Discussion: Wilderness Traverse

Follow the race at the link below! It started at 8 a.m. today. Team Running Free has an early lead after 2.5 hours (Harper Forbes, Scott Ford, Bill Logie).
http://www.wildernesstraverse.com/live-coverage/li...

Meanwhile back in the mangroves, Team 1 O-Store.ca, the longtime defending champion, got stuck in a bog and dropped from 5th to 11th place on the paddle section. Watch them power forward on the next trek!

Is it just the perspective of the casual observer, or do some parts of this race look really difficult??

Will anyone packraft the Moon River? Is it worth it?

People were talking about pack rafting. It has been chilly on the paddle so they may change their mind. In warmer weather, it would be worth thinking about.

Racers at the front and back of the pack have been a few minutes ahead of projected ETA so there haven't been any major flubs yet. The trek will be in the dark for most teams and will be challenging for many, we think.

Thanks for the updates, Bash - watching closely from the snowy Canmore...yep, it snowed here last night:)

Well all my predictions have so far been destroyed based on the current leader board. However this trek will sure level the field. If i was racing, not sure I would use the packraft, just given the temp of the water and fact it will be at night. That is one quick way to chill the body. Or maybe i'm just getting soft.

Very nice course! One of the nicer places to paddle in the region and the Moon River rock barrens is a very cool and fun place for the trek.

Roads look flat - is that faster to 13 than the straighter trail?

Meanwhile, back at the Monsoons of Kentucky, USA (courtesy of Joaquin) the water on the second paddle was actually warmer than the air temp!

No US teams? We'll have to fix that next year!

Looks like the partial road route to CP13 was the choice of top teams - maybe all teams. We'll see!