The Camp of Last Hope

Rob Howard / 23.02.2016

Team Merrell Adventure Addicts and East Wind arrived some hours after at The Last Hope Camp and both probably thought it was well named. Merrell came in first, their light visible as they picked their way along the shore, which is easier at low tide. They had been guided into camp by a red strobe the staff erected, otherwise it would have been very hard to find. Staff met them on the shore and checked them in, telling them to camp in the bush behind the kayaks, and giving them the bad news that there would be no kayaking in the morning. Word had come through from the Chilean Navy that the paddling will not restart until 8am the following day.

As they headed into the bush Hano Smit said, ‘That was some trek - we were thinking more about surviving than racing!’

Robyn Kime said, ‘The nearest thing I’ve done to that was the first trek on this race, but I’ve never been up in the snow and ice like that before, or in such dense bush for so long.’ The team soon found the ‘campsite’ was the next challenge. There was barely space for a tent and all the ground, mostly leaf mould, was waterlogged Not a great place to spend the next two nights.

Graham Bird was exasperated. ‘There were better campsites on the hillside,’ he said, ‘This is ridiculous.’ His team were calmer and when Smit asked if an unpromising-looking space would work, Kime just said, ‘Perfect.’ ‘Then she got out the ice axe to hack at some branches and stumps. It took them the better part of an hour to get a tent up and they will be glad of the shelter if the wind starts up tomorrow.

Team East Wind came in from the other direction, with the film crew who had accompanied them. (They are a tough film crew - all expert alpinists and Everest mountaineers.) When they arrived the team announced they wanted to retire. The staff advised them they would get a full day’s rest and rethink the decision before the start of the kayak.

However from what they told me I think they are concerned for their captain’s health after his accident. He has made incredible time on the toughest of treks while in a lot of pain, but this movement is restricted and he probably needs further medical checks. How he trekked in a neck brace which meant he could not look down at his feet, I don’t know. This didn’t stop the film crew interviewing him for 30 minutes before he had sat down, had a drink or found a campsite and all the other team members got the same treatment. They were shivering and unsteady but stoically stood with the bright lights in their faces to answer questions. Eventually they managed to get a tent up and rest, and we’ll have to wait to see what they do next after a day spent resting in the Camp of Last Hope.

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