Well, I thought we had a lean, mean, hard, tough team put together for our Eco-Trek training. I was prepared to enter our team in the next international Eco-Trek competition in New Zealand next year. As you know, the Eco-Trek is a 180 miles endurance trek across uncharted territory in the roughest part of New Zealand. All of these teams consist of amateurs - weekend adventurers, like us. The current competition is being televised nightly on the USA network.
I believe, out of 27 international teams, over 12 have dropped out or have been DQ (disqualified) for losing a team member (Note: all team members must complete each leg of the trek and cross the finish line together. Incomplete team can finish for personal accomplishment, but will receive no official standing or position in the final standing. Teams are also DQ for not reaching a checkpoint within a certain time limit.
The team currently in first place is attempting to finish first by not sleeping during the entire 3-4 days it takes to mountain climb, bike, kayak, hike, and traverse over the various natural obstacles on their plotted course to reach the finish line. The second place team is only one hour behind, and believes that they can pass the first place team, who is beginning to slow down from pure exhaustion from lack of sleep. But time is running out, the finish line is only about 30 miles away.
Footnote: The last place team finished about a week behind the first place team, which was a US based team that overtook the favorite New Zealand team on the final night.
As part of our Pt Reyes National Seashore training for this event, which incidentally would include seeing nature at it best, with beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife, great exercise, good companions, a great time, etc., we would travel light and fast like Roger's Rangers, eating off the land, carrying just enough food to survive. Our motto would reflect our commitment to the task at hand.
"Taste - Hell no self respecting mountain man thinks about Taste. Just give me some hard tack, coffee as thick as tar, a pouch of beef jerky."
I could just see us slogging through the tidal pools, wet and drenched, disregarding our wet clothes, ignoring how cold we were, braving high tide to get around a point or through a sea tunnel. There we were, sticking together as a team, braving the elements, knowing that no amount of suffering would stop us from completing the trek.
Hell, Darby's rangers would be proud of us.
Boy, was I set straight. Everyone wants to make sure that we have a great meal planned for each night, hot and thick with gravy. The team members cried out,
"Enough food to put meat on our bone."
"No stinking dehydrated food for me."
"What do you mean - just a power bar for lunch!!!!! $#z&K#(*&^#-Greooewwwww"
"Where's my In & Out burger? We need at least a giant size French fries to go with our lunch!!!"
"You kidding me, a ½ cup of cold oatmeal for breakfast. Where's my egg - cooked the way I want????"
"I can't walk no freaking 12-15 miles in a day without filling my stomach every two hours."
"Hell, I picking, packing, and carrying my own food."
I guess as a concession to the team, I will rethink the daily menu for our weekend backpacking trek.
Your trail boss,
Whiskey Jin
Footnote: We carry an additional twenty pounds of food for this 2 1/2 day trip, (canned corn beef hash, fresh eggs, canned tuna and chicken for lunch, etc.)