Patagonia Expedition Race

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The Leaders Emerge from the Bog

Jacqueline Windh / 16.02.2005

Feb. 15 2005, 9:30 p.m; I’m back at Rio Verde Municipality, again watching the light fade over the narrow channel between here and Isla Riesco. Salomon Russia and La Clusaz have just got off the ferry on the other side, and are headed southwest to PC7 Seno Otway.

They have 70 km to cover, but the next section is kayaking, and they may not set out until 5:30 a.m., so at least these guys will get some rest tonight. (The dark zone was set to end at 4:00 a.m., but the Chilean Navy has ordered that no one may be on the water until 5:30).

Race Director Stjepan Pavicic was right about the trekking being a test. La Clusaz arrived at PC5 at 5:36 p.m., taking just over 47 hrs to cover the 76 km. Salomon Russia arrived only 9 minutes later. The two teams had travelled together for much of the section, but by last night the French had moved ahead of the Russians.

Navigation was tough, passing through an expanse of peat bog 20 km wide – so far that you cannot see where it ends – and working their way through thick dense forest. Both teams were lost at times, the Russians for eight hours. I asked Artem Rostostsev how the bog was. “Bad,� he said, “but the forest was worse�.See All Event Posts