The Primal Quest staff is already in Montana and hard at work preparing for the race. Over the past few days we’ve had a few reports from the field trickle in with news on the conditions of the course, which is shaping up to be as challenging and beautiful as any we’ve ever seen.

Obviously, following yesterday’s announcement, teams can surmise that there is snow, and plenty of it, in Big Sky Country. The addition of snow shoes to the mandatory gear list should indicate what teams can expect, and course designer Chris Caul noted yesterday that there is still 10′ of snow above 9000′, with more snow continuing to fall. In addition to that, temperatures have dropped into the low 30′s, making for challenging and cold conditions out on what will be the race course. 

At lower altitude we’re experiencing a different issue, as the rivers have begun to rise, making the rivers fast and cold. However, historical trends indicate that the rivers should rise, and fall fairly rapidly, meaning that at this time we don’t anticipate that the water will be unusually high or fast by the time the race starts. The rivers will undoubtedly remain cold, and challenging, but not dangerously so. 

Over the course of the next ten days or so, we’ll post more updates on the course conditions as it is warranted. Check back here regularly for the latest course news. 

We recently announced the next Primal Quest would be held in Montana, but did you know we are already well into planning for 2009 and beyond?

Several countries are in the running for future Primal Quest competitions, and we are always looking for other ideas and leads. If you would like to see Primal Quest come to a country where you have connections, contact Director Don Mann.

Today Primal Quest released its second official Competitor Newsletter, and with it, the location of the 2008 race.

The full newsletter is now available on the Team Resources section of the website and contains lots of exciting details and updates.

The following is a letter from Don Mann announcing Primal Quest Montana…

Dear Adventurers,

It is my honor and great pleasure to welcome you to Primal Quest Montana, the “World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition.” In less than 7 months you will gather at the starting line with many of the world’s finest adventure racers and set out to compete in an epic adventure. On behalf of the entire Primal Quest Management and Operations Team I want to express just how excited we are for your team to join us in the mountains of The Big Sky State.

Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Arizona were also in contention to host Primal Quest in 2008. While any of these states could have produced spectacular races, our Montana course, in my opinion, is second to none. I can promise that you will love this course and will never forget it!

Read the rest of this entry »

Your wait will soon be over!  In less than two weeks time, and with the publication of the second newsletter, Primal Quest will announce the location of the 2008 race site.  Stay tuned to this website for further details.

At this very moment, Primal Quest Director Don Mann, Course Director Chris Caul, and several others are on the 2008 race course finalizing permitting and course design. Stand by for an announcement on the location soon!

In the meantime, start wrapping your brain around these facts:

The summit of Mt. Everest is 29,026 feet, which after leaving base camp is just over 13,000 feet in elevation gain.

Primal Quest 2008 will have over 95,000 feet of climbing.

More facts to follow…