Course design, evolution & direction by Primal Quest race director, Chris Caul.

EQUINOX- The time when the sun crosses the celestial equator, making night & day of equal lengths in all parts of the earth. In the northern hemisphere the vernal equinox occurs about March 21st & marks the beginning of spring. The autumnal equinox occurs about September 22 & marks the beginning of Autumn.

TRAVERSE- To pass, move, or extend over, across or through; to go back & forth over or along, to cross or recross. (This race will occur each year between March 21st & September 22nd.)

WHAT: Two (2) Day, Unsupported, Expedition Adventure Race.
WHEN: JUNE 4 through JUNE 6, 2010 (Race will START at 10 am on Friday & FINISH by 10 am on Sunday)
WHERE: George Washington National Forest. Covington, Virginia (click here for map)
TEAMS: Coed & same sex teams of 2, 3 or 4. (No solo's)

DESCRIPTION: Teams of 2, 3 or 4 people will race approximately 165 miles over two days, without any outside support.

Disciplines will include mountain biking, canoeing or kayaking, trekking, orienteering and rappelling or, some other form of fixed ropes. Teams will be required to carry all of their mandatory individual & team gear with them at all times. As well as their food & water for the entire race. There is plenty of water along this course. Racers need to be capable of purifying their own water. There also may be an opportunity, should teams elect to do so, to visit a small village here or there.

•  Mountain Biking: 90 miles

• Canoeing/Kayaking: 25 miles (Teams will provide their own boats, paddles & pfd's) Paddles & PFDs will be staged with the boats. Racers will not be carried throughout the race.

• Trek/Orienteering: 45 miles
  

• Fixed Ropes: Rappel, traverse. (All ropes portions of the race are optional with a time penalty)
  

• Portage
  

• NOTE: Teams will provide their own boats, paddles & PFD's. There are no limitations on boat or paddle type.
  

Categories:
Two (2) person teams. Either one (1) two person kayak or, one (1) two person canoe.
Three (3) person teams. Either two (2) kayaks or, (1) kayak & (1) canoe or, just (1) canoe.
Four (4) person teams. Either (2) kayaks or (2) canoes or, (1) kayak & (1) canoe.
To view & print your mandatory gear list Click here

ENTRY FEE:
$250.00 per person
2 Person: $500.00
3 Person: $750.00
4 Person: $1,000.00

* There must be a minimum of 3 teams in a category/division for that category/division to be competitive.

• SCHWAGG: AAS always provides technical wear to all of our racers.
  

• This race is sanctioned by USARA. Each athlete will be required to possess a current/valid USARA license the day of the race. You can purchase a USARA license at www.usara.com or, you can purchase a 1 time license when you check in for the race.
  

Date: June 4-5-6, 2010

THURSDAY, 03 June

* Check-in evening from: 1900-2200
* Rappel gear inspection & skills test: 1900-2200
* Receive color topo map/clue sheet/CP punch card. Maps provided by MyTopo.com.
* Receive technical jersey

FRIDAY, 04 June

* Check-in, morning from: 0700-0900
* Rappel gear inspection & skills test: 0700-0900
* Mandatory pre-race briefing: 0915-0930
* Race START: 1000

SUNDAY, 06 June

* Course Closes: 1000
* Post race feed: 0700-1000
* Awards ceremony: 1030

AWARDS & PRIZES

Both, 3 person coed and 4 person coed teams are eligible to qualify for the USARA National Championship in October. www.usara.com

The 1st place 3 or 4 person coed team will receive free entry into the 2011 EQUINOX Traverse Race. They will also receive $400.00 from American Adventure Sports toward their 2010 USARA National Championship entry fee. They will also receive Regional Champion Solomon Jackets. Zanfel will also provide an additional $100.00 sponsorship for the winning 3 or 4 person coed team toward their USARA National Championship entry fee.

Teams will also qualify for the Checkpoint Tracker National Championship. www.checkpointtracker.com

 LODGING & CAMPING
Camping is available at the Boy's Home www.boyshomeinc.org. There are restrooms & hot showers available to racer's who choose to camp on the Boys Home property. The race check-in & pre-race meeting as well as both the start & finish will be located here. Racer's can set camp Thursday, & leave their tent's up until Monday morning. There is a $10.00 per racer fee for camping on site. ($30.00 for a 3 person team). 100% of all camping fee's will be donated to the Boy's Home. (Tax deductible)
Best Western (540) 964-4951
Compare Inn (540) 962-2141
Cliff View Golf Club & Inn (540) 965-4066