Mike scheduled to cover the 2009 Patagonian Expedition Race

For the second year in a row, I’ve been invited to Chile in February to cover the 2009 edition of the Patagonian Expedition Race. This race is one of the longest and most difficult adventure races in the world. Held each year during the peak summer season in Patagonia, the race travels through some of the most pristine and remote wilderness left on the Earth. This year, over 12 internationally mixed teams of 4, will cover approximately 650 km over 10 days. Starting near the southeast edge of the Southern Patagonia Icecap, the teams will hike, mountain bike, and sea kayak through largely unexplored terrain ending at Cape Froward, the southernmost point on the mainland of South America.

Last year I was one of the few international journalist invited to cover the race. To put it simply this was one of the most incredible experiences I had in my career. In every way possible it exceeded my expectations. Even though I have worked with many professional athletes, the athleticism, skill, and commitment of the racers was.

Unlike anything I had seen. The terrain they encountered was both extremely demanding and truly wild. One of the highlights for me as a journalist was a trekking section through Karukinka National Preserve. This private reserve on Tierra del Fuego is bigger than many US National Parks and was largely unexplored prior to the race. During a three day trek into the preserve while covering the race, we stood on top of ridges that hadn’t been seen by humans, looking out across a sea of peaks and geological features that were largely unnamed. It was a humbling experience I’ll never forget. I can only image how the racers felt having traveled through all 450 km of the race. To see a selection of images from last year’s race please visit the “Patagonian Expedition Race” portfolio on my main site here.

If you are a client interested in publishing an article or images related to the race please call (801) 560-6136 or e-mail mike@miketittel.com. Along with my time in Chile covering the race, this year I will be extending my stay in Patagonia to explore more of the region. If you are a client in need of images from Southern Chile/Argentina please contact me as well. I’d love to discuss your project.

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