GARMIN Mountain Festival - Vall de Boi

Epic Trail Vall de Boí 62K: A demanding 62km foot race with a positive elevation gain of 4,500 meters that participants must complete in less than 14 and a half hours; It consists of a circular route through the peripheral area of the National Park and the mountains that surround the Boí Taüll ski resort, the highest in the Pyrenees. A very high level competition only suitable for the most physically prepared mountain runners. The Epic Trail Vall de Boí 42K is a 42 km distance race run on a technical and spectacular course including a 5,600 m elevation gain. This circular route goes through peripheral area of the National Park and the mountains that surround the Vall de Boí. The race starts and finishes in Barruera. Aigüestortes and Lake Sant Maurici National Park is one of Spain’s fourteen national parks and the only one in Catalonia. Located in the heart of the Pyrenees, adjoining the Ordesa and Mont Perdut parks and the French Pyrenees, the park is an excellent representation of the main ecosystems found in Catalonia’s high-mountain areas. This one-of-a-kind protected natural area in southern Europe is characterized by peaks over three thousand meters high; rivers, canyons, waterfalls, and marshes that make you truly feel you are in a land of water; 200 lakes of a variety of shapes and colors and a wide range of plants and animals fighting to survive in a harsh physical environment. The race starts in Barruera and climbs towards the village of Erill la Vall, with the first kilometer of the course running along a narrow trail that forces runners to fall into place before leading to a fast trail to Erill. With its extremely slight grade this section of the race can be run very quickly. These first kilometers share the course with the Ultra race, but the half marathon continues along the Camí de l’Aigua along a shady path to the intersection with the Montanyeta valley, where the trail begins a fairly straight 500-meter climb with uneven terrain through the forest. At the end of this climb runners will find themselves at the top of valley and will enter high-mountain terrain at 2,000 meters above sea level, running along the Comaminyana valley to the peak of the same name, at 2,525 meters the highest point of the race with spectacular views of the Barrabés, Boí and Sant Nicolau valleys, and famous mountains like Bessiberris, which it feels like you can touch, Punta Alta and Aneto; and, of course, the summit of Roies de Cardet, site of the popular “Vertical Kilometer” race. The course continues from the top of Comaminyana along an open ridge that boasts the same outstanding views, descending to Port de la Gelada (once again along the same course as the Ultra). The trail then continues downhill through high-mountain meadows and an open valley, passing by the Sant Salvador hermitage, and ends back in Barruera, where you pass through the village to reach the finish line. Only two sections of the course are on asphalt: through the village of Erill and at the entrance to Barruera. The rest of the race is ALL run on trails and high-mountain areas, at times without any trails or paths. The Epic Trail Vall de Boí 12K is a popular short-distance race that goes through a non-technical and pleasant route, paths without difficulty and with 500m of elevation gain. It consists of a circular itinerary in the lower area of the Vall de Boí. The start and finish line is located in Barruera.