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The Ultimate Expedition Race?

Rob / 16.01.2004

If a 7 to 10 day race like Eco-Challenge is an expedition race, what do you call a 30 day race that runs the length of the Rockies? Apart from crazy that is!

This grand idea for ‘Race the Rockies’ was hatched by Race Director Adele Frizzell and everything about the race is on an amazing scale. She has called it ‘The Greatest Race on Earth’, with some justification.

It took her 2 years to plan and research the route, which covers 3300 kilometers (2075 miles), beginning near the US/Canadian border on July 8th and finishing in Dawson City, Yukon 30 days later. She describes the terrain as ‘mountainous’, which is a bit of an understatement!

The race is open to solo athletes or pairs, who should expect to be racing up to 12 hours a day before stopping for the night. It’s going to be an exploratory journey as much as a race, one that she says will “humble the toughest adventurer, and tap the greatest in human potential”. There is a breakdown of the route on the race web site, giving an idea of the skills required (more endurance than technical) and the stopovers each night. Some of these are in hotels, so it’s not all camping.

The price is a hefty $11,984 CAD for solos and $23,540 CAD for teams, but you get a lot for your money! Entry includes 6 nights of hotel accommodation, 27 nights of camping, massage services, bike repair services, professional medical services, and all food and transportation during the event. Fortunately, you don’t need your own support – imagine asking someone if they’d support you in a race then telling them it was a month long! It’s hard enough finding someone for a weekend sometimes.

There is advice on planning and fundraising on the site, which you’ll need to get the time and cash together, and lots of other detail. If the idea fires your imagination take a look here.