Just one road crosses the top of the plateau and ends abruptly at the edge of the canyon. Very few visitors attempt to visit the North Rim, so you and your fellow adventure runners can expect to encounter a remoteness now rarely experienced in daily life and the adventure of a lifetime.

You will be self reliant – carrying your food, water and survival equipment. Water stations will be set at regular intervals, and medical staff will be positioned along the route for support if necessary, but otherwise it’s you against the other runners, and the elements!

Route

Our route will follow a series of trails through the Kaibab National Forest in Northern Arizona. This beautiful area borders the Grand Canyon National Park and is perched on a high plateau averaging between eight and nine thousand feet above sea level.

The scenery is spectacular – set among towering ponderosa pine tress with hills and ridges interspersed by large open valleys of grass and golden aspen trees. As the trail winds along the North Rim your views will stretch across the canyon to the South Rim and beyond to the highest point in Arizona – the San Francisco Peaks (over 12,000 feet in elevation and 60 miles away).

Flight Schedule

TBC

Visa Information

The US Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) allows most British Citizen passport holders to visit the US for up to 90 days. You must hold a machine readable passport (issued from October 26 2004) to enter the US.

Recent new measures require all those travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme to provide details online at least 72 hours prior to travel. This is known as an ESTA. Once obtained an ESTA will be valid for a period of two years, or for the validity of the traveller's passport (whichever is shorter). Obtaining an ESTA should not be confused with the separate requirement, which will continue to apply, for you to provide your airline or carrier with details of your passport, country of residence and address of your first night's accommodation in the US.

For more information, and to apply online please visit the US Government Website.

All non British nationals are required to check their visa requirements with the US Embassy in London prior to booking.

US Embassy in London
24 Grosvenor Square
London, W1A 2LQ
United Kingdom

Telephone: (switchboard) (020) 7499-9000

Accommodation

Camping in the stunning forests of the  Zion National Park,1 night in a hotel in Las Vegas and 1 night in a lodge on the edge of the spectacular Zion National Park. Hotel and lodge rooms will be basic but clean and comfortable.

If you require any further information on this event please contact Mark.

Those not taking our flights need to meet the group at Las Vegas airport.

DAY 1 - LONDON– LAS VEGAS- ZION NATIONAL PARK
We board our international flight from London Gatwick bound for Las Vegas. We will be met at the airport by our local agent, and transfer to Zion National Park.  Here we will stay at a lodge where there will be a short orientation briefing to welcome everyone, explain timings and logistics for the forthcoming event

Transfer: approx. 3 hours
Accommodation: Zion Lodge
Meal Plan: Dinner

DAY 2 - ZION NATIONAL PARK- KAIBAB NATIONAL FOREST
After breakfast our day starts with a half day trek through Zion National Park, Utah's oldest national park. Zion Park is known for its incredible canyons and soaring sandstone mesas, some rising 3,000 feet from the canyon floor. At lunch time, we will transfer by bus to our base in the Kaibab National Forest. After this you are free to settle in, begin race preparations and take in our stunning surroundings.

Transfer: approx. 3 hours
Accommodation: Camping
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 3 - RACE BRIEFING AND PREPARATION
After breakfast, our morning begins with a half day trek designed to give you an indication of the type of terrain you will encounter during the race. Our local guides will talk about the ecosystems in the area and the types of wildlife you might expect to encounter en route. Later in the afternoon a full marathon race briefing will be held, including route navigation, safety and a session from the ATD doctor on possible medical issues you may face during the race and how to deal with them. A hearty pre-race meal will be served and a final Q&A session will take place early evening before you head to bed for an early night in preparation for the big day tomorrow.

Accommodation: Camping
Trek: 4-5 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 4 - RACE DAY
Our route will follow a series of trails through the Kaibab National Forest in Northern Arizona. This beautiful area borders the Grand Canyon National Park and is perched on a high plateau averaging between eight and nine thousand feet above sea level.

During the hours of darkness, the route will be marked with glow sticks and each competitor will be issued with a strobe which must be activated at nightfall.

Accommodation: running throughout night. | 42km runners will be camping
Meal Plan: Breakfast. Runners will be responsible for their own food during the competition.

DAY 5 - RACE FINISH AND RECOVERY
After a night spent running by starlight, the sunrise will give you renewed strength as you continue on towards the finish line at camp. Snacks are available once you have completed the race and breakfast is served from 09:00. A tented area will be set up for you to begin your recovery and our race doctor will be available with advice for any aches, pains or injuries you may have picked up during the run.

After lunch we’ll pack our bags and head to a local lodge, where beautiful scenery, good showers and a cosy bed will help you relax and recover. We will gather in the evening for a meal and the opportunity to chill out, compare blisters, chat with friends and swap stories of the race.

Transfer: approx. 2 hours
Accommodation: Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 6 - EXPLORING THE GRAND CANYON AND TRANSFER BACK TO LAS VEGAS
After breakfast we will head to the Grand Canyon National Park and spend the morning exploring the area. Grand Canyon guides will talk you through the geology, archaeology and wildlife in the area. You may be lucky enough to see a highly endangered Californian condor souring through the skies - this magnificent bird has recently been reintroduced to the area. You can take time to wander along some of the trails, or if your tired legs won’t carry you any further, you may wish to sit at one of the viewing points and take in the famous views, stunning colours and constantly changing light in quiet reflection after a hectic few days.

After a day exploring this immense natural wonder, we will board our bus for the 2 hour transfer back to Las Vegas, where we will hold a celebratory meal to congratulate ourselves on our achievements.

Transfer: approx. 2 hours
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 7 - LEAVING LAS VEGAS
The morning and early afternoon is free to explore Vegas. We will board our bus back to the airport mid-afternoon for our late afternoon flight from Las Vegas, arriving at Gatwick the following morning.

Transfer: approx. 30 mins
Meal Plan: Breakfast

DAY 8 - ARRIVE HOME

New for 2013