1 pass at 3200m high and 1 pass at 3600m high. The paths are unpassable by car, ground is unstable because of stones. Those particularities make this ultra trail technic and unique.
Runners live 5 days (from 29/09 to 3/10) in the middle of Oukaïmeden plateau. Introspection, brain storming and maximal relaxation : a true homecoming that deconnecting people from occidental life.
To see the others races registered on our international calendar it's here
Organizors, if you want to present your race in our "Trail of the week", send your information (summary, history, spirit, pictures of your race, videos...) to the following address: contact@itra.run