Adventures in Patagonia - watch the 'race to the end of the world' (video)
Do you think of yourself as a bit of an adventurer?
Well, there are adventures, and then there's the Patagonia Expedition Race, is an annual event that puts 20 international teams through some of the most gruelling experiences of their lives.
Challenges include to crossing the back country of remote south Chile in what is known as 'the race to the end of the world'.
Chelsey and Jason Magness and two others form Team YogaSlackers and they have competed in four consecutive races and have amazingly come in the top five every time.
The terrain that they are faced with includes deep crevasses and glacial ice and the teams navigate the untouched Patagonian back country by trekking, kayaking, mountain biking and climbing to get the finish line.
Jason describes the ten day long endurance race as the "grand daddy of old school adventure races".
The teams will cover hundreds of miles during the race, travelling over every type of terrain imaginable, carrying only map compass and backpack.
"I can't even describe it in the right words," Chelsey says, "It takes my breath away every time I go there."
Talking about their experiences, Jason says: "We've climbed unknown mountains while racing, we've rafted on our little thermarests down unknown rivers, gone days without sleep... it's just a wild, wild adventure where the only thing you have going for you is the strength of your teamwork and will."
The rugged terrain, unpredictable weather and sheer distance makes this one of the toughest races in the world and there is only a 30 - 50 per cent completion rate, which make Team YogaSlacker's achievements all the more impressive.
Jason says: "You have all of the highs and lows you might have in an entire lifetime, it's really hard to relate afterwards when you finish a race because all we're worrying about for ten days is each other surviving."
Related articles:
Video of the day: homage to Patagonia
The world's most dangerous walks
Video of the day: A few weeks in Peru
%VIRTUAL-TripAdvisorWidget%
