Bhutan Snowman Race: 17 athletes to tackle 185km Himalayan course

Seventeen athletes are set to begin the third Snowman Race in Bhutan on 24 October. The endurance event covers more than 185 kilometres, starting from the highland village of Laya and concluding at the National Day ground in Bumthang. The course is noted for its extreme difficulty, requiring runners to cross mountain passes exceeding 5,000 metres.

The field consists of 11 international and six Bhutanese athletes, including nine men and eight women. Participants include world champions, record holders, and veteran runners such as American ultrarunner Luke Nelson, who is competing for the third time. Italian endurance athlete Roberto Mastrotto is also among the international contingent.

Organisers established the race to highlight the impacts of climate change on the Himalayan environment, specifically within the remote Lunana region characterized by glaciers and glacial lakes. The event coincides with the Royal Highland Festival in Laya, a celebration of the culture and livelihoods of Bhutan’s highland communities.