Atacama Crossing

Craig Hurst from Dorking in Surrey has successfully completed one of the most extreme races in the world and raised over £1500 for CLIC Sargent!

Having already taken part in the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara in 2006, he has now taken part in the 2008 Atacama Crossing on 30 March. This was a six day, 250km (150 mile) footrace across the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, the driest environment on Earth.

The weather was extreme, with daytime temperatures reaching well over 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) and regularly plummeting below freezing at night. High altitude also added to the challenge, with the entire course run at least one mile (and very often higher) above sea level.

To make things even more difficult, Craig and his competitors were required to be self-sufficient and had to carry all the gear, food and clothing they needed for the entire week - the only assistance provided was water, tents and medical aid.

The Atacama Desert is found in northern Chile and is a 15 million year old landscape of mountains, salt flats, volcanoes and sand. It sits over a mile above sea level on a plateau between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, with its most mountainous peaks reaching an altitude of almost 7,000 metres.

A very big thank you to Craig for undertaking this extreme challenge and raising so much for CLIC Sargent.

For more information and to sponsor Craig please visit: www.sandandsweat.com top of page