Picos de Europa

[bierzobaggie]

Aye - just been working in the Picos last week - it's an awesome spot & great for training too (long as you like rough ground + lots of verticals...) Race traverses the range basically. Quite a few pics I've taken round area here

That's right. The race traverses the three "massifs" of Picos which means that there are 3 big big climbs and their respective descents. No peaks though...(wow! I just read that bit about your mum on the Naranjo de Bulnes ) And the total vertical height gain is 5000m not 10,000.

[Boy Wonder]

And the total vertical height gain is 5000m not 10,000.

Oh well, that's OK then!!

[MorganW]

Hmmm...........was wondering what to set my mind to after the Trail des Aiguilles Rouges.

Another step up though.

Those pictures on the Spanish website are fabulous....absolutely wonderful. What a day out that must be.

[molehill]

Not sure about the ascent height. Our guide said 10,000 - which seemed an awfull lot . I also found 10,000 mentioned on some website about the run (I couldn't understand anything else on the site). Official site says 5,000. I guess that is correct, but I think anyone considering the run ought to double check, you know what these continentals are like.

Difference is between a gentle jog out and a decent days running

[bierzobaggie]

The 10,000m they refer to is the sum of ascents and descents. The true total ascent height for the race is actually less than 5000m
Here are the stats....

Travesera integral Picos de Europa
Start: Vega de Enol (1080m)
Finish Sotres (1045m)
Distance 60km
Ascent 4540m
Descent 4505m
Maximum altitude 2382m (Collada Bonita)
Minimum altitude 460m (Caín)
Longest climb: Caín to Horcada Caín via Dobresengos (1900m ascent for this section!..it took me 4 hours)

As you can see the total ascent has already fallen from 10,000 to 4540. By next June it'll be a stroll in the park for you!

[molehill]

Thanks BB, that clarifies it, I couldn't quite grasp where the 2 totally different figures came from. Never mind how anyone completed it (at 10,000) in the times given. Mind you the longest climb is ...........quite long .

[Boy Wonder]

When I was in the Pyrenees a few weeks ago I came across this - now that's what I call a climb (but at least you stop at the top!

La Cremaillere


8th June 2008Departing Luchon (630m altitude) and finishing at Superbagneres (1,800m altitude), this is a very tough 5.3km forest trail race with a total climb of 1,170m. The average gradient is 21% and includes a vertical kilometre, 4.5km into the race at an altitude of 1,630m - there is a sign to warn you!!

[MorganW]

Vertical kilometre? Up ladders or similar or just ridiculously steep ground?

Be much more fun if it was up and down, and only a little over 10k!