Looks like I can\u2019t help myself (again) \u2013 here\u2019s yet another world record that just happened Feb. 20, 2023. This one shows to what extent others will go to make it into the \u2018ole Guinness Book of World Records. Get this: this Feb. 20, 75 people showed up to run the inaugural \u201chighest elevation half marathon on a frozen lake,” full well knowing they were assured by the Guinness people they\u2019d make it into their record books. And they did take all the necessary steps to assure they\u2019d make it. Evidently, the Everest Marathon is the \u201chighest\u201d marathon on the planet (starting out at 17,572\u2019 and going down to 11,647\u2019 at the Namche Bazaar). And their Everest Half Marathon starts at 14,419\u2019 (at Dingboche) and also ends at the Namche Bazaar \u2013 11,647\u2019. So the Ladakh Frozen Lake Half had to figure something else out. To make sure their category would stand the test of time, this 1\u20442 marathon was completely run on a frozen lake at 13,862\u2019, so, there\u2019s the challenge. Yes, the Everest Half started out higher, but went down over 2,000\u2019 lower than in Ladakh. You have to go find another frozen lake higher than 13,862\u2019 if you want to get a record in the Guinness Book. But, I\u2019m not really trying to tear down the accomplishment of a noble event. It does sound amazing, and sure, I\u2019d like to do it someday … maybe. The \u201cpackage\u201d is similar to the Antarctic Marathon ($21,000 fee for a week-long expedition) and this one includes a mandatory 6-day stay at altitude to prevent elevation sickness. And the total package is 8-nights, 9 days at an advertised cost of Rs46,500, or $563.00. Everyone is required to wear \u201csafety gear\u201d (grippers for the ice). They say the average winter temperature is -22 Fahrenheit. Seems doable!<\/p>\n
Frozen Pangong Tso Lake – bangla.latestly.com.<\/em><\/p>\n This event is held in the Union Territory of Ladakh, an area at the border of China and India. The lake (Pangong Tso) is salt water, and does freeze over in the winter. This event was started this year to help raise awareness about the area, to bring in much needed tourist dollars, and to help the local inhabitants have something fun and interesting to do in the middle of winter, which is obviously pretty harsh. The half-marathon started in Lukung and ended at Maan village. The organizers dubbed the race \u201cThe Last Run,\u201d hoping to remind people that climate change is happening, and they are wanting to save the Himalayas.<\/p>\n So, can we do something of this sort for raising awareness in Montana about climate change? For this wintertime, it does seem like a stretch to discuss climate change (meaning the warming of the climate, the melting of the glaciers, rising sea levels). As I write, I’m overlooking the Beartooth Mountains above Nye, with a low of -27 last night as snow fell and flew around for a typical February 3-day storm. Most of us have already forgotten about last month\u2019s record high temperatures, no precipitation, etc. So, all that\u2019s happening is watching Mother Nature\u2019s way of making up for lost time. But the scientist’s predictions keep getting proven every year \u2013 the glaciers are disappearing, the Antarctic ice is splitting up, and it does appear that the climate is changing. Hosting this far-flung frozen lake 1\u20442 marathon I\u2019m sure was mainly spurred on by the tourist dollars will improve the financial condition of the area. They say it is also for promoting sustainable winter tourism. It did help to have the presence of the world press taking pictures, spreading the word about something unique to do \u2013 it\u2019s exotic and something new for those with ready cash. Sigh. I know the Ridge Run in Bozeman helps the local economy, and it gives us all something quasi-exotic to do each summer. In Ladakh, climate change would ultimately keep the lake from freezing, so they might be right, it could become the \u201cLast Run.\u201d I can\u2019t foresee the \u201cLast Bridger Ridge Run\u201dcoming any time soon. I guess the way that could happen would be to have such devastating forest fires, that the event would be postponed indefinitely until Montana would stop having forest fires. That\u2019s just something to think about \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/winddrinkers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-26-at-9.10.04-AM.png\")
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