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News From the Leaders

DJ Brooks - AROC Support Crew / 22.09.2004

We are now at CP 20, having just come from CP 17/TA3 where AROC left at 6:40 pm on the next leg on the bikes. They came into the transition about 6:10, with around a 20 minute lead over Montrail. Everyone was in good spirits and looked good. They haven't slept since the start of the race approximately 35 hours ago. Their plan is to sleep on the trail - they find there is too much excitement going on at the TA to get a proper sleep. Montrail opted to sleep at the TA.

As you have no doubt followed on the web, they have lead the race most the way. They were first to finish the kayak leg, had a 15 minute transition and were out first. Next was a trekking leg over some steep terrain. We dropped their kickbikes which they picked up and rode to TA2. Again, they were first into TA2, followed closely by Montrail.

Nike and Seagate opted to sleep at TA2 and I am told slept three hours. Out of TA2 at around 2 am, AROC took two bikes and traded off running and riding along the Skagit River, parallel to Highway 20. We dropped the other two bikes at a church down the road and headed to TA3 on Shannon Lake. AROC had a long bike up and over some big mountains which Alina said were very rocky. Part of the leg was x-country. During the morning they reached CP16, dropped their bikes at the top of Lake Baker and hiked around the east side of the lake and into TA4.

We've been fixing them various stews with rice, potatoes, and meat. We just fed them a stew with potatoes, baked beans, spinach, mixed vegetables, and bacon. Each time they have finished off a large pot.

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