10 years of adventure with Suunto outdoor sports instruments

TRAINING SESSIONS, France

The 2006-2007 training sessions were arranged in order to prepare for six excursions that I was about to embark on.

Running Distance: 6,300 km (3,950 miles)
Cumulative Ascents: 230,000 m (745,000 feet)
Cumulative Descents: 230,000 m (745,000 feet)
Location: Alps, France
Devices: Suunto Vector, Suunto Observer, and Suunto X6 HRT
Weather: Varied

I used my Suunto wristops throughout the 2006-2007 training sessions in order to better prepare myself for my upcoming treks. By using features to measure and record ascents, descents, altitude, and weather, I was fully informed of my surroundings and environment throughout my trainings. Additionally, the compass, heart rate monitor, and stopwatch enabled me to get the most out of my training sessions, helping me to prepare my body for whatever nature had in store.

HIMAL RACE, Nepal

The Himal Race is a self-sufficient race, extending 1,000 km (620 miles) across the Himalayas, from Annapurna to the base camp at Mount Everest.

Altitude: Between 900 m and 5,401 m (2,900 feet and 17,700 feet)
Location: Nepal
Rules: Self sufficient (Runners carry snacks and extra food, clothes, sleeping bag and gear for the full duration of the race days - breakfast and dinner are provided at each stage.)
Duration: 605 kilometers (375 miles) and 23,000+ meters (75,000+ feet) of total elevation gain in 12 days
Device: Suunto Vector
Weather: -20ºC to +25ºC, (-4ºF to 77ºF)

Though this event is one of the most fantastic mountain trail running races in the world, I unfortunately didn't have enough vacation days to complete the race, meaning I could "only" run 605 km (380 miles). This event was more an adventure than a race. With only 32 runners at the start, we had minimum support and had to carry all of our gear and extra food in 10 kg (22 lbs) backpacks. I used my Suunto Vector constantly during the race, utilizing nearly all of its functions: altimeter, compass, stopwatch, alarms, and logbook.

DESERT CUP, Jordan

The Desert Cup is a self-sufficient running race that starts in the Wadi Rum desert and ends at the archaeological site of Petra.

Running Distance: 168 km (105 miles) in a nonstop race
Rules: Self sufficient (Runners carry their food, clothes, etc. - only the water is provided at each check point.)
Location: Wadi Rum, Jordan
Duration: 37 hours, 42 minutes
Device: Suunto Vector
Weather: +5ºC to +45ºC (41ºF to 113ºF)

This great running race started in the Wadi Rum desert and ended in the magical archaeological site of Petra. In between, we had 168 km (4 marathons in a row) of nonstop desert and mountain terrain. Not only was running in the sand an extreme challenge, but the temperature proved to be quite a difficult factor as well, primarily due to the extreme changes during a single day. After reaching 45ºC (113ºF) around noon, the temperature progressively dropped in the late afternoon and even more during the night.

Due to my extreme tiredness by the first half of the race, and the fact that I was not too lucid after so many hours without sleep, I didn't notice the cold until I eventually started shivering (with the temperature close to freezing). That didn't last very long, though, because eight hours later, the temperature was back in full force, in the mid 40s ºC (100s ºF).

Each runner had a road book providing a description of the trail, its heading and the various distances. Even though the Desert Cup was not an orienteering race, I had to use my Suunto Vector's compass many times to find my way on and off the trails.

CHO OYU, Tibet

The climb up Cho Oyu is a five-week, 7,800 m (41,000 feet) ascent that takes place in Tibet, China.

Altitude: 8,201 m (43,300 feet)
Location: Tibet, China
Duration: 5 weeks
Device: Suunto Vector
Weather: -35ºC to +15ºC (-31ºF to 59ºF)

The conditions that year were not so great, with a lot of snow throughout the journey. We witnessed an avalanche involving five Sherpas and climbers, but fortunately there were no casualties. We were one of the last expeditions on the mountain, but went for the summit too late in the season. The weather was good up to Camp 2, but at that point, it took a turn for the worse.

We decided to go for the summit straight from Camp 2, to hurry before weather turned too bad. We left around midnight, still keeping an eye on the dropping barometer on my Suunto Vector. Seven hours later, at around 7,800 m (25,600 feet), we started to worry about the clouds and the wind. This being the case, we stayed put in the snow for about an hour, hesitating between a risky ascent and a full retreat.

As the wind got stronger, we decided to return back down the mountain for safety. By the time we reached Camp 2, the summit was totally engulfed in clouds and the wind had blown all the tents down. We kept going down, with the hope of finding shelter in Camp 1, but the wind was probably over 80 km/h (50 mph), and it was obvious that Camp 1 wouldn't hold up against the storm either. After 18 hours straight, we finally reached the base camp, exhausted, but safe. The storm lasted for three days and dropped about 2 meters (6.5 ft) of snow.

GUIANA RAID AMAZON, French Guiana

Running Distance: 150 km (94 miles) in a six-day race
Location: Amazon Forest, French Guiana
Duration: 6 days
Device: Suunto Vector
Weather: +35ºC (95ºF) and 95% humidity

Another tough environment where the Suunto Vector proved its quality. It went through six days of extreme racing in constant humidity and nearly unbearable heat. Multiple times we had to cross muddy rivers and swamps and multiple times, my Suunto Vector came through for me. My Suunto Vector proved to be a reliable and robust guide on my six-day trek - I used the stopwatch during each stage and also used the compass when the trail was not marked so well in the jungle.

MT. DENALI, USA

The Mt. Denali (Mount McKinley) ascent is a climb that starts at the West Buttress and lasts three weeks.

Altitude: 6,194 m (22,320 feet)
Location: Alaska, USA
Duration: 3 weeks
Device: Suunto Vector
Weather: -35ºC to +15ºC (-31ºF to 59ºF)

The Suunto Vector was a great help during the rough weather conditions on the day that we reached the summit. I left Camp 5 for the summit - by myself - at 8am. At 2pm, I reached the Denali Pass on the way back from the summit and at that point, the weather had turned into a full-blown storm. I decided to keep going to try and reach Camp 4, but the visibility was very low and the snow and the wind had erased the trail. I had to use the compass and the altimeter on my Suunto Vector constantly until I made it safely back to the camp.

A few days later, we had to use the compass and the altimeter again for nearly nine hours to find our way back from Camp 4 to the base camp. Here again the weather was bad, with snow and clouds limiting our visibility.

I used the Suunto Vector's logbook to record information from every climb. This was useful in providing clear records of the expedition's ascent rates and enabling us to compare them with the initial plans and estimates that we had made beforehand.

MARATHON DES SABLES, Morocco

Description: Marathon des Sables is a seven-day race that takes place deep in the heart of the Moroccan Sahara desert.

Running distance: 230 km (140 miles) in a 7-day race
Rules: Self sufficient (Runners carry their food, clothes, and other equipment for seven days - only the water is provided at each check point.)
Location: Sahara Desert, Morocco
Duration: 7 days
Device: Suunto Vector
Weather: +45ºC (113ºF)

In many running races a compass is compulsory, and the Marathon des Sables is no exception. It was very convenient to have it integrated into the watch, where I could easily check my direction without hassle. The 2006 race was a tough one with several sand storms and very limited visibility, causing me to have to stop running and navigate using the compass on my Suunto Vector on multiple occasions.

The Suunto Vector went through the sand and the heat of these seven days of racing without any problems.

Philippe Gatta