Patagonian Expedition Race
The Last Stages of the Last Wild Race
Rob Howard and Anne-Marie Dunhill / 24.02.2016
The wait at the Camp of Last Hope was over, with the go-ahead given by the navy for the second kayaking stage to begin at 8am this morning. After a night of very heavy rain, the sea was calm in the morning light as the teams bustled around the forest getting ready. The only team not departing were Norcal Odyssey who arrived at 23.15 last night after a very long trek and decided to retire. Wendy Welling had been suffering with a bad hip, which was why the team moved so slowly, and she could go no further.
With their withdrawal, at the start of the paddle stage, the current race positions/times were:
1 - Godzone Adventure - 130.50
2 - Merrell Adventure Addicts - 146.55
3 - East Wind - 147.07
4 - YogaSlackers - 156.58
5 - Mind Over Body - 160.08
Just as the teams set off, the sun came out, shining off the bright yellow Necky kayaks as the teams set off across the sound. They were soon dots in the distance beneath the vast bulk of the Balmaceda peak and glaciers. The paddle route took them directly beneath two of the glaciers which fall to almost sea level here. Then towards the end, as the wind rose and conditions worsened, the view opened up to show a majestic panorama of the iconic peaks and towers of Torres del Paine.
It was a spectacular paddle, but perhaps not one where Masato Tanaka could take in the views. With his injuries he couldn't paddle properly and was leaning sideways, paddling determinedly on one side, his face contorted in pain with each stroke. Merrell Adventure Addicts were the first team to arrive, soon followed by Godzone Adventure, then YogaSlackers, Mind Over Body and finally East Wind. They transitioned by the huts at the Balmaceda hostel, with Godzone first away on the final trek.
At this point YogaSlackers made the decision to stop the race due to Jason Magness' hip injury. He explained, "I've had 10 moments of joy in the race but it's worth it, and the rest was pain. That's the amazing thing about this sport, you have to be willing to suffer to even start." The team thanked the Race Director for giving them the opportunity to push their limits, way past anything they'd experienced before.
Chelsea Magness was in tears and said, "It's been heartbreaking but this place is full of heartbreak as well as joy. We want to come back with 8 hips, instead of 7. We will certainly be back." Team East Wind had made the decsision to continue after all, and packed up ready to go, with Masato Tanaka still in his neck brace, and still showing tremendous courage.
The remaining 4 teams are now on the final 41km stage over Paso Byron to the finish at Perales. The trek crosses a glacier leading up to the pass and is part of the route of the Ultra Fiord trail race which is also organised by NIGSA.
[Story submitted by YB Satellite Tracker.]
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