Total bike distance (approx): 70 miles (purple line on the map below)
Total trek distance (approx): 2 miles (solo as part of the orienteering relay)

Partial Leg 2 map (the middle 1/2 of the map):


Leg 2 features a lot of mountain biking through Maine's Barren Range and the AMC's 100 Mile Wilderness.

First, race teams head into the Barren Range using the network of logging roads and trails; it's 40 miles with significant climbs and tricky navigation. Teams enter the AMC's 100 Mile Wilderness region and stop at Gorman Chairback Lodge.

Gorman Chairback Lodge is where teams will complete an orienteering relay (where each team member must navigate independently with map compass) and complete a conservation work project. The AMC is also offering a pancake meal for race teams from this location; we're calling this the "pancake paradise" that is sure to lift teams' spirits.



After finishing the set of challenges (and pancakes) at Gorman Chairback, teams have 30 more miles of biking through the forest. Checkpoints on this stretch include an enormous beaver dam (two rivers have been dammed near the same location, making for an extensive unified wetland where trails used to be) and a beautiful set of waterfalls.

Timing Note: there was an official course cut-off published for reaching the Gorman Chairback lodge by a certain time. Slower teams bypassed the next leg, Leg 3, entirely to catch them up to the faster teams later in the race.

Total trek/packraft distance (approx): 30 miles (routes and distances varied considerably here)

Partial Leg 3 map (the 3 summit checkpoints of the Abenaki Lost World trek):


Leg 2 concludes deep in the AMC's 100 Mile Wilderness, at a set of lakes called the "Roach Ponds." This is an ecological preserve with crystal clear water, old growth forest, and few roads or trails. Race teams have roughly 30 miles of packrafting and trekking through here, including three mountain summits (the three tallest mountains in the area). The Abenaki were the native inhabitants before Europeans arrived to North America, and this region was part of their ancestral home.



The "Lost World" is probably the toughest 30 miles of racing Untamed Adventure has put together in 10 years of organizing races. It's remote, rugged, and breathtaking in scope.

Total paddle distance planned: 23 miles, cancelled due to safety and replaced with a 10 mile bike ride
Total trek distance (approx): 14 miles (includes "urban" orienteering in town of Greenville)

Partial Leg 4 map (Greenville "urban" orienteering map):


Teams were set to paddle the southern end of Moosehead Lake and finish their paddle in the town of Greenville, Maine; due to heavy winds and consistent whitecaps and wave activity on the lake, however, race management cancelled the paddle and replaced it with a bike ride along the lake shore.

In Greenville, teams had some "urban" orienteering to do through the historic town in Maine's North Woods.

Next, teams continued on foot into the Moose Mountain range for two more mountain summits. The trails through here are steep, narrow, and the dense forest makes for a special experience. Transition Area #4, the conclusion of this leg, was at Big Squaw Ski Area.

Total biking distance (approx): 42 miles
Total trek/packraft distance (approx): 12 miles
Total whitewater rafting distance (approx): 11 miles

Partial Leg 5 map (sample from biking map):


Teams whitewater rafted the Kennebec Gorge in professional grade rafts, doing the upper gorge with a guide in their raft; the lower gorge of the Kennebec teams completed without a guide. Then, teams switched river systems and trekked up the Dead River gorge before packrafting down the Dead River. The Dead River is a long stretch of continuous whitewater, perfect for packrafting.



After finishing with both the Kennebec and Dead rivers, teams had a short mountain bike ride to the race finish line at Northern Outdoors lodge.

All in all, an amazing journey through the various wild corners of the Maine Highlands. Truly, more an adventure than a race!