Chapter four: Tragedy on the course and restart:

When we last left team PDXAR.com was stumbling across a dam on our way to TA4. As we arrived at the TA the check in personal were extremely happy to see us. They had been wondering what had happened to us because 15 teams had passed us during the trekking section. This news hit us hard, but not as hard as what they told us next. There had been an accident and the race was on hold until further notice. There would be a meeting of team captains at 11 the next morning at TA 5. All other details we would have to get from our support crew.

Our support crew knew very few details of what had happened outside of the fact that there had been an accident and one of the elite racers had died. That is all I knew as I tried to get a few hours of sleep before the captains meeting. I found it difficult even as tired as I was.

Before I left for the captains meeting we sat around as a team and discussed how we felt and what we wanted to do. Since we knew none of the facts of how or even who had passed away, we came to a simple conclusion. If it turned out that there had been anything race management could have done to prevent the accident or in any way it was race managements fault we were not going to continue with the race even if it did continue. If it truly was an accident beyond anyones control then we would continue on racing if the race continued.

The events surrounding the accident that caused Nigel Aylotts death have been widely reported. In some cases, they were reported badly, but mostly, they are accurate and moving. They tell the story of Nigels life and of his unquenchable thirst for adventure. The joy he felt when he was outdoors enjoying nature. They describe and show the picturesque beauty of the Pacific Northwest where we were racing through. They tell of how with limited sleep Team AROC was in first place in one of the worlds great adventure races. But mostly, they capture the feeling of Nigel as he was doing something he loved.

It is a feeling I share with Nigel. A feeling I imagine all racers have. One I wish more people had a chance to experience. It is the feeling of complete freedom, utter exhaustion, and pure ecstasy. Where your actions and the beauty surrounding you over stimulate all your senses. It is the thrill and excitement of competition, accelerated because you are racing. Contradicting this is the peace, beauty, and mind clearing simplicity of being out in pristine wilderness. It is one of the very seldom times in life that one truly lives just for the moment. Where the problems of the world do not interfere with your joy. When you are pushing your mind and body to the limits and enjoying every second of it. It is a very selfish feeling because at that moment you are doing something you truly love. You are not doing it for fame, fortune, or to impress other, but simply because you want to.

It was with the knowledge of this feeling and the encouragement of both racers and Nigels family that Dan Barger decided to continue the race. But first, there would be a memorial to Nigel along with a barbeque. Both of which were moving in different ways. The shock and sadness of the tragic end to Nigels life was expressed at the memorial. While at the barbeque, we celebrated not only Nigels life, but also the fact that he had lived his dreams and we were living ours.

The memorial included Team AROC stating how Nigel would not want to be responsible for stopping a race. In fact, he did not like to sleep during races because he thought he might miss something. It also included Team AROC leading a precession of racers, support crew, volunteers, and the race management to the edge of the Skagit River. Team AROC along with the other Assizes and Kiwis began singing a song as they tossed their roses into the river. There was not a dry eye in the group as dozes of roses floated down the fast moving current of the river. After the memorial, I left TA 5 to inform my team of what had happened.

A few hours later, I would return to TA 5, but this time with team, support crew and RV in tow. We were to set up camp, enjoy a barbeque and wait to hear what the final decision about continuing the race was going to be. Since it truly had been an accident that no one could have predicted, we had decided to continue the race. A few teams dropped out, but most were determined to finish the new course. Whatever it was going to be.

Different cultures view death in radically different ways. In Australia, they choose to celebrate ones life instead of dwelling on ones passing. At least that is the feeling I got at the barbeque we had in Nigels honor. After a song lead by Team Seagate and AROC the barbeque was started. Team AROC informed us that Nigel would be disappointed if there was ever food leftover after a barbeque. With this in mind, I did my best to make sure there would be no food leftover. I think six hotdogs and two burgers might have been a little overkill because my stomach felt it for the next few days.

Sometime in the late afternoon, we were informed of the new shortened course. There would be a staggered start time based on where teams had been at the time of the accident. The elite teams would have staggered individual times, while teams farther back in the pack would have three group starts. But everyone would start with a forty plus mile bike ride, followed by a trekking section which would include the rope section.

Since we actually had some time before our 4:45 AM start, I looked over the map. In my option, the race would consist of a sprint to the ropes, where the first teams would continue on quickly while the later teams would sit around and wait for a free rope. During this lull in the race, Chad fixed the bikes the best he could. Mine was shot, so I used the spare bike we had happened to bring. At least we had planned well on one issue.

Around 9 PM it started to sprinkle. Our two plus days of nice weather was about to end. By 9:15 the clouds had opened up and anything not under a tent or tarp was soaked. I tried to concentrate while I packed but my mind was in a fog. There was the sleep deprivation, the excitement of the race, but mostly the shock of the events that had taken place. I did however remember being cold the last time we slept on the trail and pack accordingly since I figured we were going to be sitting at the rope section for a while.

It turned out to be a good thing I packed for the cold. However, we would not be at the ropes when I needed to bust out my gear. But that story will have to wait until next time.