The race is going to have three distances 100 km, 70 km and 50 km and you can change your mind about your distance on the run depending on how you are feeling.
2013 course is being researched over the coming months, however, the plan is the following:
The course heads out of Dhampus, a mountain village close to Pokhara (1650 m), 9 hours drive west of Kathmandu. The views from the Dhampus ridge are spectacular. The three routes combine off the beaten track ridge routes with popular trekking trails and share a highest point of 3680 meters. All three finish in Dhampus, after more or less ups and downs on a combination of technical tracks, well maintained trekking trails and some jeep roads, through forests and many villages. Great competition from local trail running elite!
You can take a look at the area on the map below.
2012 courses
Click the button bottom right on the thing to make it full-screen.
Route description
The course heads out of Pokhara (820 m) and soon any trace of the urban world is left behind. While slowly climbing on wide trails the views from the Dhampus ridge are spectacular.
On popular trekking trails we continue to Pitam Deurali (2100 m), through Landruk (1565 m) and the Modi river (1350), then up the long steep climb to Ghandruk (1940 m). The 50 km turns South here for the descent to its finish at Birethanti (1025 m).
See 50 km course GPS data here.
The 100 km runners head again down and north to Chomrong before returning to join the 70km course above Tadapani.
The 70 km runners continue from Ghandruk up to Tadapani (2,630 m) on a beautiful forest trail. Then comes a welcome descent to the Bhurungdi khola (2,400 m) before heading steeply up to Deurali (3,210 m). This ridge leading to Ghorepani is delicious running with absolutely fabulous views of Annapurnas and the Manaslu range to the east and the Dhaulagiri range to the West.
See the 70 km course GPS data here.
See a GHT map
From Ghorepani (2860 m) you head for home along a section of the Great Himalaya Trail lower route. For the 70 km, home is Birethanti, joining the 50 km finishers, after another 1,835 m of descent.
The 100 km runners make an out and back from Birethanti towards Ghorepani. Headlights a must here it goes without saying.
Feeding stations are frequent and run by local villages and many will be out to watch and cheer you. Children might tell you you’re last or going slow – but they’re just joking. Watch out for buffaloes and goats on the trail or people carrying huge bundles of firewood or fodder. Go around prayer flag poles to the left and keep a small handkerchief with you to dry your sweat in case someone gives you a red tikka mark on your forehead.
Course Altitude 2012
Pokhara lies at 827 m altitude. The highest point in the race is 3210 m which for many visitors is noticeable but completely manageable.
Photographs
These pictures were taken on a recce of the course in October 2010. There is also a description to go with that here:
http://moireosullivan.wordpress.com/2010/11/15/recce-of-annapurna-100k-race-route/
