Adventurers take over Elkwater
Adventurers take over Elkwater for Medicine Hat Massacre
The Medicine Hat Massacre adventure race keeps on evolving.
Saturday’s nine-hour trek through the heart of Elkwater tasks teams with a myriad of activities — including orienteering, cycling, kayaking and a ropes course — and as three-time competitor Noel Johnstone points out, it always poses a new and unique set of challenges.
“You think you know and then the course changes on you, and then not so much,” said Johnstone, who competes annually alongside his wife Debbie. “This is the only one that we do. The hiking, orienteering and kayaking, it’s challenging. It’s something that we do together, it’s just a good time.”
The Massacre, now in its 10th year, challenges teams of two to collect points by reaching various checkpoints and collecting markers throughout the Elkwater wilderness using only provided maps and their combined wits.
Debbie added they put some time into planning out an approach each year, but the constant evolution of the race’s map keeps them guessing time and again. The race moved from Reesor Lake to its current start point at the Elkwater YMCA last year.
“I would like to learn some strategy and get better, but we’re weekend warriors,” she said. “Got to train more and get on the bike early.”
The couple makes the trip out from St. Albert each year, and given that there’s still snow on the ground up north, Noel added he was pleased to find the event warmer than in recent years —especially considering it’s 4 a.m. start time.
But the warmer temperatures still brought about some unforeseen challenges, as Friday’s spat of inclement weather created havoc on the bike paths.
“The weather was perfect today but the mud and clay for the bikes was harsh,” he said. “Luckily it wasn’t raining.”
Noel added they try to improve on their results each year, but their benchmark goal remains the same every time they lace up their boots for the Massacre — complete the gruelling set of tasks within the set nine-hour time frame. And like every year, the Johnstones finished smiling and exhausted.
At the end of the day, Edmontonbased One Way Only collected the title of champions. The team, comprised of Pat Kelly and Ulf Kleppe, totalled 697 points to take the crown.
Rich and Lois Pettit’s Canmore Crew took the mixed division title with a total of 575 points, and Claire Perks and Nicki Rehn’s Team Hilarious won the women’s crown with 556 points.