Atacama Desert of Chile - A Great Place for a Race

Joe Holland, a Backcountry.com athlete, will be competing in this year's Atacama Crossing race in the highlands of Chile.
From the Atacama website comes this small description:

As promised, the Atacama Crossing will take place at an altitude that is at least a mile high and cover 250 kilometers over seven days.

The Atacama Crossing 2006 will be centered around the colorful and historical areas surrounding San Pedro de Atacama, the archaeological capital of Chile, over land mostly owned by the Atacamenos indigenous communities.

The race starts at an elevation of nearly 14,000 and follows a portion of the Inca Trail on what could become a crushing downhill stage. It then moves across some undulating desert scenery and some minor mountains. We'll be following along and reporting on how well Joe survives the Atacama.

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