 By Team Orion HealthAfter a hugely challenging Day 3 (described in this report) the Primal Quest Badlands adventure race in South Dakota USA commenced Day 4 with New Zealand team OrionHealth.com holding onto their lead.
As this report is being written the racing teams have battled with the course; the weather; opposition teams; and not least of all themselves for just over 4 days. Salomon Crested Butte (SCB) is the only team that that has been able to exert any genuine pressure on the current World Adventure Racing champions OrionHealth.com who have slowly but surely increased their lead.
After leaving the Crazy Horse monument teams progressed on foot to the ropes course that had been set up in the Custer State National Park (Custer State NP) in the popular climbing area around the small but picturesque Sylvan Lake.
OrionHealth.com were first to arrive at the base of the impressive climbing section of this year's race. Primal Quest has a history of presenting racers with the opportunity to undertake some stunning climbing and this year they produced yet another challenging and spectacular series of ascents, traverses (including dizzying tyroleans between huge granite spires) and several very long abseils/rappels.
OrionHealth.com were no doubt pleased to be at the ropes course during daylight hours as climbing is easier when not done by torch light - and they were also able to enjoy the amazing scenery and incredible views from their various rocky perches.
At the conclusion of the ropes course teams continued on foot over the remainder of the shortened, but still very long (approx 50 mile/80 km), trek through the Custer State NP to the Wind Cave National Park where they would be provided with their bikes again for some more riding. The 71,000 acre Custer State NP is famous for the nearly 1,600 Bison (commonly known as buffalo) that roam free there. These creatures (along with rattle snakes) were identified in the pre-race briefing as the most dangerous things for teams to be aware of. OrionHealth.com has confirmed that they have had fairly close encounters with both of these animals - two rattlesnake sightings and (during the long trek) a very surly, foot stamping bull who fortunately didn't give chase as they warily gave him the widest berth possible.
Those people watching the SPOT tracking system during the night of trekking will have seen an intriguing contest between the two leaders unfold. Having refreshed themselves with a good sleep at Crazy Horse SCB set off in pursuit of OrionHealth.com and by two thirds of the way through the trek appeared to have clawed back an hour or so to reduce their deficit to approximately 2.5 hours. OrionHealth.com continued to move steadily however and had the confidence to move off tracks into open terrain to ensure they took the most direct route to their destination. Eventually SCB appeared to slow as the long time on their feet and the energy expenditure in pushing to catch the team ahead no doubt began to take its toll.
OrionHealth.com tiredly entered transition after over 20 hours on their feet which were all suffering from the constant friction and impact. They wasted no time in settling down in the transition area to sleep for a well earned 3 hours. Matching this - SCB appeared to have also taken 3 hours sleep whilst out on the course.
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