PATAGONIAN EXPEDITION RACE 2006 WInter Edition
The adventure at the End of the World

On June 21st of 2006, on the eve of the southern hemisphere’s winter, we have begun the winter edition of the Patagonian Expedition Race. This first edition took place in Torres del Paine and Tierra del Fuego, through the extreme south of the Americas.

View of Lago Deseado during the last Kayak section of the race.
Photograph: Jose Manuel Jimenez, 26/06/2006.

It has been six days of adventures while exploring the magic of the Patagonian winter. The scenery has been impressive and breathtaking: extensive peat bogs and steppe fields, sub Antarctic forests, frozen lakes, freezing cold rivers, hanging glaciers, deep fjords, snow covered mountains and more kinds of ice crystals imaginable. On the other hand, the weather was what we had anticipated for this time of year: clear blue skies, low precipitation levels, low temperatures and the complete absence of wind, which is the biggest difference from other seasons.

Day three, Victor Gonzalez during the kayak section in the Seno de Ultima Esperanza.
Photograph: Luis Bertea, 23/06/2006.

The Race format for this winter edition has been daily stages that have included one or more disciplines: kayak, trekking or mountain bike. Another major difference is that winter teams consist of two rather than four members.

Day six; Juan Carlos Valdes, Ruben Mandure, Veronica Bravo and Diego Banfi. All members of the teams that made the first three qualifying positions.
Photograph: Jose Manuel Jimenez 26/06/2006.

During the race, at each stage, all teams made their best effort to be amongst the first positions. In the end, the team captained by Juan Carlos Valdes has been victorious in the first winter edition of the PATAGONIAN EXPEDITION RACE. More details of the race and hundreds of photographs can be found in the update and photographs sections.

.... the most authentic and wild race, now has a winter edition!

About Wenger

Wenger was founded in 1893, in the Delémont, located in the famous Swiss Jura region. It has developed around a passion for innovation, precision and expert craftsmanship and is best known as the maker of the genuine Swiss Army knife. Today, the company produces approximately 250 styles of the famous pocket-knives, as well as butcher’s and professional catering knives known the world over. In 1997, Wenger Watch SA was founded in the hotbed for Swiss watches, Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. In just 12 short years Wenger Swiss watches have developed a reputation for reliability, multi-functionality and performance. Within the last eight years, Wenger established relationships with a small number of industry leaders who began manufacturing Wenger-branded products that embody the characteristics of the world famous Swiss Army knife in the footwear, tent, backpack, sleeping bag, computer mobility and travel gear categories.