Vertical distance: 2252 meters ascent, 2130 meters descent
Horizontal distance: 46,90 Kilometers
The distance of more than 46 kilometers from Kitzbühel to Neukirchen am Großvenediger turn the 3. stage into one of the two king’s stages of the Transalpine-Run 2010. The start of this famously infamous “Streif” to Hahnenkamm alone would be a challenging mountain run. It goes on across Mount Pengelstein continuously uphill/downhill through the Kitzbüheler Alps, when after Mount Stangenjoch there comes the last climb up Mount Wildkogel. The only recompense for the subsequent, extremely steep, downhill run toward Neukirchen is the great view at the 3000-meter high Venetia glaciers of nature reserve Hohe Tauern.
Horror I
The longest stage of the whole race - almost 47km. Having that ahead, you forget all other issues and problems... I have to say, that I did not sleep to well that night. But as we had that great "camping site" next to the starting line - thanks Rubi, again! - we had the possibility to stay in the warm campervan for a long time :-) The starting time was 7 o'clock, huh..... not easy to get some food (=energy) inside of you in the middle of the night... So we lined up at the starting line, got our equipment checked, some trash-talking with the other guys... and off we went. The first climb was straight uphill the famous "Hahnenkamm" alpine skiing downhill slope. The fun part that morning was, that some cows seemed to like the big pack running and leaving the town of Kitzbühel - and they joined us :-) Unfair though, as they have 4 legs, no luggage and no timing-chip! Maybe I should write a complaint mail to the organization...hmmm...better not ;-)
Well...I was thinking a lot if I should put that here - and I think: yes! So, why "Horror II"??? I think almost everybody loves the mountains, the nature and the beautiful scenery in the Alps. Many villages and towns are making most of their living out of the tourism, all year long, all seasons. Which is definetely ok - if some rules are obeyed and the respect for the nature is there. In Kitzbühel.... calling themselves "the top-hot-spot in the Alps", they are really fu**** the nature, the mountains and the environment. And why?! Cauz they want to have more and more ski-slopes, assure enough water for the snow-machines - they are cutting away the trees of a complete hill! And, this is not enough... the water situation is so bad, that they build up a huge water-barrier-lake, because they need that for the snow-machines. Huh, this looked so awful and bad, many of the fellow-racers had tears in their eyes and talked about nothing else but this cruelty against the nature. The whole mountain was one big, muddy construction site. On our first 6k uphill, at least 20 bigbigbig building machine trucks passed us and gave us another experience of the healthy mountain air...
I think that EVERY alpine skier should visit a ski resort like Kitzbühel in summer - and think twice then, WHERE to go skiing next time. I am an alpine skier myself - but I will never-ever spend my money in Kitzbühel, that's for sure. Well, that will not hurt them, as they are anyway more after the superrich clientele...
Every pinhead has heard, that taking away the trees from a mountain increases the danger of avalanches. Disturbing the water-household and balance of a mountain does the same. But I am sure that they have put enough money in putting concrete everywhere in and on the mountain, that nothing will happen. And in winter it looks soooo nice and beautiful. Yuck. So remember: Winter - Kitzbühel - NO!
Ah ja, there was this Transalpine Run... lets better get back to that... and I really hope, that the nature will not strike back one day.
Joy
The stage itself was not that bad and hard! The weather was quite good, the uphills not too hard - and the length of the stage did not hurt as much as we were frightened. After leaving the nature desaster in Kitzbühel behind us, we were flowing along some nice peaks and great trails. We were "stuck" in a group of maybe 15 runners, which is not too bad at all - as it's slowing you down a bit and also, in some cases speeding you up. The last uphill of the day went up to Wildkogel, where we found big mountain building sites agai - but not as bad as in Kitzbühel. Last downhill and a nice descent to Neukirchen - nice weather, good camping site with a nice shower. Great :-)The pasta party in the evening was on top of a mountain, we were transported up to the Wildkogel (again *hihi*) with a gondola and ahad a good dinner, including a beautiful view over the Alps. And we also had a beautiful view and idea already, that we will have some different weather conditions for the next day...
So long, Janne
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