Check out this video for more impressions!!!
After leaving around 4h15 in the morning from Ribes de Freser where I was staying in a bungalow with my family I drove to Sant Joan de les Abadesses. I was lucky enough to find a place to park right away and soon was on my way to pick up my bib number.
Sant Joan is a really nice old village in the Pyrenees with many historical buildings, and in one of them they had us picking up our numbers and outside a bag with merchandize and the dropbag we would pick up at two thirds of the race.
After the regular preparations we were "warmed up" by great music and just after six o'clock in the smoke of many firecrackers we were shot counted down to the start. After leaving the village by the old bridge we soon left the urban area and entered a nice forest and started our first ascent. Most part of up to the first check point was quite runnable though we were climbing fast and soon were high enough to great the sun.
Gooooodmorning!!!
At the first checkpoint I quickly ate some fruit and continued.
First checkpoint
Next was the steeper part of the first ascent. Soon we were out of the forest and climbing slowly in a long line of runners, or hikers at this point.
Climbing Puig Estela (2013m)
Without to much effort I reached the summit and after a first easy downhill part we encountered a really really steep kind of meadow where we had to go down.
At the top of Puig Estela
It was still early morning and the grass was slippery. Luckily there were not too many stones here so the unavoidable falls did not hurt too much, only made us slow down even more to keep our footing.
Pardines
After a while the downhill was becoming more easy and then we were back on trails and advancing fast to the next checkpoint in a little village called Pardines.
Check 3 at Pardines
Once again I ate some fruit and refilled my bottles and soon was on my way again to continue with a longer and steeper ascent than the first one.
Serra de la Canya
Somewhere halfway between Pardines and Coll de la Marrana, the fourth checkpoint is set up. Once again only a short stop to eat and refill. I am still feeling ok, though already feeling the 2000 meters we have been climbing so far. A bit more than 6000 meters of climbing to go.
The morning was very bright and gave spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys!!!
The first patches of snow. Soon we would cross one. Somewhere here we have to pass a rather inclined part where I loose my footing for a second and in the slip bump and cut my knee. Luckily it was nothing to worry about and after 20 meters of walking slow and rubbing my knee I continue running whenever I can.
Before starting the final ascent to the second highest mountain of the race, we enter a long valley where the river Freser is born. Here I am starting to feel tired and eventhough it is going slowly downhill and the path is runnable from time to time I walk more often to rest for the climb to come.
The valley is very very nice!!!
Then the real climb starts, going up really steep!!!
About half way we pass the next checkpoint, Coll de la Marana. It is colder here and I put on my windstopper. After eating, drinking and refilling I continue to what is said to be the most difficult part of the race.
Coll de la Marrana
The first of the summits of the ridge we will be following is the Bastiments (2881m). It is the second highest of the whole course. Mainly the whole range is a pile of stones at some parts filled up in between so there is some sort of path. The going is very irregular, you have to take good care of each step and also very steep and once up we can see most of the range we will go along up and down for next few hours.
At the top of Bastiments (2881m)
A "selfie" at the top of Bastiments
For hours at best the path will be like this
Following the ridge to Pic del Freser (2835m)
Pic de l'Infern (2869m)
Breathtaking views
The descent to Vall de Nuria is slightly better, at some parts flat at other parts steep and stony, but I am rather tired and I walk most of this downhill.
Descent to Vall de Nuria
Down in the valley my family is waiting for me. Jordi was scouting and as soon as we met he sprinted back to warn Montse and Emma who were ready to make pictures. I really appreciated them being there, though it did not really show, since I was tired and needed a break and rest and eat. Also bearing in mind that the highest mountain was still to come.
Arrival at Vall de Nuria where my Super Support Team is waiting for me!!!
Tired ... time for a good rest and eating and drinking with my family!!!
Checkpoint before Puig de Finestrelles (2829m)
Vall de Nuria from the other side
Every time we reach a summit there is yet another one to climb
Finally the Puigmal (2914m) in direct sight
Eventhough the pictures look nice and sunny at this point it is very windy and rather cold up there. I am advancing slowly, though happy now to be more and more near the summit of Puigmal. By the time I get to the top, the wind has picked up in force and it is freezing cold. I tried to make a picture but my hands are too cold to get that done and it is not a place to stay for long. The downhill from there to the next aid-station and checkpoint is only 5 kilometers, but it is steep down and were others can run I can only walk and as such I advance little and am exposed for quite a while to the wind that picks up in force even more and becomes colder and colder as the sun sets. By the time the checkpoint is near I decide that it is better for me to abandon the race here. I can endure a lot, but under circumstances I prefer to conquer this course some other time. I do not regret anything, it is an amazing race and you really have to be in good shape and distribute your energy well and also have experience at these altitudes and with this terrain.
No comments:
Post a Comment