Tamara Lunger withdraws from Der Lange Weg ski mountaineering traverse of the Alps

Tamara Lunger has been forced to call it a day. This is the big news from Red Bull Der Lange Weg and the long ski tour across the Alps from east to west which began more than 20 days ago has now lost one of its undisputed driving forces. The 31-year-old withdrew last weekend after battling with injury to her tibia injury practically since the start at Rax near Vienna.

As some may remember, Lunger had already used her only "joker", allowing her to continue by car and skip a part of a stage in the hope that her shin would heal, but this proved impossible given the daily pace, the quick stops and the extremely difficult conditions the Alps are currently in. Lunger decided to quit after summiting Rheinwaldhorn (3402 m): during the descent she realised that skiing was simply too painful and that she was no longer able to control her skis with a sufficient safety margin. "It was a wonderful experience” Tamara Lunger explained after what was undoubtedly a difficult decision. "Wonderful for how the group grew together, but also a very important experience for me. During the traverse I experienced a new side to myself and this has allowed me to get to know myself better. "

After the withdrawal of Spain’s Núria Pica the group has now lost another important player and the challenge has become infinitely more difficult for Bernhard Hug (SUI), David Wallmann (AUT), Philipp Reiter (GER) and Janelle and Mark Smiley (USA). The five are completing their 23rd day of the 43 available and yesterday, taking advantage of a rare spell of good weather, they ascended more than 3000 vertical meters and skied 50 kilometers in less than nine hours before digging into an Apfelstrudel and a well-deserved coffee at the Margaroli Refuge above Val Formazza. The next main goal: Dufourspitze in the Monte Rosa massif, at 4634 meters the second highest mountain in the Alps.

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