Patagonian Expedition Race
The Patagonian Expedition Race is an annual adventure race in the Chilean part of Patagonia , the southernmost region on earth after Antarctica and Tierra del Fuego . International participants compete in mixed teams consisting of four athletes in the disciplines of sea kayaking , orienteering , mountain biking and rope topics including knots .
Since the race was first held in 2004, distances from 520 km to 1,100 km had to be completed in nine to twelve days. The only permitted aids, in addition to physical fitness and psychological strength, are a compass and map to find the way through the beautiful but deserted landscapes of Patagonia.
Therefore, the Patagonian Expedition Race is one of the toughest adventure races in existence and the 2007 edition was the longest ever contested race of its kind in the world.
Although the sporting aspect is the leitmotif of the race, great attention is paid to sensitizing teams and spectators to the ecological uniqueness and rich cultural heritage of Patagonia.
Over the years the race has received increasing media attention and has been the subject of numerous international publications and television reports.
The fifth edition of the Patagonian Expedition Race ended on February 22nd. The geographical location, the distances and the climatic conditions made this race a great challenge for all participants in this adventure at the end of the world. A trekking section, halfway, with a length of 110 kilometers caused 6 out of 11 teams to be eliminated.