THE ATACAMA CROSSING

• The Atacama Desert is recognized as the driest place on earth – it is 50 times more arid than California's Death Valley
• It has the most lunar-like landscape on Earth and is frequently used by NASA to test its planetary rover vehicles
• The highest elevation on the course is at Camp 1, which is more than 3,000 meters / 10,000 feet above sea level
• Up to 200 competitors representing more than 40 countries are expected to compete in the Atacama Crossing 2015

Mind her French at 1.43-1.46! (we suspect there will be a lot of that going on during the race... bring on that hill!)

• The Atacama Crossing is a self-supported race; competitors must carry everything they need for seven days on their backs. The average backpack weighs 9 kilograms / 20 pounds

COURSE SUMMARY

• Distance: 250 km / 155 miles
  
• Terrain: Sand-dunes, salt flats, gravel, loose rocks, river crossings, hard packed earth, waist high grass
  
• Duration: 7 days
  
• Total ascents: 1,683 meters (5,521 feet)  
  
• Total descents: 2,508 meters (8,228 feet)
  

DISTANCES

ELEVATION