Primal Quest 2006

Meteorologists predict a high temperature of 85°F this week in Berlin. Faced with the threat of dehydration, the athletes and spectators of the 2006 World Cup tournament rely on sports drinks and professional trainers to quench thirsts and treat injuries, respectively. Imagine the damage to a disgruntled fan’s vocal cords after a long, hot day of heckling. Consider the danger of running through the streets beneath the guise of paint that, though patriotic, is impervious to sweat. The players endure comparable difficulties. On the field, one might sprain an ankle or twist a knee. Off the field, one might be taunted and chased by hoarse, overheated sports fanatics.   

While soccer enthusiasts bake in Germany, outdoor adventure buffs in the United States face a decidedly different set of challenges. On Sunday, June 25 the 10-day, 500-mile Primal Quest Adventure Race kicks off near Moab, Utah. Meteorologists predict temperatures to exceed 100°F as athletes compete in eight different disciplines.

The potential for injury is as high as the altitude, so Primal Quest relies on NOLS, with whom it has an educational partnership, for safety and guidance. WMI’s Jake Schepps, Jason Buchovecky, Iris Saxer and Darran Wells will spend four days prior to the race leading volunteers through first aid seminars and briefing participants on environmental hazards. They will then assist medical teams at race checkpoints in treating everything from blisters to dislocations. No one knows and teaches wilderness risk management better than WMI staff members. They plan to equip athletes and volunteers with the tools to address the problems you can’t avoid and anticipate the dangers you can.

Of the avoidable dangers, harm to the environment is one of the most critical. Though not necessarily as visible as mobs of roving soccer fans, waste and garbage can irrevocably impact the delicate desert landscape. Thankfully, the on-site WMI crew is certified to lead NOLS courses and, therefore, prepared to reinforce Leave No Trace principles. All 500 miles of the course are in good hands.

To listen to a podcast featuring Schepps, visit www.gofarpodcast.com. To learn more about the partnership between NOLS and Primal Quest, or to stay updated on the race, visit www.ecoprimalquest.com. The omnipresent NOLS bus, which has temporarily joined the Moab media circus, has released no reports of excitable spectators, but the extremes of Primal Quest have the potential to incite abnormal behavior.  Stay tuned.