FRANCOIS DUFOREST: THOUGHTS ON MY WAY BACK HOME
If I had known before that I would participate in such an incredible experience, both on a human level and as a race experience. If I had known that I’d be experiencing such strong emotions in the High Atlas, I would not have waited until the 8th edition of the UTAT to leave the alpine meadows in Les Bauges!
I decided to take on this adventure in a spirit of discovery, sharing and contemplation. In consequence I took my time – almost thirty hours – to finish the incredible itinerary of the UTAT 105 – making sure to enjoy every bit.
Here are a few of the images I bring back home to Annecy:
Breathtaking scenery, hidden valleys, tense rocks, intense ochre colored soil, the sun setting and rising on mysterious cols, high-pitched villages in impossible locations, inaccessible cultivated terraces, troglodyte caves used as shelter by shepherds, incredible single tracks between rocks and flowers, a majestic Berber riding his mule on a narrow path, this proud woman – carrying a huge bundle of hay on her head – I met with Dirk (also running the 105 km) on an airy ledge, mint tea, dates, a piece of bread and some rice with oil I was offered by some villagers whilst passing their house,
a family picking walnuts, countless steep alleys crossed by weird looking chickens, big herds of goats like dots against the rock faces, unforgettable encounters with the ever warm and welcoming Moroccans, trading bits and pieces, a chicken tajine with lemon shared with Stéphane (also running the 105 km) the night before the start, a great talk along the path with a courageous Australian, Ian, who will be back in 2017 to finish the course, Moroccan pancakes at the last breakfast together with Gaëlle (who ran the 26 km), the organizers (Cyrille, Virginie…) whose determination is only equaled by their perseverance, the Mireille and her daughters lilting accent, the over motivated volunteers who paid their airfares to come and spread their cheerful mood, a competent and ever present medical staff, straightforward and simple relations with characters out of the ordinary (Eduardo Jornet, father of the alien, Christophe Le Saux insatiable globetrotter and ultra-runner and Omar Bourhim who walks 80 km to come to the start of the race), the enchanting couscous dinner and the doting team of Moroccans…
A few figures :
Five unforgettable days, three nights in a tent with Roberto (who raced the Marathon) at 2600 m of altitude with frosty mornings amongst the sheep, a bunch of worries that disappeared, twelve beautiful hours trotting nighttime under a deep sky unveiling stars invisible elsewhere, fourteen check-points/bivis difficult to reach and one at 3303 m of altitude on the slopes of the Toubkal, lots of endearing gazes and affectionate “how are you ? “, hundreds of smiles shared, 105 km of pure nature, thousands of climbed meters (6500 D+), reaching 3676 m of altitude in the middle of a night with an icy wind, a 2000 meter downhill with a steep start by no means second to that of the Fenêtre de l’Arpette (on the TMB), millions of milligrams of adrenalin, dopamine, endorphins and serotonin…
If you are looking for an incredible adventure, an ultra trail that makes forget the stopwatch, aspire to blend into the Atlas range, its landscapes, its inhabitants, its magical energy…don’t hesitate any longer sign up for the UTAT 2017.
Do remember though to tell your loved ones that coming back from Oukaïmeden you will not be quite the same…
François Duforest, finisher du 105k
