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Running for the Ropes

Susan McKenzie / 13.09.2006

Cap Trinité is one of Quebec’s most spectacular climbing spots, famous for its view and infamous for two deaths four years ago. They were killed while attempting an ascent of the 270 metre cliff, which plunges right down into the Saguenay Fjord. They didn’t attach their portaledge properly and plunged to their deaths.

At the Raid World Champs, racers are facing the same cliff, but from the other direction. After they leave TA11 they have a short run and climb to the top of Cap Trinité. Then they take the fast way back to the sea level, rappelling straight down the face. The trick of the matter is – teams had to make it out of TA11 by four pm in order to make it up.

Nike Powerblast and Wilsa Sport Helly Hansen came tearing into the TA together, and at a run.

“We caught up Helly Hansen on one of the earlier sections, then we were all together, but then we and Helly Hansen kept running but Les Arcs decided to walk,� Richard Ussher said in the TA.

“That was a really great trek,� Ussher continued, referring to the 50-kilometre (1500 metres of elevation gain) trek from Lac Dallaire to the Baie Eternité campsite (TA11/12). “On the earlier hikes there was a lot of up and down and back and forth but on this one the features were really nice the trees changing colours and all that.�

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