BEND, Ore. (AP) — Chris and Helen Scotch are not going on an Arctic expedition this winter, but if you took a peek at their packing list you might think so.
The Bend couple, both 39, will travel to Minnesota this January, each equipped with a sled loaded with an insulated sleeping bag, a camping stove, mittens and hats to go with their puffy coats and snowshoes, several days’ worth of food and water and plenty of other safety gear.
In fact, Chris Scotch insists that selecting all the essentials is one of his favorite parts of the Arrowhead 135, a 135-mile race through the northern Minnesota, held each year during the height of winter.
“People talk more about the gear than the times; nobody’s really thinking, ‘How am I going to finish in 48 hours instead of 52 hours?”‘ said Helen Scotch, who has completed the race three times. “It’s more, how am I going to shed a few pounds off my sled this year? Should I go for waterproof shoes versus breathable shoes? If you look at any of the (online) forums where people are chatting, it’s all about gear and how to maintain yourself through that race. That’s where I think the interest lies.”