Back from Patagonia

I spent most of last month on assignment in Southern Chile covering the 2009 Wenger Patagonia Expedition Race (WPER). This was my second year covering the event and like last year, this year’s race was nothing short of amazing!

WPER is known in the adventure racing community as one of the longest and most challenging adventure races in the world. As noted in a previous entry, the race takes place each February in remote Patagonia and travels through some of the most pristine and wild environments left in the world. Starting at Lago Grey in the world renowned Torres del Paine National Park, the racers kayaked, hiked and mountain biked over 650 km ending at the iconic Sea Cross at Cape Froward, the southernmost point of mainland South America.

The experience of this year’s race impacted me in a new way. Now that I have been back in the office ten days and have had some time to reflect on the trip, what sticks with me the most is the relationships formed while covering a race of this length. Watching the teams work together while battling against challenging weather conditions and an ever-counting clock spoke to me on a different level that years past. Stjepan Pavicic, the race founder/director, even acquired the endearing nickname of “El Diablo” (the devil) by the racers for his stunning, yet extremely difficult race route. All the finishing teams seemed to comment on the final 120 km trekking section of the race. Route finding, weather and forward progress challenged the the teams, especially while bushwacking through what came to be known as “the forest from hell”. But with smiles at the finish, it seems needless to say that I find myself with a new respect for the physical and emotional dedication of each athlete.

Aside from the racers, the media, race coordinators and volunteers formed a special bond in between the action. The opportunity of traveling to such a pristine and renowned place is an honor, but I found what made the real “adventure” this year were the people I had the privilege of sharing it with. Rarely do I get to spend so much time with such a diverse group of people in such an incredible location. Working together toward a common goal always seems to formulate a sense of camaraderie and our own challenges and hardships built friendships in a unique way. All of this inspired my own photographs and made my personal race experience even more meaningful.

New images from this year’s race will be posted on my website in the days to come. Stay tuned for these and additional web updates.

To read more reports from the race please visit the official race website at www.patagonianexpeditionrace.com or visit my friend Rob Howard’s adventure racing website: www.sleepmonsters.com/racereport.php?race_id=7220.

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