2008 Patrouille Des Glaciers most punishing ski race ever.
The Patrouille Des Glaciers began at 10 p.m. in Zermatt Switzerland and finishes here today in Verbier, across 53km of high Alps, glaciated terrain climbing 12000 vertical feet. Some 4500 racers, both military and civilian braved the new snow, minus 15C temps and harsh Fhoen winds. Another several thousand spectators climbed the other side of the col to ring their Bucolic cowbells. The Patrouille was initially a military exercise to test a troop's strength. It was reconstituted after the war but was shut down again after injuries and a crevass fall death in the 1950. In 1984 the race was on again drawing international crowds.
"First it was -30 he was freezing his hands," Benedikt Boehm of Munnich says pointing to his Gerhard Reithmeier from Chiemgau, in Bavar then it got better and better. If it had been much worse they would have cancelled the race.
Personally I had a great race. The course was well marked. My only complaint at the end was the traffic jambs as racers stalled ahead on the final ascents. Remarked Benedikt Boehm, Dynafit International Sales Manager, Vert Fest 2008 winner at Crystal Mt., WA, and now 2nd place at today's PdG citizen division.
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