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The lunar landscape of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area was the backdrop and playground for the Four Winds Mountain Rage Adventure Race Championship Final. Race Organizers, in the pre-race briefing, warned of the possibility of three- to four-foot swells on the lake and the potential for high temperatures in the desert. While erroring on the side of safety, little did organizers know that their chosen professions should have been weather forecasters, as they were two-for-two in their predictions.

A pre-dawn start began the final Four Winds Adventure Race of the season with a five-mile run to checkpoint (CP) 1, the beach head. Racers than quickly transitioned to their kayaks and began one of several kayaking legs. With the vast amount of lake square footage and multiple kayak-swim-hike transitions early on in the race, a team's kayaking skills and its ability to transition in and out of its boats would play a major role early on at this event.

With nightfall, the desert cooled markedly as temperatures plummeted and the dry winds began in earnest. Several teams were forced to bivy or seek medical aid...

Paddling from CP1 to CP3, Team TIMEX, Epinephrine and Gail-Bodie vied for the lead. Once at CP3, racers were instructed to tie-off their kayaks and swim down one of the numerous coves, which riddle the lakeshore, to CP4. A quick hike to the top of an unknown peak saw racers nab CP5, then race downhill and swim back to their waiting boats. Gail-Bodie, Epinephrine and Adventure El-Dorado quickly began to expand their leads during the paddling section to CP7. Another quick transition and swim had racers emerging from a small slot canyon and onto their second hiking leg.

Racers hiked through the rocky washes surrounding the lake to CP8 and 9. After CP9, teams continued hiking, gaining approximately 400 vertical feet in little over a half a mile. Topping out at the rappel section, racers witnessed a breathtaking panorama of the lake and vast untrammeled surrounding area. The 50-foot rappel found racers standing on the edge of the abyss, ready to drop the remaining 350 feet to the lakeshore. Using racks to reduce friction build up — thereby negating any possible rope damage — teams plummeted off the wall to their kayaks.

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Teams paddled to CP11 and transitioned for the longest of the three hiking legs, where the barren landscape reminiscent of Mars and virtually void of all vegetation greeted the racers. Pushing the daylight hours, teams scrambled to finish the last hiking leg, prior to falling darkness. Some teams, however, were not as lucky as the leaders, and were forced to navigate the arid land via headlamp and a quartering moon.

At nightfall, the desert cooled markedly as temperatures plummeted and the dry winds began in earnest. Several teams were forced to bivy or seek medical aid for failing teammates due to hypothermia. Team DAWG/4Winds saw teammate Ann Motekaitis fall to this malady. Fortunately, the team was able to regroup and continue.

Once again transitioning to kayaks, teams raced across the lake for the last paddling leg. The cool desert temperatures whipped up the winds and the swells rose across the lake. The three- to four-foot waves proved difficult for many teams who ultimately signaled for help from the organizers. The trying paddling section culminated with Team Gail-Bodie securing in the lead.

Finally off their feet and out of their boats, racers were able to ride the surrounding countryside...

The last leg of the journey, an approximate 40-mile mountain bike jaunt, was anxiously awaited by all. Finally off their feet and out of their boats, racers were able to ride the surrounding countryside — with only sandy washes, rocks and washboard ruts standing in the way of the finish line. Team Gail-Bodie crossed the finish line first, in little over 28 hours, to take 1st overall in the Two-Person Mixed Category. Team Adventure El-Dorado (Roy Malone and Dan Rathburn) followed closely behind to take the Two-Person Open Category and 2nd place overall.

Captain Paul Romero of Team Epinephrine fresh off his victory a week earlier at the Expedicao Mata Atlantica (a five-day adventure race held annually in the Brazilian rainforest), completed a terrific two-fer, taking top honors in the Four-Person Mixed Category and 3rd overall. With the victory at Lake Mead, Team Epinephrine (Paul Romero, Jack Dunn, Addy Goodvibes and Karen Lundgren) grabbed top honors as the 2000 Four Winds Mountain Rage Adventure Race Points Series Champion.

For more information on the Four Winds Adventure events email the race directors at info@4windsadventure.com.

— Tiger Mann, MountainZone.com Correspondent