Team Enviromark/Chirosport, comprised of Gerry, Frances, Randy and Sue returned to our favorite area, northern Wisconsin, to defend our title as the winners of the 2003 Northern Route Adventure Race. The team composition had changed from 3 to 4 person so we asked Sue to join us for this race.

Check-in was at the beautiful Telemark Resort, located east of Cable. After the customary pre-race pasta dinner, the course maps and directions were distributed. Seven topo maps were distributed with UTM's. The course was plotted for the race and also for Becky, our support person. The race started at 6:00 a.m. in front of the Telemark Lodge with a biking leg for the 9 registered teams. The initial leg was on paved roads. The pace was fast with teams drafting off of each other.

At each intersection, teams would peel off to the north. As we passed the road I had planned to take, I decided to continue to draft off of Loose Gravel/Outek. Mistake! They left us in their dust! We continued to pedal hard. We actually passed checkpoints which were used in the 2003 race! Past Lake Namakagon on County Road D we went. We arrived at TA1 in 5th place at 0718 and left at 0722 for the orienteering leg of the race. We had actually gone 3 miles further than the teams which arrived only minutes before us.

I continue to reinforce the need to stick with my race plan and not enjoy drafting so much as to go further than necessary. Spirits were high though and the 6 mile trail run on the North Country was thoroughly enjoyable. Although there were thirteen "O" points scattered through the wilderness of the Grandview Chequamegon National Forest, we were required to find 10. Strategically, we wanted to get to the rappel first which we accomplished by arriving at 8:35 and completing it at 8:49 a.m.

From the 60" rappel, we bushwhacked to OP1 located at a trail shelter. Then to OP4 we thought. That's when things unraveled. The side trail branching off to the north was no where to be found! We were joined by LG/Outek. No trail. Plan B was quickly formulated and off down the trail Shep and I ran. OOPS! Wrong team. Once rejoined, we backtracked and off to OP 5 we went.

On the way, we encountered a wood turtle, an endangered species in Wisconsin. Biggest turtle I have ever seen. Even looked old and wrinkled. Probably, 2' x 2' square in size. Cool! We continued on, occasionally, meeting LG/Outek to jointly look for a marker. We ultimately ran low on water and had to purify water and fill bladders on the Marengo River, a root beer colored, ice cold waterway.

The markers were difficult to locate as their were no catching features or handrails to orient off of. Roads on the maps no longer existed in the wilderness, swamps were too plentiful and creeks apparently had dried up. The mosquitoes started to turn it up a notch becoming memorable. Ultimately, we located 6 of the 12 markers. We were dehydrated and bit up. We decided to return to the TA to regroup, get water and food.

I experienced "Monking", a new malady to hit navigators who don't find all of the required markers and let the team down. It is a blend of moping and bonking! We finally arrived at the TA at 5:55 p.m. with yours truly in tow. Then it hit us! We had been under attack from TICKS! They were every where. We counted 16! Under our socks, shorts, in our hair, and even under my watch.

We ate, changed clothes, got on our bikes and were ready to press on. We were advised by the race staff that since we hadn't got all of the required markers, we would be disqualified and would continue as unranked. No penalty time! That was the last straw. We decided as a team to discontinue the race to avoid injury and save it for another day. It was a hard decision to make and one we took with heavy hearts. In hind sight it probably was the right decision to make.

On the way back to Telemark Lodge from the Twin Lands Campground we got to see a black bear. It was great to race with Randy again since it was the first race since Los Angeles. Becky, as usual was the support diva. All teams seem to gravitate to her to see how it's done. Sue and Frances were as strong as ever. All we can say for sure is....we will be back!

- Gerry