Q. How many transition areas can we expect (to plan our water and food transportation needs)?
A. An email will be sent to all the teams 2 weeks before the event that will describe the number of transition area’s and how long each leg will be.

Q. Will our bins be available at any checkpoints (if the checkpoint is not also a transition area)?
A. No, gear bins will not be accessible at any checkpoints that are not Transition Areas.

Q. Cell phone. Why do we need one? Most people have smartphones which means they have an integrated GPS. Are we going to ‘seal’ the phone and be expected not to open unless there is an emergency? Or do you expect us to find a ‘no smart phone’ and activate it for the competition?  Please clarify.
A. Cell phones will be used in case of emergency.  Yes, cell phones will be heat-sealed in a small black plastic bag before the event and should only be used in case of emergency. If we find that teams have opened the sealed bag unrelated to an emergency they will become “unranked”.

Q. Canoe section: are the paddles provided by the organization Kayak paddle type or are they traditional Canoe paddles?
A. Only canoe paddles are provided.  If teams want to use kayak paddles, they must bring their own, however, we will transport kayak paddles for teams to the beginning and from the end of any paddling legs.

Q. Bicycle helmet. Do we need to wear or carry them for the full race or only for the bicycle section(s)?
A. Bicycle helmets are only required during the bicycle section(s).

Q. Can portage wheels be transported with paddles and PFD's, or do they need to go in the TA gear bins/duffel bags?

A.  We can transport portage wheels if they are attached to your paddles and PFD’s, or you're welcome to stuff them in your gear bins/duffel’s. However, we do not recommend using portage wheels. The portage trails in the event are rugged, narrow and rocky and it would be very difficult to use portage wheels.  Plus, the canoes used in the event are 16-17ft long and made of Kevlar, they will only weigh between 46 and 58lbs.  Portaging them on your shoulders is the recommended method.

Q. Can the first aid kit be broken up amongst the team or must it be contained in one bag as a kit?

A. Yes, the first-aid kit contents can be split up amongst team-mates.

Q. Do you have any further requirements for the flares other than “launching” (I was thinking size of flare, burn time or launch height).  Do they need to be nautical type flares fired from a pistol or must they simply be the launching type?  I have seen some smaller backpacking type flares and I wanted to know if they meet your requirements.

A. There are no specific requirements for flares other than they must be of the launching variety.  There are pen-style flares available that are the smallest/lightest I’ve seen.

Q. From a newcomers perspective, can you provide more detail on the skills and proficiencies required to participate in Wilderness Traverse?

A. For most adventure races in Ontario, there are three disciplines:

• Trekking or Running, on and off trail

• Mountain Biking

• Paddling - usually in canoes but often using kayak paddles. Canoes and paddles are often provided by event organizers but many racers bring their own kayak paddles to go faster.

At least one person on your team needs to be navigating during all these activities so that's the 4th discipline – and it’s really important.

For each discipline, you need to develop both fitness and skills, although not always in the same training session. The fitness aspect is a huge subject that you may know something about, and there is plenty of information available. On the skills side, you'll need to work on:

• Running/trekking in rough terrain, including bushwhacking comfortably at a decent speed. Trail running on rough trails is good too.

• Technical mountain biking - A lot of adventure races in Ontario travel on ATV or snowmobile trails so we often ride through mud and over rocks. If you develop technical single track skills at places like Albion Hills, Kelso or Hardwood Hills, you will do better in an adventure race than participants who mostly ride on roads.

• Paddling - Many adventure racers ignore this skill. You want to be comfortable in a boat, and ideally, you want to practice paddling with the person you'll be racing with. Whether you use canoe or kayak paddles, you'll need to know how to steer a canoe properly and how to use your core and back instead of just your arms. There is a paddling school in Toronto on Lake Ontario called the Harbourfront Canoe and Kayak Centre. That may be a good option if you live near the city and your team is looking to build its paddling skills. You also need to practice your portaging. Keep in mind that if you race as a team of three, you will need to paddle three in a canoe and figure out some kind of seat for the middle person. It is more comfortable to race on a 4-person team and use two canoes. For useful information check out Paddle Toronto and see Ontario Canoe Kayak Sprint Racing Affiliation for links to clubs and events in your local area. Clubs offer the best place for newcomers to gain access to great coaching and boat use. Also visit the The Ontario Marathon Canoe and Kayak Racing Association for paddling events. 

• Map and Compass Navigation - This is a skill that is new to most novice adventure racers. On some teams, only one person knows how to navigate. On other teams, everyone learns. Teams only get one set of maps in AR so generally one person watches the map at a time. While the navigator is reading the map, his/her teammate can be up ahead following an assigned bearing and choosing a good line through the forest for other teammates to follow. Another teammate can be a short distance back, double checking that bearing while another is measuring time or paces to help the team estimate the distance they have traveled. It is helpful to have at least two navigators on a team so they can bounce ideas off one another.