|
This Ultramarathon will be the 1st WaterCupRun. We will support a still to be named waterproject in that area with a minimum of EUR 100 per runner.
In October 2008 we visited the Indian Himalaya and evaluated the route and the infrastructure. It is not easy, but it can be done.
India is one of the most impressive countries in the world, on the positive as well as on the negative side.
Now we got the rates from India and can calculate the rates for the package and the race.
Further we have changed the routing in order to have more safety in that altitude:
The Start will be in Gangotri (3.048 m) , the entrance to the trekking area and the end of the more or less motorable road. Turnaround will be at the source of Ganga in Gaumukh (3.943 m) after 16,7KM. We return to Gangotri, pass 33,5KM and finish the 2/3 Marathon. Now we proceed on a tared road until 42,195KM and finish the Marathon (2.700m).
Further down it goes , mainly on trekking and forrest roads til 55KM and finish the Ultramarathon in Harsil (2.600m).
By the new routing we have better support for runners, who might get high altitude problems. We avoid to stay overnight in the not motorable mountains but in much lower altitude.
THE RACE COURSE:
1. General Information:
START First stage:
KM 0 WP 258: Entrance Gangotri (3.052 m). Lively place, the entry to the trekking area. The motorable road ends here.
Route
Höhenprofil
Start will be at the entrance, left hand at the sign „Gaumukh Trek 18 km“. We follow this route and avoid passing the village.
The route is slightly hilly, sand, stones, well to run.
KM 1,2 WP 264: Controllpost Forrest Departement. Normally the permit of the trekkers will be checked here. A maximum of 150 trekkers per day is allowed. In first line you will meet pilgrims from India, who trek once in their lifetime to the source of Ganga to collect “holy water”.
All pilgrims, sadhus (holy men), porters will look at you, since you will look quite exotic to them. If you smile at them say hello or „where do you come from“, you will make new friends.
The route will become more adventurous. Lefthand high mountains, lefthand sometimes steep decline. Most of the time we have a look at the river Bhagirathi, who is making his way through the mountainns. And ahead of us the majestic view on the snowcapped mountains of 6 – 7.000 m.
The structure of the route requires your ability to move on small paths, you have to be very careful.
KM 3 WP 269 (3.276 m) The landscape suddenly looks like indian summer. Very rocky road.
KM 4,7 WP 273: (3.331 m) You have to cross a river by just some cut trees. We will have some helping hand at that point.
KM 8 WP 289 (3.561 m) You arrive at Chirbasa, a small monastery, a roof, two seats and two very basic toiletts.
KM 10,1 WP 300: Sign „Fall Line“. Lefthand mountain up loose gravel, just fixed by sand. You are requested to pass quickly due to the risk of stone fall.
KM 12,7 WP 319: (3.803 m) Again we have to cross a river amid a field of gravel.
KM 12,9 WP 321: (3.808 m) Righthandside you will see Ashram Bhojbasa. Here you will find the first medical sevice and time control. Participants will be checked how they cope with the high altitude. The doctors and a member of the racemanagement have the sole authority to Stopp participants from continuing with the race due to medical or time reasons. Every participant to continue must be able to leave the mountains well before sunset.
In case of emergency some basic accommodation is available. But in case of problems due to high altitude, it is always the best, to go to lower altitude as much as possible.
You pass the white/green welcome sighn of Bhojbasa and follow the road lefthand of the Ashram.
Now it gets even more adventurous. The route gets more rocky, the 7.000m high mountains are closing in.
KM 14,3 WP 328: (3.885 m) Two lanes, follow the left one.
KM 15,4 WP 333: (3.913 m) Rocky surface downhill.
KM 15,7 WP 334: ( 3.919 m) Rocky stepps uphill.
KM 16,5 WP 341: (3.963 m) 2 small temples indicate that you are near the holy source of Ganga. You have to climb downhill (difficult!), you cross a plateau with a sign in the middle, which you pass lefthand.
KM 16,7 WP 343: (3.934 m) You reach the turnaround at the source of Ganga. A commerative foto will be taken, you can gain some holy water from the very small river.
At that place the river is named „Bhaghirati“. Much later, when uniting with the river Alaknanda just before Rishikesh the river is named Ganga. But the Bhaghirati is considered as the most immportant and holy of the rivers, which form the Ganga.
You start your return.
Second Stage:
KM 19,4 WP 355: Lefthand you see Bhojbasa, the supplystation. You follow the route lefthand, pass the place by the ashram and continue.
KM 19,8 WP 357: At a free area next to a rose coloured building will be the supply station.
KM 20,6 WP 321(3.808 m): You pass the white/green sign of Bhojbasa and continue west.
KM 20,8 WP 319: You reach again the rivercrossing in the middle of the gravel field.
KM 23,4 WP 300: Sign „Fall Line“. Again pass quickly.
KM 25,5 WP 289 (3.561 m): You pass Chirbasa.
KM 28,8 WP 273: (3.331 m) Again you have to cross a wider river, again some helping hands will wait for you.
KM 30,5 WP 269 (3.276 m) Now you pass the indian summer region with the very rocky route.
KM 32,3 WP 264: Checkpoint Forrest Departement, we leave the trekking area.
Third stage:
KM 33,5 WP 258: Entrance Gangotri (3.052 m). You pass the village righthandside and continue west on a tared road. What a pleasure after the trekking routes.
Finish of the 2/3 Marathon
Second medical controll post. Checkpoint medical fitness and time limit.
KM 36,1 WP 235: (2.967 m) Lefthandside small Ashram with a sign „Welcome to Dev Bhumi Gangotri“.
The route declines steeper, but good to run.
KM 41 WP 208: (2.785 m) Lefthandside resthouse, righthandside 9, very basic local toiletts.
KM 42,195: Finish of the Marathon. Finishers will be driven to our camp in Harsil.
KM 42,7 WP 198: Righthandside Ashram with a big bell.
KM 45,9 WP 186: (2.602 m). You finish the third stage. You leave the road, in a bend you turn righthand up to the mountains and continue on stony forrest paths parallel to the river.
Fourth stage:
KM 51 WP 170: Your reach a farmyard which you have to cross. When checking the route the farmer invited us to his house and told about the hardship of his life. A picturesque fotostop.
KM 55 FINISH in Harsil. You have done it. Participants can straight go to their accommodation. Medical service available.
THE TOURPROGRAMME 2010
|
1. day, Saturday, 2. October:
|
Departure from Frankfurt to Delhi.
|
|
2. day, Sunday, 3. October:
|
Arrival Delhi, transfer to a 4-star hotel. Afternoon city sightseeing, if necessary some shopping.
|
|
3. day, Monday, 4. October:
|
Very early departure by train to Haridwar (294 m). A/C coaches with service for newspaper, tea and snacks.
Trainschedule: 07:00 – 10:30 am. From Haridwar approx. 90 min. by small busses to Rishikesh, Overnight in guesthouses. In the evening we stroll to the banks of river Ganga and watch local ceremonies.
|
|
4. day, Tuesday, 5. October:
|
By bus Rishikesh – Uttarkashi. 170 km mountainroad, 7 – 8 hrs. Only 27-seater busses are allowed due to narrow and winding roads.
OvernightUttarkashi(1.158 m). At Shikhar Nature Resort directely at the river.
|
|
5. day, Wednesday, 6. October:
|
By bus Uttarkashi – Harsil 75 km, 3 – 4 hrs. Overnight in a tented camp in Harsil (2.745 m) amid appletrees.
|
|
6. day, Thursday, 7. October:
|
Trekks around Harsil, we get to know part of the Ultra routing.
|
|
7. day, Friday, 8. October:
|
By bus to Gangotri (3.048 m). We stroll the place and trekk up to an altitude of 3.200 m. Overnight Gangotri.
|
|
8. day, Saturday, 9. October:
|
Day at leisure. Preparation for the big race. Overnight Gangotri.
|
|
9. day, Sunday, 10.October: M-Day.
|
All routes start in Gangotri. The 2/3 Marathon finishes after 33,5KM in Gangotri, where we have the best service for the runners.
The Ultra finishes in Harsil after 55KM.
Overnight Harsil and finisherparty. All finisher receive a medal, document and a t-shirt.
|
|
10. day, Monday, 11. October:
|
The returnjourney starts. Today we drive until Uttarkarshi and we stay in our nice Camp at the riverbanks. Time to relax.
|
|
11. day, Tuesday, 12. October
|
Return to Rishikesh. We visit the Chambar Camp at the River Ganga. Possibility to do boatrafting (optional). Since Rishikesh is famous for Yoga, we will organize a Yogalesson with a local expert.
Overnight in Rishikesh.
|
|
12. day, Wednesday, 13. October:
|
Return to Haridwar, continue by train to Delhi. Transfer and overnight in a 4-star Hotel. Departure Haridwar 18:15, arrival Delhi 22:45 hrs.
|
|
13. day, Thursday, 14. October:
|
Day off in Delhi. Time to stroll and shop. Delhi is a paradise for all sorts of shopping, from cheap markets to modern shopping mals.
We keep our hotelrooms until late evening, since the flights to Europe leave after midnight. Late transfer to the airport and return flight to Frankfurt. Arrival Frankfurt on
|
|
14. day, Friday, 15. October:
|
End of journey in Frankfurt or beginning of extension programme from Delhi.
|
|
Extensionprogramme 1: Tour Temples, Castels, Shrines.
7 days Delhi – Agra – Jaipur - Udaipur, The rate will depend on the number of participants.
|
|
Extensionprogramme 2: Gurgaon
Some friends like Holger und Uli Finkernagel will stay in Gurgaon, approx. 35KM from Delhi. A modern suburb with a lot of shopping facilities and within easy reach of Delhi and the airport. Holger and Uli will stay at Hotel Trident, a modern hotel, one of the best hotels of India. Lots of spa-facilities to relax. Rate per Person sharing double room including breakfast approx. EUR 120 per night. If someone wants to join Gurgaon we can book Hotel Trident as well or a lower priced hotel.
|
|
Extensionprogramme 3: Jammu - Amritsar
I will visit my old friend Palie Singh in Jammu. Palie is Sikh and I have a standing invitation to visit his home. He wants to show me the Sikh culture, the sights of Jammu and the highlight: the Golden Temple of Amritsar.
This will be a deep dive in the culture of India, anyone is very much invited to join us. Cost depends on the number of participants, but will be quite reasonable.
|
|
THE RATES, per Person in EUR:
|
Basic Programme 02. – 15. Oct. 2010 from/to Frankfurt sharing double
|
2.499
|
|
Surcharge single occupancy in Delhi onlyDelhi
|
165
|
|
Registration Fee Race, any distance
|
999
|
|
Rail&Fly Railticket within Germany to/from Frankfurt
|
69
|
|
Included Items Basic Programme:
|
Flight from/to Frankfurt with Air India or other IATA Airlines, german/english speaking tourguide, Transfers and citysightseeing Delhi with modern airconditioned Busses, all entrancefees. Halfboard in Delhi, fullboard enroute.
Trainride Delhi-Hariswar-Delhi in a/c compartments with snacks and newspaper. Government Tax as per 07.March2010. Basic medical service in the mountains.
|
|
Not included in Basic Programme:
|
Any cost caused by force majeur, e.g. bad wheather, mudslice, blocked roads; change of flight schedule, sickness. Obligatory insurance for cost of sicknesstreatment, medical necessary flights, evacuation due to bad wheather. A total insurance package including cancellation cost, baggagedamage, medical cost including hospital and medical emergency flight is highly recommended. A sickness insurance including emergency flight is mandatory.
Any cost of private nature, e.g. but not exclusive tipps, laundry, telephone and drinks.
|
|
Visa:
|
An indian Visa is required. A passport valid minimum 6 months after departing India is required.
The application form you will get with the booking confirmation.
Visafee: For German participants: EUR 70 plus a stamped returnenvelope for registered mail. The passports have to be 4 weeks prior to departure with lauftreffreisen.de. The visa will be obtained collectively and the passports returned to the participants.
Clients from outside Germany have to contact the Indian embassy of their homecountry. Lauftreffreisen.de will offer assistance, but the participants have to obtain the visa by themselves.
|
|
Includes Items Race:
|
Raceorganisation, for Finisher T-Shirt, document, medall. 5 supportstations, local security team made of experienced high altitude experts:
3 doctors, First Aid equipment at the supportstations, oxygen tanks in Chirbasa, Bhojbasa and Gangotri. 2 mobile rescueteams. Racediretors coordinated by Ulrike Finkernagel. Communication by walkie-talkie. Servicecars in the motorable region.
|
|
Not included items Race:
|
personal race equipment for high altitude, food during the race, warm clothes in case of emergency. All participants have to carry a small emergency equipment, consisting of a blanket, whistle, food, water.
|
|
GENERAL REMARKS:
|
This extradonary tour and race will be prepared carefully. However in the high altitude mountains you always have to take alterations in consideration according to climatic conditions, roadblocks etc. The organisation will change the programme accordingly to achieve the purpose of the journey as much as possible.
If part of the programme or the race have to be changed or cancelled due to force majeur, neither the touroperator nor the race organizers can be held liable for missing items or extradinory cost. These reasons may be, but not exclusively, bad wheather, falling stones, mudslices, high water, which makes crossing of small rivers impossible..
|
|
Minimum number of participants:
|
Due to economic reasons a minimum of 20 race participants is required. The organizers have the right to cancel the race and the touroperator to cancel the tour 3 months in advance if the minimum number of participants is not fulfilled.
Alternatively the touroperator will offer the journey without the part of the race as a trekking tour with some private jogs. Some participants have already declared, to do the journey in this case as well.
In case of cancellation due to non-fullfillment of minimum participants or due to force majeur, the participants will get their money refunded without insurance cost of airfare, which will not be refunded by the airlines.
|
|
Alterations of prices:
|
The package and race prices have been calculated on the basis of the exchange rates, fees and taxes, e.g. Indian government tax, which have been valid on that date. Should these conditions of jetfuel prices be increased considerably, the touroperator and the raceorganizer have the legal right to increase the rates accordingly. Should this increase exceed 5%, the clients have the right to cancel the programme without cost.
|
|
Maximum number of participants:
|
With respect for the local infrastructure, a maximum of 50m runners will be accepted.
|
|
Registration:
|
In the Himalayas a lot of things have to be prepared, camps have to be reserved, authorization of the Indian forrest department has to be obtained, Crews have to be prepared and trained. We will block a considerable part of the capacities of transport, accommodation and trails.
Therefor we ask for your understanding, that we request an early registration.
Deadline for registration is 30. April 2010. On that date the execution of the Ultramarathon to the source of River Ganga will be decided or an alternative will be offered.
The participants will obtain a confirmation/invoice by the touroperator immediately after the booking. The downpayment has to be remitted within 14 days after receipt of invoice, the final payment is due 6 weeks prior to start of journey.
|
|
Conditions of cancellation:
|
n case of cancellation of part or total of the booked services by the participant for reasons not under the responsibility of the tour- or race operator, the following cancellation fees apply to compensate the organizers for their cost, in percent of the price for the programme and/or the race plus insurance fees and rail&fly ticket
Cancellation as from:in Percent from the rate
Receipt of confimation/invoice 25
60 days before start of journey 40
30 days before start of journey 60
21 days before start of journey 75
14 days before start of journey 85
7 days before start of journey 90
1 day before start of journey or noshow 100
|
|
Liability:
|
The touroperator is responsible for the professional organisation of the journey. However the participants are well aware of the specific conditions in the high altitude and the extreme personal stress for their body. The participants have to show a medical declaration by their doctor proving their fitness for the high altitude, which should be issued within 3 months before the journey.
The participants will be very careful with food and drinks. Only cooked food and water from originally sealed bottles shall be consumed. If you cannot cook it or peel it, do not eat it, particularly fruit and salad.
|
|
Disclaymer of Liability:
|
To participate in the race to the source of River Ganga, will be at the risk of the participants only. Every participant is well aware of the risks in connection with such a journey and race. He/she holds free of liability the organizers even in case of sickness, accidents, bad health or death.
Every participant is obliged to sign and prove a private sickness and accident insurance. If necessary the organizers will supply informational material.
However participants from outside Germany have to obtain the information mainly by themselves, since it is impossible for the organizers to know about all the conditions in everey country.
Every participant will sign a form of indemnity of liability, excluding the organizers and touroperator from any liability apart from the legal liability. Every participangt is well aware of the risks to run to the source of the Ganga in high altitude. There is a risk of serious bodily harm up to fatal incidents or damage to property.
Touroperator: Reiseland R+N Reisen Hannover
Travelagent: lauftreffreisen.de
|
|
PLANNING THE JOURNEY:
1.Acclimatising to the high altitude is the most important item. Therefor we travel in sectors. According to our experience during our checking tour, every sector of the journey is most impressive.
2.The participants will receive basic medical treatment, if they have problems with the high altitude.
3.As from Haridwar we travel in an area without alcohol and purely vegetarian. However the fine indian cuisine is very spicy and a good preparation for the race..
4.From Haridwat to Gangotri we travel on a motorable road. Though the distance is only 287 km, it takes about 8 – 10 hrs. to drive. There can be roadblocks due to mountain slides, trucks, construction works. That is why we do the route in stages.
5.We travel together to get used to the high altitude gradually. There will be no modern hotels enroute, therefor we have to plan the capacity of the camps carefully. The camps are are quite comfortably with camping beds, tents where you can stand in, sometimes european style toiletts. Only if in emergency participants have to stay overnight in Bhojbasa, they will have to sleep on mats on the floor and use local toiletts.
6.The climate is normally quite pleasant this time. T-Shirt during the day, cold down to freezing point in high altitude. However the wheather conditions may change quickly in the high altitude, it can rain or snow.
7.You can register for distances of 2/3 Marathon, Marathon up to 55 KM Ultramarathon. In you want to participate you have to have experiens in mountain trekking/runnning, high altitude, provide a medical certificate and a sicknessinsurance covering this area includin g emergency rescue flight with returnflight home if necessary due to medical reasons. The organizers to not accept any liability for any bodily damage or problems of the participants.
|
