The lead teams have climbed up very steep glacial terrain littered with avalanche debris. Teams are surrounded by massive jagged peaks and will cross heavily crevassed ice fields. With teams roped together and fully aware that it is possible at any moment to plunge into a crevasse, this is real mountaineering. The decisions made by several teams to travel together are wise ones.
Team Propeller-heads has taken a firm hold of the race. The winners of last year's event, Steve Gurney, Nathan Fa'avae, Kathy Lynch and Jeff Mitchell have begun to pull steadily away from the field. The team has just passed through CP13 at Cameron Hut nestled high on the glacier — officials report team members are well and strong.
| Teams are surrounded by massive jagged peaks and will cross heavily crevassed ice fields... |
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For most of yesterday, Propeller-heads maintained a one hour lead, but overnight it stretched this to a healthy 2.5 hours. Chasing hard is Team Nokia, reported to be looking very tired; at one time during the freezing night the team was forced to stop to warm up feet.
Vying for places, The Science Team, Merrell Footwear, inthepacific.com, Cromwell, and Outside Sports move steadily through this spectacular leg. The forecasted snow has not come true, but the high wind, low visibility and
very cold temperatures are making for very slow travel.
Further back in the field, at least four teams were forced to seek overnight shelter during the kayak section. The rules stating teams must be off the water by nightfall forced them to endure a cold night camped out on a river bank.
Team Sierra International is currently on hold at the end of the kayaking leg. Plagued by illness, it is deciding if it is possible to continue.
The forecast for today is for light snow showers and high winds with gradual clearing.
– Chris Vile, MountainZone.com Correspondent
