LA RUTA MADRE EXPEDITION RACE
La Ruta Madre - One of the Toughest Races in Mexico
Javier Barreda and Marcela González (Yeti Adventures) / 30.11.2017
This first La Ruta Madre race was an event that came to stay in our country, a race that exceeded expectations and the demands expected by national and international teams. They did not know that this was such a demanding race, so beautiful with its landscapes and canyons, and with excellent execution by the organization. (The safety objective was zero accidents and it was fulfilled.)
The story goes like this; first came the inauguration at the Cola de Caballo Hotel, in the magical village of Santiago, at 8:00 p.m., where participants were given the route they would have to follow. All were eager to live the true adventure that Mexico can offer them and show it to the world. The faces were astonished, frightened, but at the same time excited to overcome the challenge, as they began to mark the route on the maps that had been assigned to them. Each team had to discover which was the best way ….
Then they had two hours to prepare all their gear and start at 00:00 hrs on Sunday November 19th. "... 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!" They set off trail running to disappear into our mountains.
The Socavón, Puerto Gringo and La Botella were some of the points they had to run to, then change to mountain bikes to reach Laguna de Sánchez. After this point, they left the bikes and started on foot to La Camotera. Soon they arrived at the Matacanes Canyon, "El Cañón de México", where they had to traverse upstream through the cold water and climb its emblematic waterfall by ropes, just after the sunrise.
From there, they continued their journey to Potrero Redondo, to resupply and rappel down the most beautiful waterfall of the region: Chipitín, which seduces us all with its beauty and the green colours of the moss that surround it next to its turquoise lagoon. Here they continued downstream to begin the route of Hydrophobia. More water!
Finally they ended at Las Adjuntas and here they changed back to mountain bikes to ride 18km and 1,000 meters of uphill. They were really pushing hard to climb this mountain and many abandoned the race on this climb. Finally the teams come back to La Botella to go up to Puerto Gringo and then down at full speed to La Presa de la Boca, where they transitioned to the kayak stage to reach the finish line.
The first place team arrived at 19:01 hrs, a time that really impacted everyone, they were the first to achieve it! Only 5 teams out of 15 finished, and in the mixed category, only 1 team managed to finish in 29:03 hours, just within the time limit of 30 hours.
The award ceremony was held next day in the same hotel at 2:00pm and all the participants were very happy with their performance, they could not believe what they had done even if they had not finished the full course. They were amazed with the potential of nature that we have in our region to offer to the world.
The prizes were great, the first two places took $56,000 pesos (around $3,000 USD), the second place $28,000 and the third place $16,000 pesos.
Next year Yeti Adventures will organize a bigger adventure race, with different distances, approximately 50, 100 and 200 km. With relay options, singles, mixed teams, men and women; opening the opportunity to participate at any level.
It will really be a great challenge! But the best thing is that a children's adventure race will be organized so that the whole family can participate.
Race Details:
Distance: +100 km
Sports: Moutaineering, trail running, canyoneering, paddling, orienteering, mountain bike, rappelling and rope ascends.
Participation: 15 teams, 2 of them mixed teams (2 women)
For more details see the Yeti Adventures website at http://www.yetiadventures.mx/index_en.html
Find the race on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/LaRutaMadreExpeditionRace
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