A bit late coming back on to say it, but I finished the race! I didn't win
but I wasn't last! As anticipated, my team mate couldn't ride, so I had to adjust to riding solo...definitely missed having someone to push me on when my mind went into some very very dark places (particularly on Day 4 when I could have happily just given up). On the other hand, with only 120-ish people riding, I got to ride entirely alone in real wilderness, with no-one in sight for long periods...a real privilege (might have felt differently had a met a bear!).
With hindsight, another fantastic race..some huge days in the saddle - shortest day was 4:30, longest was 8:45 (last day!)...and 2000-2500m of off road climbing for 6 of the 7 days. We got much luckier with the weather and only had one day of rain (inevitably the Nipika day), and go to see the views that were hidden in rain/cloud in 2009.
Halfway point on Day 4...51km up, now 51km down!
Campsite at Whiteswan Lake
er...not sure..day 5?
Campsite Day 6
The last day...we started way way down in that valley in the distance
a shed in the middle of nowhere..day 1