Ladakh Hosts 'World's Highest Frozen Lake Marathon' On Stunning Pangong Tso With 120 Participants
Ladakh on February 20th,?hosted the eagerly awaited second edition of the Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon, renowned globally as 'the world's highest frozen lake marathon'.
The Adventure Sports Foundation of Ladakh organized the event with backing from the Administration Union Territory of Ladakh and the 14 Corps of the Indian Army.
Pangong lake marathon: 120 participants compete
Around 120 runners from seven different countries joined in two categories: 21 km and 10 km. Ravinder Kumar, Secretary of Sports, graced the occasion as the chief guest, alongside Konchok Stanzin, Councillor of the Chushul Constituency.
The primary goal of this run was to raise awareness about the fast melting of Himalayan glaciers, dubbed "theatre," suggesting that this might be the final run on the frozen Pangong Lake due to the impact of global warming.?
Simultaneously, it aimed to boost winter tourism in places like Changthang, as highlighted by the Chushul councillor.
Locals from Pangong areas like Maan, Merak, Spangmik, and Phobrang participated in the event, hosting the runners and presenting various cultural performances.
World's most challenging?marathon?
The marathon occurred amid heavy snowfall at an altitude of 14,273 ft, with temperatures plummeting to -15 °C, officially marking it as one of the world's most challenging marathons.
To ensure safety, organizers reportedly had put various measures in place. These included having medical teams on-site, setting up hot water stations every 5 kilometres, and having an ambulance ready throughout the event.?
Runners were advised to bring necessary gear like head torches, warm jackets, and raincoats to handle the challenging conditions effectively.??
2023 Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon??
The first Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon, also called "The Last Run," was held on February 20, 2023. It featured a challenging 21-km trail due to extreme weather and rough terrain. Participants were selected based on their experience in high-altitude sports above 10,000 ft.?
The event occurred at an altitude of 13,862 ft, potentially setting a Guinness World Record for the highest frozen lake marathon. Chamba Tsetan, founder of ASFL, highlighted the melting glaciers around Pangong Lake, raising awareness about environmental issues.??
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