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A Unique Start At High Altitude

Robert Pollhammer / 06.05.2009

Plenty of teams have signed up for the Adventure Trophy Garmisch-Partenkirchen by April 19th, the first entry deadline. Now the entry fees have gone up by 20 Euros but this race still offers great value for money. So, the organisers hope to see a some more teams signing up before the final entry deadline June 5th.

Now it is also official. The race in Garmisch-Partenkirchen will start at an elevation of 2,033 m on the Osterfelderkopf right by the Restaurant Alpspitze. Thus for the first time also the Challenger starters (50 km and 1,000 m of elevation) will experinece high altitude. This has been made possible by a sponsorship of the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn, the company operating the transportation to the mountains of our beautiful ski and hiking region. They will transport everyone free of charge to the start line.

The first stage is trail running/trekking. From the Osterfelderkopf the Challenger athletes will mainly go downhill. The Master-Class (100 km and 4,000 m of elevation) will go up and down on a longer stage and into some of the nicest landscapes the Alps have to offer.

Thanks to the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn there is even more news. The Challengers will finish their race at 1,774 m on the Wank mountain. The finish is at the Sonnen Alm operated by the Rieger family. This also means that there will be a deadline. The last transfer to the valley is at 5 PM. Teams who won't be able to make that have to skip the last stage. However, from past year's experience most teams should make it no problem.

Much more the organisers don't want to tell us, yet. Only some information on what awaits people in the "Kletterwald" (high ropes course in the forest). There they will test the athlete#s skills with hymern (using technical devices to move up a rope) and tree climbing.

For friends and family watching the Kletterwald is a great place to be. Not only can they see what's happening but they can have some action themselves, too.