World race, again! The "Trofeo Scaccabarozzi
- Sentiero delle Grigne ", international competition
of skyrunning, has been awarded of the final race of the ITALIAN
SKYRUNNER CHAMPIONSHIP, among the 9 races that constitute
the calendar valid for the assignment of the italian title
of this very tough speciality of races on mountains.
Running over hills and dales, from cool forests
to the snow of alpine footsteps, adding to the fatigue of
the run the difficulty of climbed ascent and of dangerous
descent: running in altitude two, three, four thousand meters.
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THE TROFEO SCACCABAROZZI
The Skymarathon " Trofeo Scaccabarozzi-Sentiero delle
Grigne " was created to remember the mountain climber
Giacomo Scaccabarozzi disappeared on these slopes in 1998.
The Race, which has been several times inluded in the international
championship, this year has been awarded the final race
of the Italian championship. The Race organization is based
on a strong cooperation among hundreds of volunteers, tenths
of associations, sponsors from Valsassina, Lecchese, Brianza
region, together with the very important support of the
local institutions, Region, Province, Municipalities, Mountain
Communities.
THE RACE
The competition is also called "Sentiero delle Grigne",
an ancient traditional communication path between the 8
refuges, on the slopes of the mountains around Lecco and
Valsassina.
It takes about 5 hours to be completed so that it’s
the longest of the races around the world. The record belongs
to the Spanard Kilian Jornet with 4h 43'54" (2007)
and Emanuela Brizio with 5h. 32'01" (2008).The route
with its 43 Km and the 3200 meters of gradient, the highest
in the 2008 panorama, is technically divided into three
parts: the slope to the Grigna Meridionale (2177m), classified
as technical, with some equipped lines, followed by descent
and then by the slope to the Grigna Settentrionale (2410
m), flowing, but fatiguing, and the final one along the
fast and insidious descent toward the end of the valley
and the finish line of Pasturo which, with its 650 m of
altitude is the lowest point of the run.
Following the race path, the alpine refuges are Soldanella,
Rosalba, Elisa, Bietti, Bogani, Brioschi, Pialeral, and
Riva. Being logistic bases for the organization, the refuges
are also refreshment points for the athletes.
The surrounding scenario is a classical view of the Lombardia
mountains: the limestone of the walls and the height of
the two peaks, Grigna Settentrionale and Meridionale, well
visible from Milan, separate the Valsassina from the Lago
di Lecco, causing, together with the geography, the history
and the destiny of this pre- alpine valley, well known in
the Lombardia region.
Giving a look to the horizons from the race path, the panorama
is impressive: on the South the first peaks of Apennines
and the Pianura Padana on the West the Piemonte Alps and
the pyramid of the Monviso, on the North the numerous Swiss
peaks. Historical alpine ways, opened in the past
by legendary mountaineers , trekking footpaths, old mines
now available for visits, museums, green woods, mountain
pastures, together with the sailing sports on the near Lago
di Lecco, and offer a wide range of attractions to tourists
and excursionists for all levels of difficulty.
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION: ZERO IMPACT
News of 2009 is the adhesion of the Trophy Scaccabarozzi
to the initiative for environmental protection action "Impatto
Zero - Zero Impact". Purpose of the action is the compensation
the managed by the Italian organization LifeGate. This calculation
of carbon dioxide emission will be balanced by the acquisition
and care of over 11000 m2 of forest in the American state
of Costa Rica.
Solidarity "SKYRUNNING"
The organization of the SkyMarathon "Sentiero delle
Grigne, Trofeo Scaccabarozzi" for every enrolled athlete
will devolve 5 Euros to the non profit charity association"
Operazione Mato Grosso.
