Kaçkar 100K
Kaçkar by UTMB
Ayder (Çamlıhemşin, Rize)
Race guide
Updated 19 July 2026
The Kaçkar 100K by UTMB is an 82 km mountain race starting and finishing in Ayder (Çamlıhemşin, Rize), deep in Turkey's Kaçkar Mountains. With 5,223 m of climbing and a high point of 3,227 m, it is a sustained alpine challenge that threads through remote highland plateaus, sharp ascents and long descending ridgelines before returning to the spa town of Ayder at 1,341 m. Despite carrying the '100K' label, the 82 km distance combined with the accumulated vert and technical terrain makes this a race that demands respect from the first kilometre. Six checkpoints punctuate the course, including a Life Base at Avusor around the 43 km mark where runners can access drop bags. The finish cut-off falls at Day 04:00 in Ayder, giving a hard deadline that rewards consistent forward movement over heroics. This is a race defined by patience in the first half and execution in the second.
Course & Terrain Overview
The race begins in Ayder at 1,345 m and immediately sets about gaining altitude. The opening 18 km climb through Hazindak (1,927 m) and Samistal (2,540 m) to Yukarı Kavrun (2,516 m) are a rising sequence of valley and plateau terrain that can feel deceptively manageable underfoot. From Yukarı Kavrun the route pushes further into the high Kaçkar landscape, cresting above 3,000 m before CP4 at Yukarı Çeymakçur (2,864 m) at 31.5 km. The middle section from there to the Life Base at Avusor (43.2 km, 2,691 m) covers exposed highland terrain with the race's highest point of 3,227 m in this stretch. The back half of the course — from Avusor through Kavaklı/Didingola (55 km, 2,706 m) to the finish — involves sustained descending back to Ayder, but the elevation profile from CP6 makes clear that the descent is neither simple nor uninterrupted. Expect technical rocky paths, wet grass and loose ground throughout.
Decisive Climbs & Where the Race Is Won or Lost
The climb from the start to Samistal at 2,540 m is the first real test: nearly 1,200 m of gain in just 13.4 km. Runners who charge this section arrive at Yukarı Kavrun already accumulating fatigue that will compound over the next 60+ km. The true crux, however, is the push toward and past the 3,227 m high point ahead of CP4. This is where oxygen is thin, terrain is exposed and the temptation to chase earlier adrenaline catches up with those who banked nothing. Runners who arrive at the Avusor Life Base (43.2 km) still holding back — legs not yet in the red — are in the race. Those who arrive depleted face the long traverse to Kavaklı/Didingola and then the final descent to Ayder with empty reserves. The final section from CP6 at 2,706 m back down to 1,341 m is where the finish can be broken or sealed; tired legs on steep, technical descent lose enormous time and carry injury risk.
Pacing Strategy
The most important strategic decision in this race is made in the first 20 km. The opening climb through verdant valleys toward the high plateaus feels forgiving — the footing is relatively good, the early morning is cool and the excitement of race day is at full volume. This is the trap. Treat the first half as a controlled deposit, running within yourself even when it feels too easy. A patient, almost social early effort through to Avusor is not a concession — it is the investment that funds a strong second half. The Life Base at 43.2 km is the psychological midpoint and the practical reset: eat real food, change kit if needed, assess your legs honestly. From Avusor onward, if you have paced correctly, you can begin to push. Break the remaining 39 km into manageable segments — CP6 to finish, plateau to descent, descent to valley — and execute each one with purpose rather than reacting to accumulated suffering. The cut-off at Day 04:00 in Ayder rewards steadiness over surges.
Fuelling & Hydration
With 5,223 m of climbing across 82 km, caloric demand is high and sustained. The six checkpoints are well spaced for a race of this length, but gaps between CP3 (18.9 km) and CP4 (31.5 km) — a 12.6 km stretch crossing the highest ground on the course — and then CP4 to CP5 (a further 11.7 km to Avusor) mean runners should carry sufficient food and fluid for roughly 90–120 minutes of effort between stations depending on pace. Use the Avusor Life Base drop bag strategically: pre-pack hot food, extra layers, and race nutrition for the second half. Hydration on the high plateau sections is critical; the Kaçkar terrain above 2,500 m is exposed and, in warm conditions, dehydration accumulates faster than expected. Do not rely solely on checkpoint water — carry capacity for at least 1.5 litres on the longer sections.
Conditions to Expect
The Kaçkar Mountains are notoriously unpredictable in terms of weather. The region receives high precipitation, and conditions at 3,000+ m can shift rapidly from clear skies to cloud, wind and cold even in the racing season. The high point of 3,227 m is genuinely exposed, and temperatures can drop sharply with any incoming front. Carry mandatory kit seriously — a waterproof shell, insulation layer and emergency bivvy are not box-ticking formalities here. The trails above the treeline are often wet, with boggy plateau sections and rocky ridgelines that demand attention regardless of conditions. Below treeline, the valley paths and forest trails around Ayder can be humid and warm, creating a genuine temperature swing of 10–15°C between the low start and the high alpine sections. Plan layering accordingly, and factor in that the return descent to Ayder will happen in whatever conditions the mountain delivers — not necessarily the ones you set out in.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 1340 m · —
8.6 km · 1932 m · Sat 07:00
13.8 km · 2552 m · —
22.1 km · 2267 m · Sat 10:00
35.2 km · 2273 m · Sat 14:00
48.3 km · 2394 m · Sat 18:00
60.2 km · 2349 m · Sat 22:00
66.3 km · 2099 m · —
75.5 km · 2389 m · Sun 02:30
82.4 km · 1340 m · Sun 04:00
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