Race Infomation
SkyRun
100KM
Distance
99.4KM
Elevation
Cut Off
30 Hours
Checkpoints
SkyRun 100
SkyRun 100 is for those with Mountain Running experience and who embrace running or hiking through the night, under extreme conditions, in very remote areas and are capable of being self sufficient. Traverse the Witteberg Mountain Range and become a SkyRunner.
Route Description
SkyRun 100 starts in Lady Grey and finishes at the Wartrail Country Club. Crossing a stream early on, it’s a sharp climb out of Lady Grey. There is a combination of hiking trails and mountain running to CP 1 – Tower (7 km). Climbing to the Tower, the majestic landscape unfolds in front of you, and already there is a feeling of being on top of Africa. The route now consists of narrow weaving cattle trails, leaving you to choose low or high over and over again. Make your way along the ridge line to CP 2 – Olympus (18.7 km). Taking in the view of layered mountain ridges straight in front of you, follow a runnable 4×4 track leading to CP 3 – Snowden (30.3km). The natural spring Old Faithful comes up next and is a great place to fill your water supply before the challenging climb up to CP 4 – Avoca (40.3 km). Avoca Peak is the highest point on the route (2756 masl) and the climb up is challenging because of the steep gradient and rough terrain. The Dragons Back is a feature that needs to be traversed to be believed – a ridge line about 3 meters wide with steep descents on either side. It’s a spectacular viewing point on a clear day, and very exposed when the weather is bad. The route flattens out for a little while as you move towards CP 5 – Skidaw (47.8km). A technical descent into the valley, you’ll follow the river leading you to CP 6 – Balloch (57.3 km). Balloch is an oasis, but be warned that spending too much time with friends and family here can be detrimental, because The Wall is next (a vertical ascent of over 500 m in less than 3 km). On the other side, is the well known temptation to go straight to the Wartrail Country Club, but you must keep your wits about you and head towards CP 7 – Edgehill (66.7 km). For most athletes, nightfall replaces the harsh African sun and navigating to WP 1 – Bridal Pass, is tricky. A steady climb up the pass takes you along the ridge line to CP 8 – The Turn (82.9 km). Soon after the check point is The Hut, and a few undulating kilometres until one final climb up to CP 9 – Halston Peak (94.1 km) – the final checkpoint on the route. Descending from Halston’s is technical and made more difficult by the inevitable exhaustion, but it’s literally all down hill from there, the finish line waiting at Wartrail Country Club.
Accommodation
Pre-Start (SkyRun 100 & SkyRun 65): Lady Grey has a wide range of accommodation options walking distance from the start line. The Mountain View Country Inn is right next to the start line, and many other B&B’s and Backpackers in the area can be found at:
www.ladygreytourism.co.za.
Post-Start (SkyRun 100 & SkyRun 65): The only seconding point on the route is at CP 6 – Balloch, and accommodation options are available at Balloch Caves. An overnight stop here is a great way to feel part of the race, and has some of the most remarkable scenery in the area. For bookings, visit: www.ballochcottages.co.za.
Post-Finish (SkyRun 100 & SkyRun 65): There are accommodation options at Wartrail Country Club and in the area, for more B&B options and activities in this truly beautiful part of our country, visit: www.wartrail.co.za.
Directions
SkyRun 100 & SkyRun 65 race registration:
Lady Grey Country Club
SkyRun 100 & SkyRun 65 race start:
Mountain View Country Inn
SkyRun 38 race registration & race start:
Wartrail Country Club
Lady Grey can be accessed through all the major road networks in South Africa:
Bloemfontein – Lady Grey: 2 hours 45 minutes
Durban – Lady Grey: 8 hours
Johannesburg – Lady Grey: 6 hours 30 minutes
Cape Town – Lady Grey: 11 hours 30 minutes
Schedule
Pace Chart
100km Pace Chart | Record Pace | Sub 18Hrs | Sub 24Hrs | Sub 30Hrs | CUT-OFF - TIMES | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Checkpoint | Location | CP distance (KM) | Total Distance (KM) | CP Split Time | Real Time | Overall Time | CP Split Time | Real Time | Overall Time | CP Split Time | Real Time | Overall Time | CP Split Time | Real Time | Overall Time | ||||||
Start | Lady Grey | - | - | - | 4:00 AM | - | - | 4:00 AM | - | - | 4:00 AM | - | - | 4:00 AM | - | ||||||
CP 1 | Tower | 7 | 7 | 1h 2m | 5:02 AM | 1h 2m | 1h 13m | 5:13 AM | 1h 13m | 1h 26m | 5:26 AM | 1h 26m | 1h 47m | 5:47 AM | 1h 47m | 6:00 AM | |||||
CP 2 | Olympus | 11.7 | 18.7 | 1h 22m | 6:24 AM | 2h 24m | 1h 46m | 6:59 AM | 2h 59m | 2h 3m | 7:29 AM | 3h 29m | 2h 33m | 8:19 AM | 4h 20m | 9:00 AM | |||||
CP 3 | Snowden | 11.6 | 30.3 | 0h 59m | 7:23 AM | 3h 24m | 1h 26m | 8:25 AM | 4h 26m | 1h 41m | 9:10 AM | 5h 10m | 2h 7m | 10:26 AM | 6h 27m | 11:30 AM | |||||
CP 4 | Avoca | 10 | 40.3 | 1h 9m | 8:32 AM | 4h 33m | 1h 48m | 10:13 AM | 6h 14m | 2h 4m | 11:14 AM | 7h 14m | 2h 44m | 1:10 PM | 9h 10m | 2:00 PM | |||||
CP 5 | Skidaw | 7.5 | 47.8 | 0h 43m | 9:15 AM | 5h 16m | 1h 16m | 11:29 AM | 7h 30m | 1h 33m | 12:47 PM | 8h 47m | 1h 55m | 3:05 PM | 11h 5m | 4:30 PM | |||||
CP 6 - IN | Balloch (IN) | 9.5 | 57.3 | 0h 49m | 10:04 AM | 6h 4m | 1h 20m | 12:49 PM | 8h 50m | 1h 38m | 2:25 PM | 10h 26m | 2h 9m | 5:14 PM | 13h 14m | 7:00 PM | |||||
CP 6 - OUT | Balloch (OUT) | 0 | 57.3 | 0h 8m | 10:12 AM | 6h 12m | 0h 14m | 1:04 PM | 9h 4m | 0h 31m | 2:56 PM | 10h 57m | 0h 49m | 6:03 PM | 14h 3m | 8:00 PM | |||||
CP 7 | Edgehill | 9.4 | 66.7 | 1h 30m | 11:42 AM | 7h 42m | 2h 10m | 3:14 PM | 11h 14m | 2h 53m | 5:49 PM | 13h 50m | 3h 44m | 9:47 PM | 17h 48m | 12:00 AM | |||||
CP 8 | Turn | 16.2 | 82.9 | 2h 27m | 2:09 PM | 10h 9m | 3h 24m | 6:38 PM | 14h 39m | 4h 51m | 10:40 PM | 18h 41m | 6h 27m | 4:14 AM | 24h 14m | 6:00 AM | |||||
CP 9 | Halstone | 11.2 | 94.1 | 1h 19m | 3:27 PM | 11h 28m | 2h 14m | 8:52 PM | 16h 52m | 3h 25m | 2:06 AM | 22h 6m | 3h 27m | 7:40 AM | 27h 41m | 8:00 AM | |||||
Finish | Wartrail Country Club | 4.9 | 99 | 0h 38m | 4:05 PM | 12h 6m | 1h 8m | 10:00 PM | 18h 0m | 1h 54m | 4:00 AM | 24h 0m | 2h 19m | 9:59 AM | 30h 0m | 10:00 AM | |||||
Mens Record - 12:06:21 - Iain Don-Wauchope | Ladies Record - 14:21:23 - Ragna Debats |
Destination
The Witteberg is a South African mountain range just off the south-west corner of Lesotho. The range, which rises to 2408 metres, stretches for about 60km from Lundin’s Nek in the east to Lady Grey in the west. The range lends its name to the Witteberg Series, the uppermost fossiliferous sequence of the Cape System of sedimentary rocks in South Africa. The race starts in the town of Lady Grey which is famous for its annual Nativity Play and its quaint houses and incredible scenery. Discover the wonder of Balloch cave along the route with it bushman art and idyllic setting nestled between some of the highest peaks in the Witteberg.
The Witteberg range is one of the most picturesque places in South Africa with some distinctive peaks like Avoca and Halston Peaks dominating the skyline.
Terrain
The Witteberg is a South African mountain range just off the south-west corner of Lesotho. The range, which rises to 2408 metres, stretches for about 60km from Lundin’s Nek in the east to Lady Grey in the west. The range lends its name to the Witteberg Series, the uppermost fossiliferous sequence of the Cape System of sedimentary rocks in South Africa. The race starts in the town of Lady Grey which is famous for its annual Nativity Play and its quaint houses and incredible scenery. Discover the wonder of Balloch cave along the route with it bushman art and idyllic setting nestled between some of the highest peaks in the Witteberg.
The Witteberg range is one of the most picturesque places in South Africa with some distinctive peaks like Avoca and Halston Peaks dominating the skyline..
GRADING: Very Difficult to Extreme depending on the temperature and water on Mountain
DURATION: Anything from 13hrs to 30hrs
CONFIGURATION: Start in Lady Grey and traverse the Witteberg Mountain range to Wartrail Country Club
START POINT: Lady Grey
GPS COORDINATES: 30.7135°S 27.2186°E
TERRAIN: Mainly no track, Navigation by GPS
MAP: Basic map to be provided
TRAIL MARKINGS: None! Self-navigational – GPS units or GPS Watch is compulsory
FACILITIES: Camping and B&B in the area
CELL RECEPTION: Minimal coverage in the valleys, on-mountain coverage
BEWARE: Hydration is critical. Keep a look-out for snakes and loose rocks
LOCAL INFO: www.ladygreytourism.co.za
SkyRun 100 Fast Facts
- EVENT NAME: SkyRun 100
- VENUE: Lady Grey
DISTANCE : 100KM- TIME OF YEAR: November
- ENTER
AS : Individuals - CUT-OFFS: Will be enforced
- AVERAGE
DURATION : 16/30 hrs