Safety

• Falling of a mountain can cause serious injury and result in death.
• Fatigue and exhaustion can cause loss of balance and make a Participant more susceptible to stumbling or falling.
• Exposed mountainsides along the track can cause vertigo and make a Participant more susceptible to stumbling or falling.
• Participants are strongly discouraged to wear headphones, earphones or similar devices while running above the treeline. Hearing rockfall can save your life, hearing a cry for help can save another’s life. Covering your ears can prove fatal in the mountains.

Stelvio Ultra Trail participants start before sunrise (5:00) and can finish after sunset (21:45). As a result normal temperatures can range from 5°C to 25°C with varying humidity throughout the day without shelter from weather.

Running in the dark decreases visibility of obstacles like tree roots, branches and rocks, pits and bumps on the trail drastically. Participants need to be familiar with running in the woods in the dark. Keep in mind that the sun will be blocked by the mountains approximately 1 hour after true sunrise and 1 hour before true sunset. The dense woods will also block a lot of light.

• Participants are required to carry the mandatory equipment in order to be prepared for all weather conditions at high altitude.
• Although it is very unlikely to snow during the event, late snowfall can leave snow patches at high altitude. On steep parts, this may cause you to slide.
• Running on the glacier in the sun can be warm because of reflected sunlight, but when the sun hides behind the clouds it can become freezing in a matter of minutes.
• Running at almost 3000m of altitude in the burning sun can be scalding hot, but in the shade and wind it can become very cold.
• Storms can gather quickly in the unpredictable mountain weather, so keep an eye on the clouds during the race. If storm clouds approach, rush away from open mountainsides to the nearest Refreshment Post or shelter in both directions of the track for safety. Mountain Rescue will close the Refreshment Posts and all Participants will have to discontinue the Race until weather has passed. In this case, please keep the Race Desk phone number open for emergencies only. Unfortunately death by lightning is a real possibility and is not unprecedented in the mountains.

• Pay attention when crossing the road or running on the road.
• In case of reasonable doubt about Participants’ safety the Organization will try to contact the Participants. During the whole length of the Race all Participants are required to answer their phone as soon as safely possible when contacted by the Organization. Participants are required to check their phone health at every Refreshment Post and inform the Event Crew in case of problems. Repeated failure to gain contact with the Participant during the Race may prompt the Organization or Mountain Rescue to send a rescue team by helicopter which will be charged to the Participant. Participants are advised to check with their insurance for covering these costs.
• Participants are required to fill in the medical safety section on the backside of the bib number.
• Participants are required to help other Participants in need of medical attention and notify Emergency Services and the Organization in case of emergency. They can only leave the Participant with direct approval of the Medical Staff present or in their absence the Organization’s approval. Neglecting this obligation will lead to disqualification.
• Thread carefully and keep distance from other Participants when running on steep sections of rock debris to avoid rockfall which can injure other Participants or yourself.
• Participants who wish to carry poles have to make sure that the end points are covered and not protruding when not using the poles to prevent accidents. Keep distance from Participants with poles, especially in uphill sections.
• Do not overtake other Participants on steep, unstable or small sections of the track.
• Reckless behaviour by a Participant which can endanger another participant may lead to disqualification.
• Participants have to inform their friends and family members who will be present during the event of the rules they need to comply with.

The day before the race all Participants are required to familiarize themselves with the Mandatory Safety Briefing digital presentation created by the Organization in collaboration with the Sulden Mountain Rescue. This briefing will emphasize some key aspects about the latest terrain and weather conditions.

More information will be disclosed closer to the Event date.