Training Log Archive: Harps

Event: Wilderness Traverse
 

WT with Hansel, Logie and I. Dee had to drop out due to a nasty cold she picked up just days before the start :(

Hammerfest start- stayed in the front pack for about the first km then pulled away a bit with a good lead going onto the bike. Nothing like redlining it first thing on a 20hr race.

Kept up a strong pace to the first TA only to realize Hansel's bag had ripped open and one of his shoes was left behind. Luckily it would be returned by another team before checking back in to the TA.

Did an out and back to CP2 then out and back to CP3. Missed CP3 by about 50m in our bearing and cost us about 5 minutes before realizing. First back at the bikes and off again.

To the paddle TA. Stopped by a train for about 3 minutes (felt like 30!!).

Debated to do the swamp-whack/portage but after looking at the area from afar with no obvious channels decided to just paddle around. Winds were fierce, especially when crosswind but Hansel managed to keep our boat straight and afloat. Put on gore-tex midway through as we were quite chilled. First into the TA but didn't get away before Pulling Foot joined us in the transition area.

Onto the expected crux of the race... Had a logical route choice, hit CP10 with no problem but on route to CP11 were passed by Pulling Foot. At this point I also think the early race fast pace and lack of nutrition (due to the pace) was catching up. Logie, Hansel and myself were all not moving very quick and we'd relinquished the lead for the first time in the race so it was a bit of a morale downer. At this point I'd also realized the bearing I had been following was not the correct one, it was the 'next' bearing I was supposed to take after hitting a landmark. While not too far off (20 degrees), it was enough to push us too far north and into the wet region we wanted to avoid in our intended southerly route. We corrected our bearing but matching features to our top map was very difficult and while I was pretty sure I knew where we were, I certainly wasn't positive. Near CP11 hoping we were at where I thought we were we made the plunge into the freezing bog to cross a wetland creek; much to Logie's dismay. Fortunately there was enough light that we dried up before dark so it wasn't all that bad.

We eventually made it to CP11, a very welcome oasis where we found the friendly 'Bent and Goose with warm soup and hot chocolate! I was so happy we found the CP but had lost almost 40mins to Pulling Foot in the process (however were also informed they had been assessed a 1hr penalty for missing jersey). After some quick nourishment we set off to the Moon River and the next TA. We were bolstered to have some warm liquid and now "back on the map" (knowing where we were) and moved really well from here to the end; running a lot of game trails and eventually out to the trails/roads/portages that parallel the Moon River. We hit the TA just after dark and narrowly missing Pulling Foot.

As we transitioned onto the bikes the rain started coming down so we took a long time to change into our Goretex and ensure we would be warm for the remainder of the race.

The power line trail was as expected - hilly and very rocky with the occasional mud pit to take you off the bike. We kept a fairly strong pace and could see the recent wet tracks of Pulling Foot seemingly getter fresher as we went along. Unfortunately we missed the turn onto the bridge CP and carried on east another 10minutes or so. After pulling out the supplementary backroads mapbook we realized our mistake and turned around. According to the tracks, it cost us nearly 30mins - agh.

We made the boat crossing (and the warm and friendly staff) and carried on making it through the rest of the hydro cut and onto the roads. We blew by the last CP expecting it to be manned and not paying attention to the maps, more time lost and what I figured had put us more than an hour behind. Decided to take the longer road option back in hopes of pushing a good pace and drafting to the home stretch. Drafting worked well but our pace was less than stellar as all of us were pretty cooked. At last the bright lights of Orville welcomed us around 2am, where we punched in 58 mins after PF giving us the win by technicality.

Great volunteers and course design as always, can't get a better true wilderness and navigation-based 24-hour adventure race. Thanks to great teammates for a tough fast race to end out the season! Just wish Dee could have joined us, would have been great to be part of the co-ed competition but she made the right call given how sick she was and the weather.

C • Congrats! 19