As the countdown begins for the 2026 edition of the Snowman Race, athletes have begun preparations to take on one of the world’s toughest high-altitude endurance races. Seventeen athletes, including international trail-running champions, returning competitors, and Bhutanese runners, will take part in this year’s competition. The race, which begins next week, will cover 185 kilometres of rugged Himalayan terrain, reaching elevations of more than 5,000 metres, from Laya in Gasa to Bumthang.
For some, it is a return to a familiar challenge. For others, it is their first attempt at one of the most demanding races in the Himalayas.
For American ultrarunner Luke Nelson, this will be his third Snowman Race. Having competed in the inaugural edition in 2022 and returned in 2024, he is back with a purpose that extends beyond the finish line. For him, the journey offers an opportunity to continue highlighting the effects of climate change on the Himalayas.
“I’m returning to the Snowman Race for the third time to continue to be a witness for climate change and to see what more I can learn through deeper experiences here in Bhutan,” said Nelson.
Italian runner Roberto Mastrotto arrives with experience competing in some of Europe’s demanding ultra-trail races, including the 170-kilometre Adamello Ultra Trail. But the Himalayas bring a different challenge, particularly the altitude.
“I’m here firstly to discover the culture of this beautiful country and to challenge myself into the Snowman Race. For sure, it will be amazing and also very challenging, mainly for me because of the altitude that is very different from what I can normally find in the Italian Alps,” Mastrotto said.
South African runner Megan Mackenzie, who won the women’s category at the 2026 Ultra-Trail Drakensberg, is also preparing for a race she expects to push her limits.
“I think this Snowman Race will probably be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. From what I’ve done in the past, I’ve run once in the Himalayas and it was extremely tough and I just have seen and read a lot about how difficult this race will be so I know that it’s going to challenge me mentally, spiritually, physically, everything and I am ready for it,” said Mackenzie.
From the trails of Laya to the finish line at the National Day ground beside Wangduechhoeling Palace in Bumthang, the coming days will test the limits of the runners and bring the challenges of high-altitude racing into focus.
This year’s field comprises 11 international and six Bhutanese athletes, with nine men and eight women. Their reasons for competing may differ, but they face the same demanding terrain.
First held in 2022, the Snowman Race was conceived to raise global awareness of climate change and its impact on the fragile Himalayan environment.
Karma Samten Wangda, Paro
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