4th North Face Chamonix Challenge
Last weekend (17th-20th May) marked the return of the North Face Challenge to Chamonix for the 4th year running. The Challenge is a 4 day endurance event where teams compete in trail running, orienteering and mountain biking over a 130km course with nearly 8000m of altitude gain. Even the shorter course that can be completed in 2-3 days still requires competitors to cover 70-80kms and 3500m of altitude change, so both events required serious training and determination.
The race began in truly appalling conditions with the orienteering leg in Chamonix centre. It was bitterly cold and bucketing down with rain for the entire day but fortunately the sun returned for the mountain biking in Vallorcine and for the remainder of the event.
Each team consists of 3 people (same sex or mixed although about 90% of entrants are male) so the North Face Challenge is not only a test of endurance, it's a true test of team spirit. This year the winning team completed the full course in an amazing 17 hours and 48 minutes; nearly half an hour ahead of the team that came in second, and the fastest team on the shorter route came in in 10 hours 16 minutes.
For a full breakdown of the results, click the link below.
Photo credit: Le Dauphiné
