Red Bull Northern Exposure
The Final Push (Tuesday afternoon)
Rob / 16.04.2002
The last teams are getting near the finish line and i looks like they are all going to make it back before dark.
Seven Days, and Canonball both arrived just after 2pm, with Paul McCarty joining his team again to walk into the finish from Loch Morlich. That left 3 more unranked teams out on the course, On The Hill Volunteers, Rathro Quarry and Boogie Knights. They’d camped out overnight before climbing up onto Braeriach in the early hours, and like the earlier teams they all had some exciting conditions.
Graham O’Hanlan of the volunteers said, “It was awful, strong winds blowing up spindrift into our faces and soft snow to wade through, it was hard going. It’s been hard all day, not really demanding on the muscles but just keeping going and dealing with the lack of sleep.� He was talking while putting his boots back on after a river crossing in the Rothiemurchas Forest, and on the far bank Team Boogie Knights were getting ready to cross.
“They’ll catch us on the next bike ride,� O’Hanlan said, “we know them well as we’re all in Glasgow Mountain Bike Club.� As it turned out he was wrong and the volunteers got to the finish first. “I’m not sure I’d do it again,� he said, “but will be glad to tick it off.�
Shortly after they left Boogie Knights came across, in text book river crossing technique, arm in arm, facing upstream. They’d rejoined the race after being stopped at the rope ascent and held at the previous transition. Now they are back on the course all the teams are still going in one form or another. Andy McAndlish had a different view on the weather on the summit. “It was fantastic, one minute it was clear, the next a white out. I took a bearing at one point, and soon after realised I’d done a complete U-turn!�
They headed off to retrieve their bikes for the last time, then rode back through the forest to Loch Morlich for the final paddle. Though it had been rough up in the mountains the weather lower down had been bright and sunny all day, and the view of the snow covered hills across the loch was a perfect backdrop for the end of the race.
The finish had now been moved the beach on the loch shore and a small crowd of marshals gathered to cheer them home. Reflecting on the race McAndlish said, “The variety was great, there was always a new challenge. You never quite knew what they’d have you doing next and just as you got fed up of one thing it was time for another. Just when your blisters were hurting you waded a river to cool your feet down! It’s been great.�
The final team, Ratho Quarry, are still out on the course, but should get back before dusk.
SleepMonsters
