Himalaya Quest 2013!

Chase The Rainbow - Himalaya Quest 2013

Just one of the reasons I'm taking on the Yak Attack again!

Part One

From March 1st to 15th 2013 I will once again be attempting "The showdown in the Annapurna's". The highest altitude mountain bike race on Earth; one of the toughest physical and mental stage races on the calendar. 

 The Yak Attack

400km of racing and over 12000m of climbing up to an altitude of 5413m, over the Thorong La one of the highest mountain passes in the world, and following much of The Annapurna trekking circuit. 

With temperature fluctuations varying from +30c over the first few days to potentially -30c over the pass!

Factor in the wild and unpredictable weather including dust & sand storms, rain, snow, and fierce winds and you have the recipe for a real adventure. It's also very remote with no vehicle access of any kind after days 4/5, very basic services, long-drop toilets that are usually frozen, no hot water, unpredictable electricity supplies and zero home comforts. High altitudes make even the simplest of climbs a feat of endurance; and the hike-a-bike over the unrideable pass at 04.00am is a truly astonishing process of mental and physical torture. Why do it again? Why not!

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Part Two

Trekking The Expedition Route and competing in The Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon.

Wilco Voulon and Neil Cottam relaxing in Khandichour, Nepal.

I will then return to Nepal once more, in May 2013, with my good friend Wilco Voulon, from Autisme Sportief, to guide a team of athletes on The Expedition Route from Jiri to Mount Everest Base Camp. We will then take part in the Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon from Base Camp to Namche Bazaar.

The Expedition Route is an extremely tough trail with several incredibly steep climbs and descents every day, high passes to negotiate, extreme temperature fluctuations, high altitudes, and technical rocky trails, and most days taking in around 7 hours hard walking. As with the Yak Attack most of the lodges are very basic and home comforts minimal at best. The marathon is a world renowned event that attracts a lot of media coverage; it begins at Everest Base Camp and finishes in Namche bazaar. It will be incredibly tough running at such high altitudes.
Walking is tough enough!

We will be highlighting the amazing work that Wilco's organisation, Autisme Sportief, does with with autistic children and young adults via the medium of sports & recreation. Autism Sportief is also working to help raise awareness of Autism Care Nepal.

Please take a look using the links below:

Autisme Sportief Mount Everest Team

Autisme Sportief

Autism Care Nepal


Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon

We will be posting regular updates via Facebook and Twitter. Please feel free to follow our progress.


Facebook: Chase The Rainbow

Neil: @HimalayaQuest


Wilco: @AutismeSportief

Thank you for looking :)