GEORGE NEWS - The weekend of 24 to 26 May welcomes the George Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT) to our beautiful Outeniqua Mountains.
These mountains rise from the urban edge and provide a spectacular playground for any adventure seeker, with hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails criss-crossing the peaks, which reach up to 1 578 meters above sea level.
Our own homegrown ultra trail, proudly known as the MUT, is now part of the UTMB® World Series Adventure.
MUT Miler
This route, that runs over 100 miles of varied terrain, is the ultimate endurance challenge, and the MUT Miler in the Outeniqua mountains is the perfect test. Athletes will start with a vertical kilometre climb to George Peak, traverse stunning mountain trails and descend via Cradock Peak to Voortrekker Pass. The route includes the infamous Pass-to-Pass Hiking Trail, Champherskloof and a tough ascent over Montagu Pass. After crossing the Kaaimans River, participants will navigate the Groenkop Nature Reserve and picturesque Groeneweide Hiking Trails, eventually reaching the beaches of Wilderness. The final stretch includes the Garden Route Dam Trail and challenging climbs like The Wall and Henry's Hill. Aid stations and official route data will be confirmed.
MUT 100
The 100km race offers everything from big climbs and rocky trails to technical downhills and runnable sections, all with stunning views of the Outeniqua mountain range. Starting with Cradock Pass, the route features the famous Pass-to-Pass Hiking Trail, the heat of Champherskloof and a stop at Montagu Pass. The Dizzy Heights climb leads to breathtaking 360 views and sublime mountain running down to George Dam. Crossing the Kaaimans River, runners traverse Groenkop Nature Reserve and Groeneweide Hiking Trails, and then follow the Garden Route Dam Trail to Tierkop, finishing with The Wall, Tonnelbos, and lastly, Henry's Hill.
MUT 60
The 58km route features big climbs, rocky trails, technical downhills, and breathtaking views of the Outeniqua mountain range. It starts with Cradock Pass, the route's highest climb. Runners then tackle the Pass-to-Pass Hiking Trail and Champherskloof, experiencing the fynbos of the Klein Karoo. After a halfway stop at Montagu Pass, the challenging Dizzy Heights Climb awaits, followed by sublime mountain running with 360 views down to George Dam. The final stretch includes the picturesque Tonnelbos and Witfontein Trails.
MUT Marathon
The marathon features highlights from the 60km route, including rocky trails, technical downhills and stunning views of the Outeniqua mountain range, with Dizzy Heights included. Starting with Cradock Pass, the biggest climb, runners descend Montagu Pass to North Station on the Klein Karoo side. The Dizzy Heights climb leads to sublime mountain running down to George Dam. The race finishes with the challenging Henry's Hill, providing a rewarding end to this scenic and demanding marathon.
MUT Challenge
Athletes can expect proper trail running at its best like only George can offer. The MUT Challenge offers a brand-new route in 2024. The route will traverse some of the beautiful indigenous forests along the Outeniqua Mountains. The big climb of the day will take you all the way to the infamous The Wall of the ultra distance routes. From there the route has a last sting in the tail before you start with the glorious decent back to the finish.
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