|
|
 Patrouille des Glaciers 2006 - World's hardest race
The Patrouille des Glaciers is probably the world's hardest alpine race. The racetrack in the Swiss Alps heads over 53km with a difference in altitude of more than 8000m. The event is organized by the Swiss army and is open for military and civil teams. The race is held in two variants: The big racetracks goes from Zermatt over Arolla to Verbier (53km), the smaller course from Arolla to Verbier (25km). The race is done on foot and on skis.
The idea of the Patrouille des Glaciers arised while the mobilization in Switzerland (1939-1945). In 1943 the PDG was held for the first time. During the third race in 1949 three racers disappeared in a glacier crevasse and could be recovered dead but eight days later. The military department forbid the competion for the next 30 years, it was restored to life in 1984 with a huge security effort.
The Patrouille des Glaciers is a race of extremes: 3474 participants of 16 countries enrolled, more than 1500 soldiers are employed during the race. The budget is about 3 Mio. Swiss francs. A French team established this year a new record for the distance Zermatt-Verbier (53km): 6 hours 18 minutes and 48 seconds.
| |
