Team Enviromark, comprised of Gerry, Frances and Randy with Becky as support, raced in the Northern Route Adventure Race on September 6 - 7, 2003 in Mellen, Wisconsin. The race was presented by Enterprise Adventure Sports, LLC. The race director was Lance Basting. The 24 hour, 120+ mile course was located in north central Wisconsin, approximately 45 miles northeast of Hayward.

The team camped prior to the race at the beautiful Copper Falls State Park campground. Check-in was at race headquarters at Gillman Park in Mellen. After a mandatory gear check, mandatory gear weigh-in, rope proficiency test, the teams met at the Mellen High School for a delicious spaghetti dinner and pre-race briefing.

There were 11 teams represented. Teams were comprised of 2 and 4 person all male and 3 person coed. After the briefing, the next four hours were spent locating the 23 UTM's and in determining the fastest routes. Start time was scheduled for 0500 a.m.

After the usual restless night, the race started exactly on time with a fast 6 mile bike sprint to CP1/TA1 which was reached at 0530. The Team was out of CP1/TA1 at 0530 on a trail run over the North County National Scenic Trail. The trekking section was approximately 14 miles long to unmanned CP2 at a creek/trail intersection. From CP2 a 1.25 mile bushwhack to the southwest along a creek to a small lake led to CP3/TA2 located in a quarry. At this CP, all racers were required to leave a 15 oz. can of vegetables which were to be donated to a local food pantry.

The team arrived at CP3/TA2 at 0930 and departed at 10:08. While at CP3/TA2 the teams were required to don climbing harnesses and hike up a trail to a 70' cliff face. Once the team arrived, one other team was on the ropes causing a 2 minute wait. This wait would ultimately determine the final team standings. Once the ropes were clear, Gerry, Frances and Randy ascended the ropes. Upon reaching the top of the cliff, the racers rappelled down the face to the bottom and back to the transition area.

The bikes were quickly mounted and off for a 7 mile ride on gravel roads to CP4/TA3 located at the Namekagon Lake Campground and Picnic area Boat Ramp. The team arrived at 10:50 a.m. and departed at 11:01 in a canoe on the paddle leg. The paddle leg consisted of 5 lake points scattered throughout Lake Namekagon. The LP1 was on an island approximately 1.5 miles south and west from the put in. LP2 was under a bridge 1.5 miles east of that point. LP3 was at the edge of a swamp 1 mile south of LP2. LP 4 was under a bridge at the south end of the lake approximately 4 miles west, south and east of LP3. LP 5 was located at the far east end of the lake on the high side of an island approximately 1 mile from LP4. CP5/TA4 was located 4 miles to the west and south. Overall, the paddle leg was 13 miles.

Weather conditions were calm, sunny, and hot making for ideal paddling conditions. CP5/TA4 was located at a resort. The Team arrived at 2:05 p.m. and left at 2:39, after changing into biking gear and getting a bite to eat. The next leg of the race involved mountain biking on the CAMBA Namakagon Loop. Upon reporting in at the checkpoint at 2:44 p.m. the teams were given a map of the trail system and a passport. Three CP's were located off the Rock Lake Trail Head. The trail loop was approximately 7 miles in length.

The trail was undergoing rehabilitation and installation of water bars. It could only be described as rough, choppy, and steep. The Team was able to fight through the cramping, heat and bugs to report out with a completed passport at 4:52 p.m. After a short 15 minute ride on hard surfaced roads, CP6, located at a trail/road intersection in a parking lot was reached at 5:07.

CP 6 was the "mystery event." The volunteer at the CP gave each team an orienteering map of the Nature Conservancy Wilderness area. Four OP's were scattered though out. The total distance covered was approximately 3 miles and was completed at 6:27 p.m. From CP 6 the Team proceeded on bikes 1.8 miles to a snowmobile trail. CP7 was located at a trail intersection. From CP7 a 230 degree bearing was shot. After a short bushwhack, CP8 was located in a small depression. Back to CP7 and on the bikes, CP9 was located at a trail/road intersection. CP10 was located at a road intersection. CP11 was located off a snowmobile trail and after a short bushwhack at the south end of White Bass Lake.

Back on the bikes, the Team rode through the Town of Clam Lake and the bar which offers 10 cent beer draws. Although tempting, CP 12/TA5 and the thought of getting off the bikes was stronger. Night time had settled in and the Team was feeling strong and cramp free. Riding fast on the black top, Frances rear tire started to flat about 2 miles from the CP/TA. The decision was made to fill it with a Big Air instead of changing the tube. Once it was filled, Frances furiously rode to CP12/TA5. Although close, she made it before it flatted again, saving value time. The Team arrived at 8:32 p.m. in 4th place.

At the TA, the Team was met by the support crews of at least seven other teams who had not yet arrived. They all wanted to help. Although somewhat uncomfortable stripping out of wet clothes in front of all of them, we quickly changed, ate, and exited at 8:53 p.m. A special thank you to Leo Grant from Adventure North LLC, for changing the tube on Frances's bike and all of the assistance he provided Becky.

The previous biking leg was approximately 15 miles in length. The next leg involved a 3 mile trek over snowmobile trails and a power line access road. Many sections had to be bushwhacked. CP13 proved to be a challenge to locate as it was located off a little used trail at the southeast corner of a trail/fire road intersection. Much time was taken in locating it. Once CP13 was located, the power line was followed to another fire road which branched off through a swamp to the northwest. Using a power pole as a benchmark, a short bushwhack through thick brush led to it.

Back on the power line road and to an unmarked fire road, the Team arrived at CP15/TA6 located near Wood Tick Lake at 11:15 p.m. At this point in the race Team Enviromark was in 2nd place, closely followed by Team Enterprise, a 4 person all male team and Team Kinetic, a 2 person all male team. Team MNOC a 3 person coed team had arrived at 9:25 p.m. and solidly held first place. After a short transition, the Team left on bikes for the final leg of the race at 11:39 p.m. Initially, the ride was on gravel roads for about 3 miles. CP16 was located at the trail intersection with the Great Divide Snowmobile Trail. The Great Divide Trail was well maintained, solid, a fast. CP17 was easily located on the south side of the trail.

A navigational decision was made by Gerry to exit the trail and re-enter the parallel gravel road and access CP18 from the east by a short back track. This strategy proved to be faster as the road was smooth and hard and shorter in distance. From CP18, it was back onto the Great Divide Trail to CP19 at an intersection with a hiking trail. CP 20 was located at another intersection with a hiking trail further to the east.

After leaving CP20 a swamp was encountered. The knee deep swamp water covered the trail for approximately 100 yards. 6/10's of a mile past CP20, CP21 was located on the east side of an intersecting trail to the north. After 90 minutes of searching all nearby trails, the decision was made to continue. There were fresh ATV tracks in the area. Apparently, a bear hunter had taken a marker as a souvenir.

At this point, Team Enterprise and Team Kinetic were racing with us. Unfortunately, Team Kinetic had missed CP20 and had to back track across the swamp. Team Enviromark and Team Enterprise jointly decided to finish the race together at this point. Leaving the area of CP21 it was back to the gravel road which led to CP22 located at the boat ramp on Spillerberg Lake. A couple miles further east and the black top surface of County Road X was enthusiastically reached. A fast ride into the Town of Morris followed.

Upon reaching Morris, the route turned to the northeast on the Long Lake Road to CP23 located at the bridge over Minnow Creek. Continuing on Long Lake Road, the blacktop surface of County road MM was reached which led to the west to Highway 13/77. A quick, mostly downhill ride followed into Mellen and the finish line at Gillman Park. Team Enviromark and Team Enterprise arrived side by side at 5:12 a.m. Team MNOC had arrived at 3:43 a.m. Team Kinetic had arrived at 4:45 a.m.