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Military Teams Prepare for Eco-Challenge in Alaska
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By Toni Massari McPherson Alaska Military Weekly FAIRBANKS, Alaska (8/1/2002) — Competitors are gearing up for the second Armed Forces Eco-Challenge (AFEC), a 250-mile adventure race through the wilderness of Interior Alaska, that promises to be more challenging, tougher and longer by 100 miles than the first AFEC a year ago. Twenty-three four-member, mixed-gender teams representing Americaıs military services begin the around-the-clock expedition race on Aug. 12. The Armed Forces Eco-Challenge, staged for the most part by an incredible cadre of volunteers, is a benefit for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, America's only non-profit national program dedicated solely to providing support to those who lose loved one serving in the armed services. "Every day there is an average of five military deaths, most of them young men and women," said Bonnie Carroll, who helped found TAPS after her husband, a brigadier general in the Alaska National Guard, was killed in a plane crash. Since its inception TAPS has developed a 24-hour peer support counseling hotline, an annual survivor conference and an annual camp for children affected by the death of a military parent. "When we were looking for a sporting event to help us raise funds, the expedition race seemed a perfect match," Carroll said. "Young people love adventure racing and most of the military members who die are in their 20s." Each team in AFEC dedicates the race to a fallen comrade. Mark Burnett, producer of Eco-Challenge, liked the military connection and sanctioned TAPS as the raceıs first franchise last year. The winning AFEC team gets a place among the competitors for the 2002 Eco-Challenge in Fiji. Like most aspects of the military culture, TAPS and AFEC have been affected by the events of Sept. 11. TAPSı role expanded to providing resources and referrals to civilian families, as well as military families who lost members in the terrorist attacks. TAPS mobilized a volunteer base at the Pentagon Family Assistance Center to serve survivors for a month following the 9-11 events. As military teams started signing up for the second AFEC, the increased operations tempo mandated by the war on terrorism raised havoc with competitors. A number of teams had to drop out because members are deployed. Instead of the 30 teams originally scheduled the roster has shrunk to 23. Of the teams thus far in the running 10 are Air Force, six are Army, four are Marines and two are Navy. The Coast Guard is fielding its first team this year. Three of the Air Force teams and one Army team represent the military in Alaska. The team to beat in this yearıs race is Speedy Mail, last yearıs winning Air National Guard Team which went on to finish 12th in the international 2001 Eco-Challenge in New Zealand. This was the highest place for any military team or any rookie team in the raceıs history. Team Speedy Mail, made up of three Pararescuers and a spunky First Lieutenant with Alaskan Command, is back complete -- except for trading one Alaska Air Guard PJ for another. Their experience in adventure racing and working with one another makes them pretty steep competition. However, a number of contenders are aiming to bring them down including last yearıs second place winner, an Army team back with three of four original team members, which is planning to translate "Army of One" to "Army Number One" this year. The third place Navy team is also in the running with a slightly different roster. A couple members of the fourth place Army team are also back. In fact, at least 22 people signed up for this yearıs race competed last year. But the biggest competition in this yearıs AFEC is not human -- it is the course itself. Course designer Roman Dial, himself a world class adventure racer -- his team came in fourth in Eco-Challenge 2001 -- has mapped out a course which sounds like a trek through Danteıs hellish inferno. "For 2002, we listened to the teams competing in the 2001 event who asked for a longer, harder and more challenging course with more independence, bigger water and higher mountains," Dial said. Instead of the all-light balmy condition of 2001ıs June race, the mid-August start will bring headlamp-requiring darkness, rain and even more mosquitoes. "When we scouted the route for the 2002 AFEC, we were caught in a rainstorm while bushwhacking through horrible Class IV-V brush," Dial said. "For those whoıve yet to hear of the brush rating system, Class IV is when every move requires hands for passage and only full body weight will move brush aside. Class V Brush requires either passage on hands and knees beneath the brush, or full weight off the ground as the bushwhacker climbs across the brush." Packrafting portions of the trail are longer with more white water. The mountain leg is longer, steeper and more technical. Bike-riding legs include pavement, rocky dirt roads, streams and mud. Navigation through nasty brush and across ankle-twisting tundra is part of the orienteering leg as well as high passes rocky moraines and ancient glacier ice, Dial said. "Overall, this yearıs race mixes disciplines to create more adventure and less tri-athelism over a longer, more committing course," he said. "Darkness and weather and each teamıs ability to read and move over big, wild landscapes will determine who goes to Fiji." Last 10 Stories
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2004 National Guard Bureau |
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