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travel / adventure zone
| The Adventure Zone |
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Raid Ukatak 2003
Mid-January temperatures in la belle province will be cold comfort for competitors
during International Raid Ukatak. The non-stop event, which is billed as the world's longest and
toughest expedition-team race, welcomes four-person teams from around the world who will navigate through
410 kilometres of Quebec's winter countryside. Hot on the trail of a $10,000 purse, competitors
will test their endurance and skill in a staged race that includes travel on snowshoes,
cross-country skiis, mountain bikes and ice canoes.
Steeped in rich natural and human history, the Raid Ukatak course explores the varied terrain
of Quebec's Charlevoix and Saguenay Fjord regions. The Charlevoix — with its frozen rivers,
deep snow, thousand-metre peaks and icy gorges — is located two hours east of Québec City
in the heart of the Laurentian Shield and was recognized as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in
November 1988.
Between January 16 and 25, this historic region will be the playground of the world's
hardiest adventurers. Racers will explore Parc des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie,
which is the province's newest and most spectacular park. They will navigate Saguenay Federal Marine
Park between Rivière Éternité and Anse St-Jean, which is legendary home of a 17th-century kingdom and whose covered bridge appeared on the back of the $1,000 Canadian bill for 40 years. Competitors will retrace the unique canyon that was pioneered by Alexis Le Trotteur and opened Saguenay-Lac St-Jean. Also known as "The Flying Horse of the Saguenay," Trotteur was purported to be the fastest man on Earth until his death in 1924.
More than 20 teams from countries including Finland, Sweden, Poland, Great Britain, France and the United States, plus a dozen from Canada, have already registered for Raid Ukatak. For more information on entering the race or to follow it online, visit www.ukatak.com
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