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 32 Countries52 Teams12 Days |
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Teams Stranded in Storm
Overnight the whole nature of this race changed dramatically. Drastic weather has made it a matter of sheer survival for those unfortunate enough to be caught in the high alpine anywhere between PC7 and PC11. This part of the course has been officially placed on hold and all teams have been ordered to return to PC7. Yesterday's high winds and rain have deteriorated even further throughout the Bariloche region of the Andes mountains. Up to 20cm of new snow covers the course and at PC9 – the top of the Cathedral Spires – gale-force winds exceeding 100 knots have been recorded.
Mountain guides are calling the conditions atrocious, with zero visibility and blowing snow. Much of this leg of the course requires competitors to ascend fixed ropes and vertical rock walls that are now covered in ice and snow, making them impassable. At first light this morning, race management broke into emergency mode trying to access the status of those stranded on the mountain. Though the personnel manning PC9 high in the mountains are very prepared for this environment, they radioed this morning and said that they would be unable to endure another night of these conditions.
Team East Wind Japan was forced to use their emergency radio this morning, hopelessly lost and in bad shape after surviving the night in the violent storm. The last news was that they were in constant radio contact with officials trying to access their position in order to verbally guide them to safety. A number of other teams are also in bad shape. Team Hombres de Maiz (Guatemala) and Team Brazil Adventure were also forced to use emergency radios to call for help. Both teams were utterly lost and unable to navigate the terrain between PC6 and PC7. Both teams have since been reported safe and travelling together to Camp I. At the start of this race Mark Burnett said that the weather would always be a major factor. His prediction has certainly come true and with emergency medical and rescue teams on standby, it's going to be a very busy day. It seems the race has now been split into two, with the lead teams well clear of the carnage in the mountains and creating a gab that seems impossible for the chasing teams to close. Basically, any team that failed to pass the mountains before the storm hit is out of the running! Team Greenpeace has increased its lead and is now charging towards PC13 after a night of white water kayaking. Members of that team wisely choose to portage around the Class IV Tobogan Rapids rather than risk flipping their inflatable kayaks in the freezing water. Team Rubicon has now fallen five hours and 45 minutes behind Greenpeace, but only because the team members decided they must stop and sleep. At some point soon, Team Greenpeace must surely have to do the same!
Members of Team Halti of Finland have gathered quite a reputation during the event
for mouthing off about their skills — and the possibly unfound confidence in
their skills. It seems their earlier wish for "snow and temperatures to
drop 20 degrees" has come true.
Relishing in these conditions, they have climbed to 3rd place and are only three hours
behind Team Rubicon.
They are followed by:
Team Sierra Nevada (Spain) Operating tables at the Bariloche hospital have now been host to two competitors: Kristina Strode-Penny of Team Map Info underwent surgery to repair her broken ankle and late yesterday Laura Walsh of Team Outback Canada underwent surgery to remove a large ovarian cyst. But out in the field, things are still going off. Today is going to be very interesting, so stay tuned! — Chris Vile, MountainZone.com Correspondent
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