Chances with wolves
Thoughts of family force Kiwi to pull of ultra endurance race as wolves close in, writes Jacques Steencamp.
A Kiwi adventurer in a gruelling 700km race through Canada’s Yukon Territory has been forced to drop out of the event after being stalked by wolves through the desolate landscape. Marcelo Vanzuita, of Lower Hutt, pulled out of the Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra in Whitehorse earlier this week, after being pursued by the animals for two days. Vanzuita described his decision to abandon the event as ‘‘disappointing and heartbreaking’’, but believed he had done the right thing as one pack of wolves had ‘‘got very close’’. ‘‘I understand the unlikelihood of an attack but I’ve been asked by my fiancee and family to not take any unnecessary risks,’’ he said.
There have been a number of wolf attacks on humans in North America in recent years, but the last confirmed fatality was of 32-year-old school teacher Candice Berner who was killed by a pack while jogging, in Alaska in 2010.
Vanzuita said he wasn’t ‘‘a guy who gets scared’’ and he had huge respect for the ‘‘beautiful’’ animals but had to take some drastic steps in freezing conditions.
Vanzuita said two wolves started tracking him after an early lake crossing.
‘‘[One] animal looked at me and he meant business.
‘‘And the second one went into the bush and when he came back on the trail and walked towards me, towards my bag, I literally just picked up my sticks and held them up [out of instinct].
‘‘And you think back on this stuff and it’s like the movies and TV.’’
Vanzuita said being pushed to the limit was what these kind of adventures were all about and his encounter with the animals had been ‘‘like the movies and TV’’.
‘‘I just found what my limit is and I’m happy with that. He [the wolf] gave me more than what I came here for. Physically this race has really pushed me. Although I didn’t cover the whole distance, all you need is a day here for the challenge to kick in.’’
Thinking about his family made him eventually pull out of the race.
‘‘For the very first time in my life I felt something would take away from me the things I love the most, which is my family. And I thought, gee, if that wolf, instead of turning left or jumping to the left of the bush, had jumped on me, God knows what would have happened.
‘‘You just can’t help but think that. I would have never forgiven myself for putting my family and loved ones in that place.’’
Thirty-four competitors attempted the 13-day race, but frostbite and lung problems meant only a few made it to the finish line.