Bimbache Extrem

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A Second Night in the High Sierras

Rob Howard / 23.03.2006

There was a magnificent tyrolean traverse at Bimbache Extrem this year, but in the end only 3 teams made the airy crossing. After the leading two teams Fjallraven arrived on a bright sunny evening, looking sunburnt and footsore as they trudged along the road to the start of the ropes.

They had managed to get some water from a farmer on the later part of the trek and said the night had been the most difficult part of the stage. Morten Kusk was quiet and clearly in a lot of pain with sore and blistered feet, and he paid little attention as his team mates sorted out who was to go over the tyrolean. Sine Gasbjerg was not too happy to be told she had no choice as the female team member had to go over! Her brother Torbjorn followed her across.

The team had heard rumours of Abarth’s withdrawal (mistakenly hearing about a broken leg ... how do these rumours start and spread in such remote countryside!) and it was confirmed they were now in 3rd place. There next question was by how much they were in front of Halti, who were with them during the early part of the night. No one knew as there was very little information on the position of the teams out on the mountain.

As it turned out they had a good lead and Halti were not the next team behind them. The light began to dim soon after the Danes had crossed and by 20.00 it was fully dark and the tyrolean crossing was closed. No other teams had arrived. The arrival times of the 3 leading teams at TA5 in Zunheros where they rested for 3 hours were;

Lundhags Adventure – 15.32.52
Team Finland – 16.02.48
Fjallraven – 19.27.11

Forum Adidas-UE Vic had withdrawn earlier in the day so this left 11 teams out on the mountain and facing a very difficult night ahead. They had not expected to be out a second night, and some will take over 24 hours, twice the predicted time for the stage.

All will be exhausted, short of food, water and battery power for their torches. The weather is fine but a cold wind is still blowing and it’s going to be a long, cold and painful night for them as they struggle to get to Zunheros.

[Updated Information: The next team to arrive at Zunheros were Decathlon Gran Canaria at 22.52, followed by Tenerife Raid Team at 23.28 and Piel Frama-Sierra de Ubrique at 23.29. There is no news of Halti who were in 4th place early last night.

The Cordoba Raid Team were feared missing for a while, but were just visiting the checkpoints out of order! They subesquently withdrew. Uka X-Team Lleida have also withdrawn, as have Team One Touch Ultra who reportedly had a diabetic racer on the team.]See All Event Posts