2012 GoreTex Trans Alpine Run report…

Gore-Tex Trans Alpine Run 2012 (September)(130 photos)

WADAC member Malcolm Green receives standing ovation…

So we have arrived. Everything has gone to plan. If not better. With the exception of Richard’s great news. Oh yes his company has told him he has to withdraw and be in work next week! Can you believe it? So whilst Malc is eating every strudel that he can get his hands on, Rich is eating scoopfuls of humble pie. It means Malc will be running stages 3 and 4 alone with only 300 runners to keep him company.  Malc is being extremely understanding and Rich is just a little worried about getting too close to the edge on the narrow mountain trails tomorrow.

Quick facts about Oberstdorf so far:

1. Europecar has superb customer service – they gave us a lift to the station
2. You can’t get plastic bags in the supermarket – so don’t buy more than you can carry
3. Station platforms have no seats – so get close to the pavement
4. The average length of beds in the hotels is 4 feet
5. It is in a lovely village in a beautiful valley – so the only way out is up 1500m and over.
6. The Von Trapps still live here
7. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flew over earlier
8. The Child catcher is rumored to have retired here
9. It is the first of eight stages of the 2013 Gore Tex Trans Alpine Run
10. We start tomorrow at 10:00 am.

Another year older but not wiser. It seems the pain of last year has all been forgotten. So we thought it would be a good idea to have another go at crossing the Alps on foot….Well some of the Alps any way. How hard can it be? After all Hanibal managed it with Elephants, all we have to do is get ourselves up and down a few hills!  And this year we have support from Marc, aka. Mr organised.

THE RACE 2013

• Teamrace (two persons)
• 8 days
• 8 stages across the alps
• 4 countries
• ca. 250 Km distance
• ca. 15.000 vertical metres

Its a different route to last year, but plenty of great scenery to take in again:

THE STAGE TOWNS 2013

• Oberstdorf (GER) – Lech a. Arlberg (AUT)
• Lech am Arlberg (AUT) – St. Anton a. Arlberg (AUT)
• St. Anton a. Arlberg (AUT) – Samnaun (CH)
• Samnaun (CH) – Scuol (CH)
• Scuol (CH) – uphil sprint
• Scuol (CH) – St. Valentin a. Reschenpass (ITA)
• St. Valentin a. Reschenpass (ITA) – Sulden (ITA)
• Sulden (ITA) – Latsch (ITA)

After last year’s Trans Alp Malc and I (with a lot encouragement from Marc) thought it would be a good idea if we teamed up to enter the 2013 Gore-Tex Trans Alpine challenge. With over 100 years between us we managed to squeeze into the OAP category, just. A big thanks to the Trans Alp team after they have spent most of this hear a year putting in ramps, hand rails and larger text on all route markers.

This years toughest job is taken on by Marc, who’s organisational skills will be put to the test as he attempts to support Malc and Rich to get round this years Trans Alp. Those of you that know Rich and Malc’s laid back approach to these sorts of events may well be concerned that this may be a stretch too far for Marc. The question is who will break first? Will laid back give way to the tight schedule?

1. No blackberry reception
2. Dramatic scenery
3. 300 other nutters
4. 15,000 vertical metres of down hill
5. No washing up
6. 8 chilled days
7. 8 fantastic towns
8. Good company
9. A great Vibe
10. And just because its there to be done

It might not be a good idea to get team Hoof Hearted excited about the start of the 2013 Goretex Transalpine Run. One week away and already Malc is having to sleep with the windows open!