Four South African adventurers are tackling the mountains around Ladakh as they take part in India's inaugural adventure race, the Himalayan Challenge. Over four days, 14 teams traverse 300km in mind-bending altitudes of up to 6000m above sea level. For comparison, Johannesburg is 1734m higher than a beach and Everest Base Camp 5364m.Eleven Indian teams and four international teams, - South Africa, Australia, Argentina and France - will hike, cycle and climb through breath-taking mountain passes, working their way up to 6000m. They'll also kayak down the mythical Indus River.The race started on Saturday and ends on Wednesday, but it's set against the clock so teams are expected to come in earlier."This race isn't going to be won by the strongest team," said Cobus van Zyl, a veteran adventure racer participating as part of Team Jabberwock. "It will be won by those who understand altitude."Jabberwock is one of the top three teams in South Africa, and Van Zyl and his teammates Craig Metherell, Nicky Booysens and Ruan van der Merwe have plenty of experience of high altitudes. But there wasn't much time for acclimatisation as the team only arrived in India last Wednesday before being flown up to the mountainous region the next day.Adventure racing is a growing global sport. Earlier this year over 40 teams took part in Expedition Africa on the Garden Route and annual events are held in Patagonia, Utah, Greenland and Spain. Later this year the world championships take place in Australia."If the race isn't hard and if you don't suffer, don't cry and don't come back with bleeding body parts - it's not a proper race," said Van Zyl. "It's hell, but when we get across the finish line, it's the absolute best feeling and we're already making plans for the next one."Lack of sleep, distance and physical exertion is offset by orienteering skills - the route is only disclosed once teams clock in at designated checkpoints. The Ladakh race has a six-hour mandatory rest period to ensure there are no fatalities due to the high altitude."With 1.3 billion people, India is such a populous state," said Shaukat Sikand, co-odinator of the Adventure Racing Federation of India."The area with the least people, and the most challenging geography is Ladakh, which is in the trans-Himalaya range and is known as a mini-Tibet."It's the summer residence of the Dalai Lama and due to snowfall in the winter months is closed off from October through April, making it one of the most remote regions in India.To follow the progress of the team go to facebook.com/teamjabberwock..