Staff
The search for “Canada’s Greatest Explorer” began with 12 and now there are three—and local resident Joshua Henry is among the three finalists.
The latest episode, which can be found online at WoodsExplorer.ca, challenged the four remaining adventurers to complete an orienteering race in the Rocky Mountains.
“This race is definitely no walk in the park,” stressed Joel Barrett, the race director.
“There’s over 12 kilometres of travel time and over 1,000 metres of elevation gain,” he explained.
“So, I’m feeling nervous about this one, that rappel—60 meters is a long way down,” Henry noted in the episode before beginning the race.
“That’s my biggest concern,” he added.
The course included two mandatory checkpoints; The first checkpoint was located at the top of a steep peak, while the second checkpoint required a 60 metre rappel along the side of a cliff.
“The only navigational tools that you’re going to have with you are your compass and a topographical map,” Barrett said.
He also warned about the potential challenges of a lengthy trek through the rough terrain of the Rocky Mountains.
“There are a few places where the trail has intersections, if they choose the wrong way, they ere going to be way off track,” Barrett warned.
“There are definitely some hazards up there on the course today, there are some cliff bands and some very steep terrain,” he added.”
“This area that we are in, it does have bears in it—grizzly bears and black bears—so travelling alone out here in bear country is definitely a risk.”
The challenging terrain quickly fatigued many of the racers, while Henry noted that his legs were beginning to feel “weighty.”
Later in the race, Barrett noticed via GPS that Henry had ventured further up the mountain than he needed to, and was now trying to find a safe way down.
“He’s up above the cliff band that is above the rappel site,” Barrett explained.
“My legs are a bit shaky but I see a path, so just going to take it slow,” Henry added.
Henry arrived at the second checkpoint with a time of three house and 57 minutes, but was not looking forward to rappelling down the mountain.
“You afraid of heights, Josh?” host Ricky Forbes asked.
“I’m not a fan of heights, no,” Henry remarked.
“I don’t ever want to do that again,” he added once he reached the bottom.
Once completing the race, Henry placed third with a total time of 4:29:08.
The latest episode can be found online at WoodsExplorer.ca.
Be sure to check out Episode 7 when it becomes available online Aug. 19.
