Very quickly, the teams go from trekking to MTB for a short track on wheels. This is a very well marked secondary road but with the recent showers it might have flooded areas with mud before they get to PC3 Rio Grande.
Team 7- Medilast Sport Lleida – Sky from Spain and Chile is still head in this race. In this CP there is an 8 hour breach between the first and last team. Once again, we should not draw early conclusion considering what is stored next.
From PC3 Rio Grande, the racers trek 110 kms through Karukinka, (WCS).
During the first 10 kms, the path takes the racers to the magic Lago Escondido (Hidden Lake). Then, there are only Guanco’s paths which can mislead the way. Throughout this entire track, it becomes evident all the damage caused by the beavers with their lumberjack activities. They are utterly changing the landscape in Tierra del Fuego as they have become an unstoppable force.
From Lago Escondido the teams have to move south towards Condor River Valley, where it is likelly to encounter herd of wild horses known as Baguales. From here they have to continue ESE direction to Lago Blanco (White Lake). This part is quite easy due to the open forest and many grasslands as well as wetlands which allows a steady pace. Once in Lago Blanco, in the area of Estancia Onamonte, the route book indicates to go around the south side of the lake, where there are wetlands that allows the visitor to enjoy the magnificent view of the most important mountains in the Karukinka area. From the south side of the lake, the race continues through narrow valleys with forests before PC 4, Chorrillo Los Perros.
Since the moment the racers began the 110 kms trek 2 days ago, there has not been news from them. The silence is absolute, they are crossing an area with no human presence, press or even aid from the organization. It is a forbidden zone, only open to those courageous soul who set off in Punta Arenas.
14:25 hrs. The first team that managed to get out of this 110 kms trek is Nº1, www.autentic-nutrition.com (France-USA), with a total of 55 hours. 1 hour and 30 minutes later team Nº7, MEDILAST SPORT LLEIDA – SKY (Spain – Chile), three hours later TEAM TUAREG TURK (Turkey), and an hour later TEAM LITTLETON BIKE AND FITNESS (USA – Canada), and finally an hour later, team CANARIAS – ANDALUCIA SPIUK TENERIFE (Spain). These five teams finish the track before the closing time which is set for tomorrow february 16th at noon.
Once again, a deep silence takes over. The current status of the remaining teams is unknown. They are completelly alone, in the middle of nowhere in the island of Tierra del Fuego.
From PC4 Chorrillo los Perros , the teams that are still in competition will take their bikes and ride for some 57 kms. At this altitude, the steppe slowly vanishes and gives room to the forest that covers the land under the 600 m.a.s.l The road goes up over 600 m.a.s.l and then descends in sinuous and narrow curves to Lago Deseado. Once there, the runners can not indulge themselves with a long rest, for a new ascent is about to begin up to 680 m.a.s.l where is located PC5 Collado Genskowski.
23:30 hrs. team 7- Medilast Sport Lleida – Sky from Spain/Chile arrive to PC5, Collado Genskowski and they are in first place once again.
04:15 hrs. team Nº1, www.autentic-nutrition.com (France-USA) quickly rushes through PC5, Collado Genskowski and begins a new trek. 2 hours later CANARIAS – ANDALUCIA SPIUK TENERIFE (Spain) shows up, 4 hours later TEAM LITTLETON BIKE AND FITNESS (USA – Canada), and finally an hour later TEAM TUAREG TURK (Turkey).
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