Appalachian Extreme Adventure Race 2005

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Teams settle in for a night of trekking

Tracyn Thayer / 22.05.2005

Only one team remains on Leg 2, as night approaches on Day 2 of the Appalachian Extreme Adventure Race. 12 of the original 22 teams that assembled at the starting line less than 36 hours ago made the cutoff to the Trekking Section.

Teams that had a rough go at the mountain biking navigation will have to really pull out all the stops to conquer the mostly trail-less foot section, taking teams over many peaks, and to such beautiful landmarks as Little Hell\'s Gate Falls.

\"We hope teams take a moment to enjoy some of the beauty, and let their minds drift for a moment here or there, and take their thoughts off sore, wet feet\", says Tracyn Thayer of Racing Ahead, Inc. \"We believe that our courses not only provide a challenge to the racer, but open eyes to the pristine beauty of northern New England, and help show that responsible forestry management can allow for both recreational use as well as logging.

Of the 12 teams that are on the FULL course, only 6 of the original 15 are still eligible for the FREE slot to the 2005 Adventure Race World Championship this November in New Zealand.

Last report was that Team Subaru USA was still in front, but pursuing them and still in good position to take over the front (in no particular order);

- ATP/Odyssey
- Eastern Mountain Sports
- DART
- SImon River Sports
- Terranauts

Although not a 4-person team, Team The BIke Shop/The Bike Cafe has put on an impressive performance, sharing the lead with Team Subaru USA. Unfortunately, after heading toward CP19, Samantha Phillips began to feel the effects of her pre-race cold, and they eventually had to drop out and return to TA2. They were bummed, but took their necessary withdrawl gracefully.

After a rough start, Team Supplierpipeline, one of the teams picked to be a top contender in this year\'s race, withdrew before making it to TA2. In fact, they stopped near CP10 at the Balsams Resort, where the fine hospitality of the resort washed their laundry and let their stinky bodies hang out in the warmth of the reception area. If one were to visit this spot, they would quickly understand why no one on the team was fired up to go out in the driving rain, and ride through more mud and puddles.

From a Race Director\'s perspective, it\'s an exciting race to watch, and will be even more so as the night progresses, and teams make their way closer to the paddling section.

The first teams are expected to put on the water tonight. The next report will be from TA4, and the end of the paddling leg.

Local Team Members 20-40, Eric Cobb and Beryle Martin decided to withdraw from the race before arriving at TA2. Their team members are still on their way to TA2, and continuing on the course unranked.See All Event Posts