Above: Participants before the 2024 Snowman Race. Photo credit: Snowman Race.
Race to save the planet
From October 24 to 28, 2024, in the remote Kingdom of Bhutan, seven Bhutanese and nine international trail runners competed in a grueling high-altitude five-day stage race, The Snowman Race. The course followed the historic 125-mile Snowman Trekking route, crossing remote Himalayan mountain passes over 17,000 feet. Fewer have completed this route than reached the summit of Mount Everest, but competition, personal glory, and even finishing were second to the main mission of the event, to be the “Ultimate race for climate action.”
The 2024 Snowman Race was the second edition of this event, first held in 2022, which has continued to draw attention to the global climate crisis through athlete-driven climate activism. The race was the vision of His Majesty the King of Bhutan, listed in the 2024 Time Magazine’s Top 100 Climate Leaders for the nation’s progressive climate-focused policies. Bhutan was the world’s first carbon-negative (not just carbon-neutral) country, meaning it sequesters more carbon than it puts out. His Majesty the King has focused recent political policies on maintaining the nation’s 70 percent forest land coverage, increasing sustainable hydropower, encouraging wildlife protection, and envisioning innovative climate-based projects such as Bhutan’s “Mindfulness City” as well as The Snowman Race.
The Bhutanese Royal Privy Council Deputy Chairman, Kesang Wangdi, who also serves as Chairman for The Snowman Race, said about the mission of the race, “We are not resting on our laurels. With this race, we are bringing people together to act and spread the message about climate change. We hope developed countries will notice and look beyond narrow national considerations and come together to save the world from this climate crisis. They have the capacity and technology; it’s only the political will that we are waiting for to enact these necessary changes. This Snowman Race is actually not a physical race as much as it is a race to save our planet.”
Why Bhutan?
Bhutan, a nation of 770,000 inhabitants, nestled between the major carbon-producing nations of India and China, may be doing its part for the environment, but it’s unfortunately first in line to face negative climate change impacts. “Climate change is inherently undemocratic,” says Chairman Wangdi, who recognizes that climate change is a global issue that can’t be stopped unless all nations do their part, particularly nations with larger carbon footprints. Rapidly melting glaciers, erosion, landslides, poor harvests, floods, etc., have become increasingly common for Bhutan in recent years. For a nation that’s subsisted primarily on its own natural resources for centuries, these impacts are becoming increasingly devastating, especially in highland regions where subsistence agriculture is the norm.
Leki, a Bhutanese highlander from Liya who placed sixth in the 2024 Snowman Race, spoke on changes to his home in the Bhutanese highlands, “I live in an economy run on butter, not cash or money. We bring our animal products down from the highlands (meat, cheese, butter, etc.) and swap for the lowland foods such as sugar and rice. The climate has made it increasingly difficult for us to live in the highlands and we are finding we have less and less to trade each year.”
There are similar climate-related problems in the lowlands near the capital region of Thimphu. Sangay Wangchuk, 2024 Snowman Race champion, said about these changes, “Due to drastic changes in temperature and in the quality of soil that is impacted by climate change, the oranges we grow fruit at different times. They don’t mature well. They fall to the ground before they are ripened. The pollination patterns of bees have also changed, and clean water has become scarce at times.”
Sangay Choden of the Snowman Race organization added to this point about the harsh impacts of climate change in Bhutan, “This race focuses on the emergency and awareness about the climate globally, but specifically in Bhutan. Bhutan’s fragile ecosystem makes it highly vulnerable. This is why we have been inviting athletes in our country, so that they can be our ambassadors to share their experiences and our messages to the world.”
American ultrarunner invited to compete in the 2024 Snowman Race, Kelly Halpin, spoke on her mission as a spokesperson for the issues in Bhutan and her firsthand experience at the event, “I believe we can influence leaders as well as younger generations to care for our ecosystems and share the messages the Bhutanese have asked us to bring to our own countries and communities. Bhutan is the only carbon-negative country in the world currently and one of the most vulnerable countries to experience rapid climate change. They have done their part, and yet they are going to be far more affected than any of us who live with modern comforts. The reason we were invited was to do our part as best we can.”
Why trail runners?
Athlete-driven climate change is a grassroots movement that is growing worldwide. While it may seem unlikely that athletes could assist in enacting climate policy, there is arguably no community that understands these natural spaces and their fragility better than outdoor athletes, who spend the majority of their time recreating in these spaces. Skiers, snowboarders, hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers, etc., all have a personal stake in protecting these areas, or they lose their sport and, in some cases, livelihood. Protect Our Winters and Dakota Jones’ Footprints Running Camp are two organizations in the trail running space that have empowered athletes as climate action leaders.
In the history of athlete-based climate action projects, The Snowman Race is the first of its kind. Unlike these other initiatives, The Snowman Race is the vision of His Majesty the King of Bhutan, who saw particular interest in using trail runners as messengers for Bhutan’s climate crisis. The race also aims to encourage international athlete’s participation in climate change initiatives in their respective communities.
Athletes were selected not only for their athletic ability to complete the route but also for their influence in their communities as climate leaders. The Snowman Race director consultant Luis Escobar said about the international athlete selection criteria, “The athletes need to create awareness of climate action, as well as be respected figures in their communities with a broad audience. They must leave the event as an ambassador for the Kingdom of Bhutan.”
Escobar added, “This is not a tourist trek. Athletes need to be prepared for a serious, high-altitude challenge and have demonstrated their ability to be physically capable of completing the route.”
Luke Nelson, 2024 Snowman Race participant, spoke on his selection for this year’s event and the idea of trail runners as ambassadors for climate change, “I have always felt that trail runners were ideally suited to take on the hard work around climate change and public land conservation given that our craft is dedicated to doing hard things. We are good at looking at something that most people consider impossible and breaking it down into actionable steps making it possible. This belief in trail runners and trail running as a tool for advocacy has only strengthened with my involvement in the Snowman Race. His Majesty the King of Bhutan felt that trail runners were the ideal messengers for this work, given that our sport requires connection to a place with our own feet. I am more committed and motivated than ever to do all I can when it comes to climate change work.”
The 2024 race participants
Only nine international and seven Bhutanese athletes were selected for the 2024 Snowman Race. Athletes are listed below:
International:
- Mohammad Shamsuzzaman Arafat—Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Rosanna Buchauer—Inzell, Germany
- Pascal Egli—Trondheim, Norway
- Clare Gallagher—Colorado, USA
- Kelly Halpin—Wyoming, USA
- Cody Lind—Idaho, USA
- Simon Mtuy—Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
- Luke Nelson—Idaho, USA
- Kaori Niwa—Kyoto, Japan
Bhutanese:
- Pema Choki—Laya, Bhutan
- Samten Dema—Thongrong, Bhutan
- Leki—Laya, Bhutan
- Tshering Lhamo—Lhuentse, Bhutan
- Tashi Norbu—Gomdar Village, Bhutan
- Sangay Wangchuk—Gipsa, Bhutan
- Karma Yangden—Laya, Bhutan
Read athlete biographies and view their photos here.
While the number of participants in the 2024 Snowman Race was small in comparison to other trail races, this was intentional. Rather than large participant numbers, The Snowman Race organization focused on selecting athletes to create climate change awareness and limited the number of participants to ensure an intimate experience among international and local athletes and organizers.
Clare Gallagher, Leadville Trail 100, Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run Champion, and Protect Our Winters athlete, spoke on her experience at the 2024 Snowman Race, “I got last in this race, and it was by far the hardest race I’ve ever done. I wasn’t able to run above 14,500 feet and suffered greatly from altitude. That being said, I finished, and it’s probably the most proud finish of my life. A highlight was when I forded the Po Chu River and didn’t die. Unbeknownst to me, I was off course and there was a suspension bridge that everyone else managed to find. Stoked to be coming home unscathed. Also, the Himalayas are alarmingly beautiful. I was overwhelmed. Moreso, the lush, abundant forest is the most soothing environment I’ve ever experienced.”
2024 Women’s Snowman Race winner Rosanna Buchauer said about the highlights of her race experience, “It was a combination of nature, people and personal growth. Running the high mountains in a setting with just a few selected athletes that became family very quickly due to similar mindsets and facing challenging conditions will resonate with me for a very long time.”
Karma Yangden, reigning 2022 Snowman Race champion, mom of three, and yak and cordyceps mushroom hunter, said about her 2024 race experience, “I am so appreciative to see interest from athletes around the world. We are vulnerable people here in Bhutan due to climate change, and we hope this experience can bring us together to take on the climate challenge.”
Charman Wangdi spoke on the success of this year’s event and how it has grown since 2022, “We are finally getting international attention to what Bhutan is doing in terms of the increased global collaboration and local action. The awareness of these climate issues in Bhutan and globally has grown much since the first edition of the race in 2022. People who have participated in the race are actively promoting the cause. This is a matter of great encouragement for us. I believe we can turn the tide on climate change, and we hope involvement with The Snowman Race will continue to grow exponentially.”
Highlight Bhutan
Although climate action is undoubtedly the mission of the Snowman Race, the impressive trail running ability and unique culture of the Bhutanese people were also highlighted in this event. “The Bhutanese runners, on average, destroyed the international field,” said Gallagher, who ran sections of the race with Bhutanese athlete Leki. She continued, “I hope that some of them will be able to compete in the next World Championships and/or other international races because they are so legit!”
Pascal Egli also had high regard for the Bhutanese people, particularly their generosity, “The Bhutanese are very kind and wise people who welcomed us with lots of love and appreciation…The people along the way were kind and generous, offering us tea and hot water…in the big valley on day three, I had lots of doubts, and when I saw an elderly Bhutanese woman with tea for us at 6:30 in the morning, I had to cry.”
Nelson spoke on the impact the Bhutanese community had on his life and the respect their trail runners deserve, “Trail running is a burgeoning sport in Bhutan but the runners are as good as I have ever raced anywhere in the world. I am so impressed by their talent and skill and even more so by their humility and kindness. I have been very fortunate in my running career and have met and interacted with runners all over the planet, yet there is something unique and special about Bhutan. I struggle to find the exact right words to describe the people. Perhaps profound happiness and genuine love for those around them is what they exude, and what I feel makes it so wonderful.”
Leki shared his gratitude for competing with runners from around the world and his hopes for the future of the race, “I want to thank everyone for bringing attention to The Snowman Race this year. The competition was great, and the run was so hard! It is my hope that many more professional athletes will become aware of this race and join for the next edition. Each athlete acts as an ambassador in their own countries to address climate change, and together, I know we can change the world.”
Want to join the Snowman Race movement? Race director consultant Luis Escobar shares how best to be involved, “Engage with the event on social media, follow the race, follow my personal page, and reach out directly with any questions or to submit an application as an international athlete. This is much more than just a race.”
Follow The Snowman Race here.
Follow Luis Escobar here.
