In regards to your reporting on our team during the race and specifically the "assistance" provided by Eco-Italia. Rubicon was not "way off course" as you reported on your web report. We had one team member with a bad ankle which precluded us from going off trail if at all avoidable and another who was showing symptoms of altitude sickness which forced us to take the lowest altitude route possible. This required us to take a more circuitous trail route from PC10 to PC11 traveling further to the West than a direct route would have.

We however knew exactly where we were at all times which wasn't difficult as we were on mapped trails the whole time due to our team's inability at the time to cross-country. Eco-Italia consulted US on where they were when they saw us and it was shown to them on the map. We were at the junction of a descending trail which they were unable to find and in order to borrow an extra sleeping bag which they had we followed them past the proper junction ¼mile to where they wanted to sleep until it was light and they could resume navigating. One of our team members was quite ill by this time so we were forced to remain with them.

Since we were pulled off the trail junction by them we asked them to mark the junction if they decided to try to relocate it before light. They waited till dawn at which time we all left and the proper trail (which we had previously identified) was obvious.

It is understandable that the reporters on this event must use a great deal of hearsay due to the spread out nature of the event. It would be appreciated if you would correct the account of the race on your web site for future readers. It misrepresents the events as they actually occurred and is an unfair reflection of Team Rubicon's skills.

Kirk Boylston
Team Rubicon

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