There is less than 24 hours to go before the start of the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race – and the course for the 2010 event has finally been announced to the teams gathered in Punta Arenas.
Starting with a kayak across the Straits of Magellan and onto Tierra del Fuego, the course will then head south with a mountain bike sections, a challenging opening trekking section across salt lakes then another long mountain bike run down to the south of the island. The long second trekking section, which includes several areas requiring rope work, with then lead down to the Beagle Channel, where teams will take to the water in Kayaks across to the Isla Navarino. From there, they will hike to a summit overlooking the islands towards Cape Horn then head back north to a final mountain biking run to the finish in Puerto Williams.
A full rundown of checkpoints is below:
URL FOR FULL MAP: http://www.patagonianexpeditionrace.com/2010Map.pdf
START – PRIMERA ANGOSTURA
The Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race 2010 begins at the Strait of Magellan where competitors must face fierce winds and waves to traverse an 8km narrow know as Primera Angostura (‘First Narrows’).
CHECKPOINT 1 – SELK NAM
Named for the aboriginal tribe that once inhabited the region, Selk Nam marks the start of the trekking section for this year’s race. Competitors will drag their kayaks onto the beach and travel 16 km along the shore to checkpoint two. Tide pools, whale bones and the occasional aboriginal artifact are found along this section.
CHECKPOINT 2 – TIERRA DEL FUEGO
At this check point competitors will trade in their hiking poles for mountain bikes to travel a hilly 110km along winding gravel roads to the interior of Tierra del Fuego. From this section up to check point 7, guanacos, sheep and beavers are abundant.
CHECKPOINT 3 – ESTANCIA BLANCA ADRIANA
The 26km trekking section begins at Estancia Blanca Adriana. Racers can expect to see shallow lakes and salt pans throughout this part of the trek.
CHECKPOINT 4 & 5 – CAÑADON GRANDE & NOMADAS DEL PLEISTOCENO
At Cañadon Grande and Nomadas del Pleistoceno the trekking continues. The landscape remains similar to check point three, with many lakes and salt pans.
CHECKPONT 6 – BLOQUÉ ERRÁTICO
Bloqué Errático is situated on top of a windy hill, where racers will pick up their bikes and begin a 128km ride. This section of the race passes an interesting rock formation which protrudes from the side of a hill unlike any other formations in the area.
CHECKPOINT 7 – KARUKINKA (WCS)
Check point seven marks the entry of the route into the Karukinka Wildlife Conservation Reserve, which is supported by the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race. Racers continue with 50km of biking and transition into more mountainous and forested terrain.
CHECKPOINT 8 – LODGE LAGO DESEADO
This checkpoint, situated at the end of a lake with panoramic view of the mountains, is perhaps one of the most spectacular. Competitors will enjoy, if only briefly, incredible vistas of the area complete with a waterfall while trekking the 18km to checkpoint nine.
CHECK POINT 9 – VALLE PROFUNDO
The race really starts to turn up the heat at checkpoint nine, a rappel station where competitors will descend two by two down an overhanging cliff face. After the rappel, the 14km trek to checkpoint ten takes racers over three passes, including Paso de los Vientos (pass of the winds).
CHECKPOINT 10 – RIO AZOPARDO
Another rope skills test for competitors, checkpoint ten is a Tyrolean Traverse across the Azopardo River. After they have crossed the river, racers continue trekking for 18km through peat bog and over a mountain pass.
CHECKPOINT 11 – EL TURBAL
This check point gets its name from the Spanish word for peat bog - el turbal. This is a difficult and draining 16km section of the race due to the water absorbency of the ‘turba’ and has the potential to make or break the teams.
CHECKPOINT 12 – CORDILLERA DARWIN
Check point 12 brings racers into the heart of the Darwin Mountain range. The 18km route sticks mainly to valleys for travel but provides some awe-inspiring scenery.
CHECKPOINT 13 – RIO LAPATAIA
Once competitors reach Rio Lapataia they begin a 15km valley trek through characteristic sub-arctic forest.
CHECKPOINT 14 – GLACIER STOPANNE
At this point racers pass the majestic Stopanne Glacier where they are presented with an amazing view of the Darwin range and begin to trek along the waters of Bahia Yendegaia, a fjord-like ocean channel.
CHECKPOINT 15 – BAHIA YENDEGAIA
Competitors begin the last kayak leg of the race route, a 46km paddle through the historic beagle channel and up the Murray Canal, passing by Isla Button, named for one of the indigenous peoples Charles Darwin took back to England.
CHECKPOINT 16 – BAHIA WULAIA
At check point 16 competitors will pull their kayaks out of the water for the last time and begin the 9km trek to the top of Mt. King Scott, which was chosen specifically for its view of the Darwin Range.
CHECKPOINT 17 – MT. KING SCOTT
This check point is located on the top of Mt. King Scott, at an elevation of 599m. From here teams will backtrack to checkpoint 16 and then continue through dense forest to checkpoint 18.
CHECKPOINT 18 – PC CANAL BEAGLE
This is the very last leg of the route. Competitors will be met with their bicycles in order to ride the 38km on gravel roads to the finish line at Puerto Williams.
