Bhutan is gearing up to host the world’s first-ever international Snowman Race which promises to be one of the toughest high-altitude ultra-marathons.
The race will span five days (from October 13-17) and see some of the world’s top extreme runners attempt one of the most challenging and remote footraces in the Eastern Himalayas.
The route runs through 203km of Himalayan wilderness, with an average elevation of over 14,000ft and multiple peaks summiting at over 17,000 ft.
According to the official website, this is a historic route that (usually) takes up to 20 days to complete. Another fun fact? It has been attempted by fewer people than those who have successfully climbed Mount Everest.
The challenging race is taking place to highlight the ravages of climate change in the region. Aside from directly putting the spotlight on the impact of global warming on the area, the race is also trying to raise awareness of how severely it has affected the lives of people living in fragile mountain ecosystems.
The website also quotes recent studies that reveal the alarming fact that the glaciers of the Himalayas are melting at a faster rate than ever before and are showing no sign of snow replacement.
“Two-thirds of the glaciers are predicted to be gone by the turn of the century if we cannot reverse or halt the rising global temperature,” reads the website.
Here’s hoping that the extreme racing event brings about a positive change in raising awareness about the effects of climate change in the world.
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