Plijnaar Photography

Albums > Atacama Crossing 2010 (Chile)

Atacama Crossing 2010 (Chile)

The Atacama Crossing is a six-day, 250-kilometer ultramarathon across the Atacama Desert of Chile. Established in 2004, the Atacama Crossing now attracts up to 150 competitors from more than 20 countries at each event. The main obstacle for competitors to overcome at the Atacama Crossing is the thin atmosphere, as the race takes place more than 2,500m above sea level.

Thursday 4th of March, Iberia Flight IB 3249 Cordillera de los Andes Iberia Flight IB 3249, Cordillera de los Andes Landing  at Santiago de Chile Arriving at Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport
Domestic “terminal” Santiago Airport Domestic “terminal” Santiago Airport Domestic “terminal” Santiago Airport Gate 2 Sky Airlines, Santiago Airport Gate 2 Sky Airlines, Santiago Airport
No power, customs checkpoint, Santiago Airport Hotel San Pedro de Atacama San Pedro de Atacama, Atacamadventure Wellness & Ecolodge San Pedro de Atacama, Atacamadventure Wellness & Ecolodge San Pedro de Atacama, Kunza Hotel & Spa, Racing the Planet Accommodation
San Pedro de Atacama, Kunza Hotel & Spa, swimmingpool San Pedro de Atacama, Kunza Hotel & Spa San Pedro de Atacama, Kunza Hotel & Spa, restaurant San Pedro de Atacama, Kunza Hotel & Spa, restaurant San Pedro de Atacama, Kunza Hotel & Spa
San Pedro de Atacama, Kunza Hotel & Spa Friday 5th of March, warming up for the Atacama Crossing Valle de la Luna Valle de la Luna San Pedro de Atacama to Calama road
Valle de la Luna San Pedro de Atacama San Pedro de Atacama Police Headquarters Antofagasta, San Pedro de Atacama Plaza de Armas, San Pedro de Atacama
Bar, Plaza de Armas, San Pedro de Atacama San Pedro de Atacama San Pedro de Atacama San Pedro de Atacama Caracoles, San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama Caracoles, San Pedro de Atacama Bar, San Pedro de Atacama Bar, San Pedro de Atacama Artesenia market, San Pedro de Atacama
Coca tea, leaves, sweets etc. San Pedro de Atacama Church of San Pedro, a national monument, built with adobe Church of San Pedro Inside the church of San Pedro
San Pedro de Atacama Kunza excursion to the Valley of the Moon Salt rocks at the Valley of the Moon Valley of the Moon Valley of the Moon
Valley of the Moon Valley of the Moon Sunday 7th of March, administrative, medical and equipment review La Casa de Don Tomas, administrative, medical and equipment review Administrative, medical and equipment review
Administrative, medical and equipment review Administrative, medical and equipment review Administrative, medical and equipment review Flying Dutchman Start number More start numbers
Administrative, medical and equipment review at Casa de Don Tomas Medical review Atacama Crossing car park Atacama Crossing car park Departure for Camp 1
Bus trip to Camp 1, Arcoiris Valley Bus trip to Camp 1 Passers-by Camp 1, Arcoiris Valley Camp 1, Arcoiris Valley (3263m-10670ft)
After earthquakes and flight cancellations made it to Camp 1 Buses leave Camp 1 Camp 1, Arcoiris Valley View from Camp 1 "Rio Grande" Luxury: hot water and folding chairs
Monday 8th of March, start of stage 1 with music 8.00 am stage 1 briefing 8.00 am stage 1 briefing Robert Plijnaar NL (112) and Mikael Bjornsson SWE (18) Start of stage 1, Navigation by Rock, 35,2 km
Stage 1, undulating terrain, generally loose gravel, difficult Stage 1, varied terrain crusty and sandy Stage 1, downhill from 3072m to 2708m Stage 1, stage seems endless Tragedy in the desert
Stage 1, checkpoint  3, another 15 km to go Stage 1, along a dry creek Stage 1, going up to the pass Temperature 40˚C Stage 1, downhill on a compact surface, 6.1 km, moderate
Finally reaching Camp 2, Inca Tuesday 9th of March, 6.00 a.m. wake up at Camp Inca Mikael Björnsson (SWE) All set for the second stage, 41,8 km, the Slot Canyons Stage 2, first river crossing, helping each other to keep dry feet
Stage 2, going up to 2700m Stage 2, off road loose rock on sand Stage 2, eight km in a river canyon (trying to keep your feet dry) Stage 2, no luck, wet feet, 500 meters in water Stage 2, river canyon
Stage 2, crossing the river about 15 times Stage 2, gorgeous view along the road Stage 2, going up again on a long ridge Stage 2, spectacular scenery Stage 2, rocks, sand, tunnel and above that all the sun
Stage 2, still going up Stage 2, taking hundreds of pictures, the soil has been compared to that of Mars Stage 2, like a surrealist painting Stage 2, the Atacama desert is 20 million years old and was originally under the sea Stage 2, just before the “sandy down”
Stage 2, where are all the competitiors? Stage 2, still another 20 km to go Stage 2, have to make some speed Stage 2, over the edge Stage 2, sandy down across in sand
Stage2, I am very happy with my gaiters, no sand in my shoes Stage 2, hundreds of meters through the sand Stage 2, almost at checkpoint 7 Stage 2, competitors disappear in the overwhelming scenery Stage 2, coming down
Stage 2, finish at “Laguna Cejar” in the Salar de Atacama Stage 3, start from Salar de Atacama to Volcan Licancabur, 40 km Stage 3, crusty salt flat (difficult) Stage 3, four km waist high grass and crusty terrain Stage 3, four km waist high grass
Competitors (tent mates) ,from the United Kingdom, Tremaine Kent and Owen Beales Stage 3, assistance from the Chilean police Stage 3, dry crusty terrain again Stage 3, extremely difficult terrain Stage 3, where the hell did they go?
Stage 3, sand dunes after 30 km Stage 3, Volcan Licancabur Stage 3, loose rocks on sand slate rock flat gradual climb Stage 3, sand, rocks, heat and blisters Stage 3, sand, sand, sand……...
Stage 3, lost……… Stage 3, short break before the final 5 km Stage 3, still got some energy left Stage 3, no more smiling, trying not to show exhaustion Stage 3, almost there
Stage 3, and more sand Stage 3, just before CP12, bath in an irrigation channel Stage 3, bath in an irrigation channel, not much water but it helps Stage 3, finish at Camp 4, Volcan Licancabur Stage 3, finish CP12
Sunset at Camp 4 Laurence Brophy (78) UK Stage 4, start, Volcan Licancabur to Tebinquinche Lagoon, 42,8 km Stage 4, rocky terrain, going up to 2500m Stage 4, loose rocks on sand
Stage 4, four km of sand dunes Stage 4, still going strong Stage 4, ascending to canyon entrance Stage 4, lovely sandy descent into river valley Stage 4, descent into the river valley
Stage 4, descent into the river valley Stage 4, walking through water again Stage 4, through the village Stage 4, and into the desert again Stage 4, through the  “forest” to CP15
Stage 4, the only spectators Stage 4, extremely difficult, soft and hard crusty salt Stage 4, “nice to walk on”, 14 km of packed salt Stage 4, backpack problems (rip off) after crash, back troubles Stage 4, Temperature 45˚C, run out of water
Stage 4, improvised checkpoint in the middle of the salt flat Stage 4, finish at Camp 5, Tebinquinche Lagoon For every competitor there is a drum solo at the finish Stage 5, Hiroaki Ozuru (Jap), Mikael Björnsson (SWE), Rob Plijnaar (NL) and Tremaine Kent (UK) Stage 5, starting the Long March, 75 km, Camp 5 to the Moon Valley
Stage 5, first 15 km, extremely difficult, lake crossing Stage 5, lake crossing on crusty salt flat Stage 5, sunrise on the salt flat Stage 5, what happened to the start number? Stage 5, from Japan, Chizuko Kida (58)
Stage 5, crossing the salt flat Stage 5, looks beautiful but it’s a crisies for my back Stage 5, speed is going up Stage 5, problems with my back again, Mikael is taking the backpack for 2 km Stage 5, nightmare on the salt flat
Stage 5, breakdown at CP19, 112 out Stage 5, leader Ryan Sandes from South Africa passes CP19 Stage 5, example of Roadbook Stage 5, CP19 Stage 5, exhausted,  Laurence Brophy out of the race
Stage 5, scenery Stage 5, along a dry creek Stage 5, near the Valley of the Moon Stage 5, sand to go up to the pass Stage 5, the Licancabur in the background
Stage 5, finish next to Moon Valley, CP 22 (Camp 6) Saturday 13th of March, final stage entering San Pedro de Atacama Waiting for the survivors of the Atacama Crossing 2010 Finish at the Park de Armas at San Pedro de Atacama Mary Gadams, founder, CEO
Alasdair Morrison Finish of leader Ryan Sandes from South Africa in 23.58.39 hrs (250 km !!!!) Ryan Sandes from South Africa Ryan Sandes, does he come from another planet??? No he comes from South Africa !!
Everybody wants a picture with this superman Finish of Eric Lahaie (US) Spectators at San Pedro de Atacama Spectator Finish of Michael Thompson (New Zealand)
(R) Winner Joanna L. Zakrzewski  -34- (UK-Scotland), time: 33:37:30 Hiroaki Ozuru (Jap) Finish of running mate Mikael Björnsson (SWE) Mikael Björnsson (SWE) and Tremaine Kent (UK) Best dinner ever: oranges, bananas and patatas fritas
Finish of Paolo Giannerini. He was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis Saturday 13th of March, awards banquet Tremaine Kent (UK) and Owen Beales (UK) Awards banquet Awards banquet
Awards banquet Rachel Lobb (New Zealand) and Michael Thompson (New Zealand) Ceremony with the winner Ryan Sandes Joanna L. Zakrzewski The day after, time for some excursions
Very old church in the Antiplano Colonial church in Socaire Micanti and Meñiques lakes 4500 meters above sea level Micanti lake Micanti and Meñiques lakes
Micanti and Meñiques lakes Micanti and Meñiques lakes Vicuña’s  (Vicugna vicugna)at lake Micanti Lake Meñiques (4500 meter above sea level) Lake Meñiques (4500 meter above sea level)
Picnic area Lake Meñiques The good life in Chile Lake Micanti Lake Micanti Thanks Chile, we’ll be back