Courtesy of Northwest Adventures

This spring, Northwest Adventures launched one of the toughest series of adventure races in the Pacific Northwest - the TRIOBA Series. This series of three races had competitors kayaking, mountain biking, and trekking around the spectacular Cascade Range in Washington. Teams participating in all three races competed for a portion of the $3,000 cash purse.

The first race took place in Ellensburg, Washington on May 26th, with competitors starting with a paddle section in Sevylor kayaks. Some participants, in their excitement and haste, rolled their kayaks and plunged into the cold Yakima River. Teams moved quickly down the river with the first teams arriving at TA1/CP1 in just over an hour. They quickly changed clothes and gear and headed off on the arduous bike leg.

Before participants could ride they first crossed the Yakima river on a suspension bridge. Once across the bridge the participants came to their first major navigational decision. Proceed through Umtanum Canyon or begin a grueling hike-a-bike ascent to Umtanum ridge where CP2 was located. Although daunting in its appearance those who chose the ascent were rewarded with open landscape. Those who chose the canyon were quickly snarled by the bushes and hampered with several water crossings.

Teams Dirtworld.com and Seattle One AR arrived at CP 2 only five minutes apart. Participants raced across the ridge battling the strong winds and the fierce competition of other teams. The descent into CP3 was bumpy and rough. Passing through CP3 and onto CP4 the racers experienced a dreadnaught of roads, which proved confusing and disorienting, but Seattle One AR had taken the lead with Dirtworld.com a mere 12 minutes behind followed by Team Montrail.

A quick bike up to CP5 led participants to another crucial navigational decision. Continue along Shell Rock Road or backtrack to CP4 and then down Manastash road to CP6? Those who did not backtrack and continued along Shell Rock road were in for a very rough ride, hence the name Shell Rock. Those who backtracked enjoyed a 2 mile paved ride and a 5-mile gradual ascent along a well maintained dirt road up to CP6. After arriving at CP6 racers were off again traveling a short distance to a crucial right hand turn that many missed. Once at the top it was a quick ride to CP7 and then down to TA2/CP8, the bike to trek transition.

	"Some participants, in their excitement and haste, rolled their kayaks and plunged into the cold Yakima River."

At the transition Team Dirtworld.com was first with Team Montrail and Team Seattle One AR following. After refueling, re-warming, and restocking teams were off on the trekking leg to CP9. CP9 was close and located on the top of a hill. The approach to CP10 was more difficult and required more attention to the map as darkness closed in on the top teams. CP11 was located along a creek with most teams finding this quickly and heading off to the cold, exposed location of CP12.

Team Dirtworld.com arrived first with Team Montrail closing in and Team Seattle One AR following in their tracks. CP13 was located on the east end of a hilltop. With the lights of Ellensburg visible in the distance teams made their way to CP14, some following the ridgeline while others hit the road. Once checking through CP14 the only thing left was crossing the finish line.