Primal Quest 2008-Montana-Adventure Race
The sign off on everyone of my articles says that Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those that can't or won't turn back.
People who can't turn back. The ones that won't stop until they hear glass as my dad used to say. law enforcement, Search And Rescue, Military Special Ops. Life or death stuff. The other ones are the ones that could quit if they wanted to but won't because they just couldn't live with themselves if they did. Elite hunters. Ultra-marathoners and trail runners. Adventure racers. They are the epitome of hardcore outdoor.
That last group. The nut bag, masochistic competitive wilderness racers are the worst of the bunch. Certified crazies that would sooner puke their guts out, endure otherwise debilities blisters, cramps, diarrhea and hypothermia than quit. These are the hardest of the hardcore and their race is underway right now in Big Sky, Montana.
Primal Quest 2008 got underway this morning at 10:00am and will run for the next 10 days over 500 miles of incredibly difficult terrain and water. They will riverboard and raft class III rapids, kayak, mountain bike, run, climb and negotiate technical rope sections to get from start to finish. Going all out against the clock and 60 other teams 24/7. It is an absolutely amazing spectacle of the human endurance and will and you can track their progress for the first time ever in near real time because each team has been outfitted with a SPOT Satellite Messenger units. Check out the topographical course map and satellite view to see which teams are ahead, behind and hopelessly off route. Click here to see a picture of how the racers are using the units.
It is fantastic technology and just very cool to watch this all unfold from the comfort of your home or office, but I think I need to get a little closer. I think I am going to have to head up there and see the carnage first hand. Adventure racing is something I have always wanted to do but never had the time. Primal Quest is really the pinnacle of the sport in this country and I have a invitation to get a behind the scenes look at what these teams and their support crews go through. I am particularly interested in the medical, Search And Rescue and gear aspects of an event this size and duration.
Should be very interesting.
Wade Nelson
Editor
People who can't turn back. The ones that won't stop until they hear glass as my dad used to say. law enforcement, Search And Rescue, Military Special Ops. Life or death stuff. The other ones are the ones that could quit if they wanted to but won't because they just couldn't live with themselves if they did. Elite hunters. Ultra-marathoners and trail runners. Adventure racers. They are the epitome of hardcore outdoor.
That last group. The nut bag, masochistic competitive wilderness racers are the worst of the bunch. Certified crazies that would sooner puke their guts out, endure otherwise debilities blisters, cramps, diarrhea and hypothermia than quit. These are the hardest of the hardcore and their race is underway right now in Big Sky, Montana.
Primal Quest 2008 got underway this morning at 10:00am and will run for the next 10 days over 500 miles of incredibly difficult terrain and water. They will riverboard and raft class III rapids, kayak, mountain bike, run, climb and negotiate technical rope sections to get from start to finish. Going all out against the clock and 60 other teams 24/7. It is an absolutely amazing spectacle of the human endurance and will and you can track their progress for the first time ever in near real time because each team has been outfitted with a SPOT Satellite Messenger units. Check out the topographical course map and satellite view to see which teams are ahead, behind and hopelessly off route. Click here to see a picture of how the racers are using the units.
It is fantastic technology and just very cool to watch this all unfold from the comfort of your home or office, but I think I need to get a little closer. I think I am going to have to head up there and see the carnage first hand. Adventure racing is something I have always wanted to do but never had the time. Primal Quest is really the pinnacle of the sport in this country and I have a invitation to get a behind the scenes look at what these teams and their support crews go through. I am particularly interested in the medical, Search And Rescue and gear aspects of an event this size and duration.
Should be very interesting.
Wade Nelson
Editor
Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.
Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who can't or won't turn back.
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