Raid Ukatak

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Mandatory Break Eliminates Teams

Amlie Plante / 20.01.2003

Auberge du Ravage is an elegant resort - and a tent city for racers. On Sunday night at 18h39, the first team reached CP 3, also TA1, where all the teams had to stop for a mandatory four-hour break to pitch their tents. This allowed the organizers to verify that every team was equipped to spend extended time outdoors, if necessary.

Team 13, High Coast 600 from Sweden, was the first to arrive. They had kept the lead since taking off from the start line on bicycle and easily maintained it all afternoon through the snow-covered Laurentians mountain chain. Team 3, Le Génévrier-Baie St-Paul from Quebec (the local favourites) followed them at 19:24, very closely followed by team 14, Passion (Canada/US/Reunion Island) at 19:26. All the teams were in good shape, positive and energetic, but happy to get off their bikes. They\'d done well to cover the biking route, which included a lot of climbing, in such a fast time. The leaders taking just 8 hours for the 90km stage on hard packed trails and side roads.

All the teams made it in and out of the CP in the amount of time allotted indoors (a generous 15 minutes indoors to thaw out). The next section was crucial as teams had to navigate over 30km through a real maze of trails and unmarked paths, supported only by their maps and compass. The organisers thought that the risk of getting lost in this section was very high and that the teams would need to demonstrate very good orienteering skills. They also had some tactical choices to make as they carried both skis and snow shoes, and could choose which to use.

Three teams decided to drop out after CP 3, feeling they were not in the condition to continue onto this arduous stage, which could last up to 24 hours for even the top teams.

The trek continues through the Parc des Hautes-Gorges until the teams start the ascent of two mountains, Mont Jérémie and Mont Élie - the latter called the Everest of Charlevoix. The temperatures are very extreme there, rasnging between –35 and –50 Celsius degrees, and almost non-existent trails make the ascent much more difficult. It\'s two 1000-metre high climbs in a row and will make or break some teams.See All Event Posts