Is the Otter African Trail Run extremely dangerous???

[Toko]

Otter African Trail Run Entries 2013

Otter Trail Run 2013 - the planning has begun...

HAVING in the past attracted many of the world's leading trail athletes, this year’s Otter African Trail Run is again set to lift the benchmark for SA's Grail of Trail.
The September event - timed to coincide with the favourable tides that allow for safe passage at the infamous Bloukrans River crossing - has already proven its huge popularity with local and international athletes, when entries for the 2013 race were sold out within minutes of opening.
For Garden Route-based organisers Magnetic South, planning for this year's Otter has started with a SANParks-sanctioned safety scout.
The scouters included members of the 2012/13 Magnetic South field team, who were honoured to be joined by volunteers from the MCSA Mountain Rescue and Survival Training squad, which plays a vital role in the overall safety of both staff working along the Otter trail and the 400 athletes who take on this formidable challenge.
Preparation for the 2012 event fell into a league of its own with the introduction of a survival course for all key field team members, representing both Magnetic South and SANParks staff stationed along the spectacular route.
And Survival Training SA will again present the 2013 Otter team with a survival challenge in order to maintain a standard not yet seen at any other trail-running event.
"As part of our due diligence, Magnetic South carries out specially sanctioned scouting runs of the trail in as many varied conditions as possible to gain first-hand experience of what adverse weather or terrain will have on the athletes themselves,” said Otter course director Chris Crewdson.
“We have successfully managed floods, cold and treacherously slippery conditions and by running the route in the heat of summer, we have now established the effects of hot and very humid extremes to plan for all eventualities."
He added that sharing these experiences with MCSA volunteers and Survival Training SA members afforded them the chance to stay ahead of the curve while at the same time independently reporting back to SANParks management on the conditions of the trail and huts.
“The run has now captured the imagination of several flying instructors from 43 Air School in Port Alfred, thus enabling Magnetic South to assemble a team that is fit enough to run the Otter Trail while being capable of thinking on its feet and performing at a level required when conditions turn rapidly for the worse."
Those wishing to enter the 2013 Otter Africa Trail Run can add their names to the waiting list, thus standing a chance to replace entrants who may pick up injuries before the event - visit www.theotter.co.za for further info.

survival training

[Jillinflorida]

What a shame it sold out so quickly - will just have to add a few of the forumites names to the waiting list.

Not MY cup of tea, but obviously extremely popular.

[Toko]

SANParks Media Release: The Grail of all trails - The Otter

Date: 5th September 2013

This month, the Garden Route National Park has the pleasure to host the Otter Trail Run which is organised annually by Magnetic South. This year marks the fifth year since the inception of the race in the Garden Route, yet it still attracts more than 150 athletes every year. The average age of participating athletes ranges from 38 to about 40 years old.

The trail itself is 42 kilometres long. It starts in Stormsriver Mouth Rest Camp and ends at the De Vasselot Rest Camp in Natures Valley. Lesley-Ann Meyer, Area Manager for the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park, says the ‘run is done in opposite directions each year. When run in its original route (Storm River Mouth to De Vasselot), it is called the Otter. When run in the opposite direction from De Vasselot to Storms River Mouth, then it is called the Retto (Otter in reverse).’

Although the route has undergone minor refurbishments, mainly to the huts along the route, athletes who have run the Otter confirm it’s like no other in the world. Nothing beats running through fynbos in Spring, the enchanting smell of wild flowers, coming across different types of buck, crossing the Bloukrans River and if lucky, spotting whales and dolphins in the oldest Marine Protected Area in Africa.

This year, internationally acclaimed runner, Ricky Lightfoot who won a trail championship in Wales during July this year, will be joining the ‘grail of all trails’ athletes. Among other names released by Magnetic South are US-based Krissy Moehl, New Zealander Ruby Muir, Kenyans Jared Omwoyo Nyakoe and Silas Kipchirchir Soy.

The Otter Trail will be closed for ten days to members of the public for the duration of the run starting on the 22nd September 2013, during which time it will give SANParks staff the opportunity to do maintenance to the trail itself.

‘Adventure tourism is growing even in difficult economic times as more and more people are looking for a rare experience’ according to SANParks tourism responsible strategy (2022). Garden Route management identified ‘adventure sports’ to stimulate tourism subsequent to a study conducted on various tourism products offered by National Parks. Certain parts of the Park are ‘’zoned’ off because of their ‘low occupancy’ which is compatible to biodiversity conservation.

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Garden Route Communications
Tel: 044 302 5633

Enquiries:
Nandi Mgwadlamba
Regional Communications Manager
Tel: 044 302 5633; Cell: 078 702 9663
Email: nandi.mgwadlamba@sanparks.org

[Toko]

Certain parts of the Park are ‘’zoned’ off because of their ‘low occupancy’ which is compatible to biodiversity conservation.

What's this?

[Flutterby]

Maybe no-go areas?