SPOT Satellite Messenger™ Enhances Premiere Adventure Race Experience with GPS Mapping and Real-Time, Leader Board Tracking
MILPITAS, CA (April 23, 2008) –SPOT Inc., the pioneer behind the award-winning SPOT Satellite Messenger, today announced its sponsorship of the Primal Quest Montana Expedition Adventure Race.Called the “The World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition,” Primal Quest 2008 Presented by SPOT is scheduled to take place in Big Sky Country, Montana June 23 through July 2, 2008.
Primal Quest fans can follow their favorite teams at www.ecoprimalquest.com, through real-time GPS tracking and custom leader board technology provided by SPOT allowing for up-to-date viewing on SPOT enhanced Google Maps™.This technology is based on new SPOT services that allow users to broadcast their location and messages to others over the web. The SPOT satellite messenger will be worn by each of the 70 plus teams of adventure racers during the 10 day, multi-sport competition.
“We have been looking forward to the innovative technology that SPOT is bringing to Primal Quest for many years,” said Don Mann, Primal Quest Director “SPOT is a lightweight personal satellite messenger that won’t slow the racers down and will provide continuous position updates of the teams along the Primal Quest course making it the most interactive Primal Quest in history.”
Here’s a video that I came across a week or so back and forgot about, but a friend was kind enough to remind me of it earlier today. It’s a first person perspective of a couple of hikers exploring the El Camino del Rey in Spain. The name means “The King’s Pathway”, and the trail offers access to a popular climbing location, but just getting there is part of the adventure, as you’ll see.
John Wilton-Davies has announced his intentions to go solo, and unsupported, to the South Pole later this year. Of course there always a number of explorers each year that make that expedition, and a few even go solo and unsupported as well. However, once John reaches the South Pole, he’s only halfway to his destination!
That’s right, he’s not only going to the Pole, but he’ll also turn around and return to Hercules Inlet where he began. Solo and unsupported the whole way. It what is being called the Last Great Challenge, John hopes to become the first man to ever accomplish this amazing feat. He predicts that it will take approximately 77 days to make the historic round trip journey on skis, pulling his sledge behind him.
Of course, my personal favorite section is his gear list which has a complete run down of all the equipment he plans on taking with him. When looking this over, keep in mind that he’ll be pulling it all behind him on a sledge that will be 2 1/2 times his own body weight. He’ll also need to average roughly 20 miles per day, through some of the most in hospitable terrain on the planet, in order to stick to his schedule. Piece of cake!
You may remember John from his solo and unsupported 2006 expedition to the South Pole. Back then he reached 88.5º S before running out supplies and time. He truly gave it everything he could, and came up just a bit short, but clearly he learned a lot, and feels he has unfinished business at the bottom of the world, and he’s going back with a vengeance.
Good luck John! We’ll be following your adventure and rooting for you come November.
The Wend Blog, official blog for Wend Magazine posted this amazing video clip of snowboarder Terje Haakenson making the first descent of Peak 7601 in Alaska. Terje is delivered to the summit via a helicopter and then rides a near vertical face down the side of the mountain. It’s a crazy and thrilling ride to be sure. I’d have probably made it down about three meters while still on my board. The rest of the “first descent” would be on my face. Enjoy!
You know the old adage “What goes up, must come down”? Well, that applies to mountaineering as much as anything. However, I don’t think they considered someone stepping into a pair of skis at 24,688 feet, then dropping off the top of a perfectly good summit with nothing but 9000 feet of vert to contend with when they coined the phrase.
A few days back I posted a link to a special edition of the Rest of Everest podcast in which producer Jon Miller chatted with climbers Ben Clark, Josh Butson, and Tim Clarke. At the time, the three men were preparing to leave for Kathmandu where they were embarking on their Annapurna IV Expedition.
The GoFar Podcast continues it’s focus on Primal Quest this week with an excellent interview with Susanna Greever, the Volunteer Director for PQ. Susanna talks at length about the logistics that go into organizing the incredible group of volunteers who play such an integral role in making Primal Quest a successful adventure race. This year we have more than 150 volunteers from 20+ countries donating their time to insure that the teams have an amazing experience in Montana.
Primal Quest enthusiasts receive a 20% discount on all MyTopo map orders! Click here to take advantage of this generous offer from our friends at MyTopo!
Visit Our Partner
Want a Piece of the Primal Quest Action?
PQ is looking for investors interested in growing “The World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition” and the Primal Quest Sprint Series.
If you’re interested in learning more about investment opportunities, contact Don Mann
Random PQ-Related Quotes
"Excellent! We are so excited and glad your back. You two did a phenomenal job the last race. We look forward to you two heading up this race and challenging us once again to push ourselves to the limits!"
SPOT Satellite Messenger™ Enhances Premiere Adventure Race Experience with GPS Mapping and Real-Time, Leader Board Tracking 
