Patagonia Glacier to Glacier

The very nature of adventure means that the unexpected can sometimes become part of the journey and that is all part of the experience. While we will always strive to deliver “Plan A”, there may be occasions where operational, safety, weather or environmental factors require us to adapt plans and implement contingency routes or alternative arrangements.

As with all Rat Race adventures, participant safety and overall event delivery remain our highest priorities. We therefore reserve the right to amend routes, itineraries or logistics where necessary, using the experience and judgement of our expedition team to make the best decisions on your behalf in changing conditions. Wherever possible, we will communicate any changes in advance. More often than not, these unexpected moments become part of the adventure itself adding to the stories, memories and unique character of the experience.

Click 'Enter' and sign into your Rat Race account and follow the sign up procedure. If you need any assistance please drop the customer service team an email on events@ratrace.com

Rat Race require you to be over 18 on the day of Registration for this adventure.

If you find yourself unable to join us on the start line of this event, you are able to transfer your entry into an event credit voucher once for use on a new entry into an event of your choice. Transfers must be requested within the qualifying transfer window to be accepted and processed. Credit vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Credit vouchers are exempt from the transfer process. To find out more information and how to submit a request, view of full transfer policy HERE 

You are very welcome to fundraise for any charity close to your heart while taking part in the event. Please note, however, that our Charity Refund Offer applies exclusively to participants fundraising for Children with Cancer UK.

You can view our current volunteer positions here. 

Yes, there are cut-offs on the event, but these are based purely around the available daylight hours each day. Our aim is to help everyone complete the adventure, so if you fall behind the required pace and are unlikely to reach base before nightfall, our crew will transport you forward by event vehicle. You are then welcome to restart again the following day. This is not an event where missing a cut-off means your adventure is over.

Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance. PLEASE NOTE this protection is with our 3rd party partner Refund Protect and NOT Rat Race. In the event you make a refund application this is administered by the Refund Protect customer service team, Rat Race are not privy to the application and cannot intervene on your behalf to influence the outcome determined by their team.

To add Refund Protect (administered by a 3rd party) to your Rat Race booking simply select this option when presented during the entry process. Refund Protect cannot be added retrospectively. Rat Race will then send you name and booking details to Refund Protect in order to protect your transaction with them. If you opt to pay in instalments and transfer your entry before the entry cost is full paid you will be liable to ensure the cost of Refund Protect has been fully covered. This total amount will be deducted from any Rat Race credit due through the transfer process or you will be invoiced by Rat Race for the outstanding amount as Rat Race have paid this on your behalf to Refund Protect at point of entry. 

Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance is compulsory for this event and must cover both general travel and participation in the outdoor endurance activities included within the itinerary. You will also require Evacuation Insurance, which covers emergency extraction and onward medical transport by helicopter or similar should urgent assistance be required in this remote environment.

We strongly recommend arranging your insurance as soon as you enter the event and booking flexible flight options where possible to allow for any unexpected changes. Please ensure your chosen policy specifically covers the activities you will be undertaking during the expedition. There are a number of specialist adventure travel insurers available, including Mann Broadbent.

​What’s the weather like?

This is the ‘hottest’ time of year in Patagonia (it is the height of the austral summer) but it never gets ‘hot, hot.’ Highs of 1 5 – 22 C are the norm. What is also inevitable at this time of year are the notoriously strong Patagonian winds. Whilst it is arguably a bit more sheltered in amongst the mountains, the Steppe is very exposed. Which means it could be dusty, windy, rainy, cloudy, sunny. Basically it’s a bit like Scotland. On steroids. 

​Sun protection

Whilst the heat of the day will not be fierce, a wide-brimmed sunhat, sun-cream and lightweight and breathable fabrics (ideally with SPF protection) should be packed. As will sunglasses with at least Cat 3 protection. You are outside for a good long time after all. 

​Wet weather gear

So too should wet weather gear be packed. Some waterproofs for the bike and for the trek stages should be taken. The chances of rain are high and you should definitely invest in decent water and windproof garments.

​Bike kit

As well as supplying your own bike, please bring everything you would need to support yourself on that bike – pedals, footwear, tools, pump (we will have track pumps with our bike mechanic but you can never have enough pumps!), puncture repair gear, helmet and bike clothing for summer AND wet weather conditions. Decent cycling-specific windproofs are essential given those dastardly breezes! Please bring it all in a bike box or bag (a bike box preferable to bag as just easier not to damage items in transit – planes, vans, etc). 

​Camp life

For the accommodation, it is all in guesthouses or hotel with the exception of the two nights under canvas in our tented camps. We will provide most camping gear for you, no hefty gear is required. You will need a sleeping bag and a rollmat. Also remember, these are still nights under canvas, so if there are creature comforts that you wish to bring to augment your comfort levels, please do so. We would also advise bringing a towel just so you are self-contained on that and have it with you in the support vehicle. A pair of sandals or flip flops are also pretty invaluable for camp and for kicking back in the evenings, just to air those tired feet. These items are reflected below as recommended items.

Nutrition

We will insist that you have some salt tablets and other electrolyte replacement items with you – these are invaluable to re-instating equilibrium when you are exerting yourself. Experience shows that good electrolyte management can make or break these types of Endurance attempts. Whilst it is not massively hot, you will be getting moisture beaten out of you with the wind and won’t really notice the ambient temperature, potentially. Some electrolyte tablets for water and other sports nutrition is recommended just to have in your grab bags, so you are self-sufficient with items that work for you, at all times. We will have food and bev for the pit stops, but we always ask that you provide your own sports nutrition as it’s a fairly personal thing and it is by far the best approach to be self-contained in such matters.

THE KIT LIST

Here’s a rundown. We may revise this nearer the time but this should give you a good idea at this stage.
Note: All items are mandatory, unless it says recommended, where they are, well, recommended!

Foot section

• Trail running footwear

• Trail running apparel – shorts, technical wicking tee/ base layer, long-sleeved wicking layer, mid-layer (e.g. microfleece)

• Recommended: Running tights

• Windproof and/ or waterproof upper body and leg cover – BUY HERE

• Buff or similar neck gaiter

• Spare base and mid layers

• Socks

• Blister care kit

• 1 person bivvy bag (not survival blanket, must be a bag) – BUY ONE HERE

• Personal First Aid kit – more detail to follow on exact spec nearer to event date

• Running day pack to carry spare clothing, bivvy bag, first aid kit, spare food. Recommend 15 – 30l – BUY HERE

• Hydration system for pack – either bladder or bottle to be secured to pack. Minimum of 2l carrying capacity at all times – BUY HERE

• Cap or wide-brimmed sun hat 

• Recommended: Trekking poles

Bike Stages

• Bike: Mountain bike, hybrid or cyclocross

• Bike box or bag (box recommended), if transporting your own bike

• Water bottles: Recommended 2 x 750ml bottles

• Tools – to comprise a minimum of: Cycling multitool, peddle spanner and chain link removal tool

• Puncture repair kit (or slime if you are using that) 

• Your own peddals

• Cycling footwear

• Cycling gloves. Recommended: Spare pair of full-finger length gloves in case of wet/ windy weather

• Full length upper body and leg cover suitable for cycling

• Cycle helmet

• Wind/ waterproof upper garment

• Spare cycling clothing in case you get drenched 

• Socks

Recommended: Pair of overshoes/ booties are useful for insulation and waterproofing

Water Stages - kayak

• Buoyancy aid, neoprene suit and boots, semi-dry jacket (cag), mittens, paddle and kayaks will be provided

• You should dress in technical wicking undergarments and mid-layers. These can be the same ones you have used on the run stage, but for the kayak please remember you will be sitting stationary and you WILL get wet. Avoid cotton and use technical wicking fabrics. Pack some waterproofs too as you can switch into these if you get soaked in the semi-dry cag

• If you do have kayaking gear, (such as a cag), then please do bring these if you prefer to wear your own items

• Flip flops or sandals

• Dry bag  medium size (approx. 10l +). Whilst communal dry bags will be provided, there is no substitute for your own dry gear (and food) in your own dry bag 

• Dry bag small size: For phones and other personal items

General

• Casual clothing for use in evenings and transit stages – no formal wear required

• Recommended: General trekking trousers and robust outdoor footwear, given the type of destination

• Recommended: Towel – travel micro towel or full-size

• Personal toiletries including any personal medication required

• Recommended: Multitool or penknife

• Recommended:  fitnessReading material

• Power bank for mobile phone

• International plug adaptor 

• Overnight bag: Such as a duffel or rucksack

• Transition bag: A smaller duffel, or a small rucksack or drybag. This can double up as your day pack from the foot stages, as you only need this bag on the bike and kayak stages

The optimum machine to enjoy every inch of this biking route is a cyclocross bike. A road bike will do for a lot of it and the tarmac really is a joy on Ruta 40. However there are some off-road track sections later on in the route, so a road bike is not recommended. Mountain bikes or hybrid are also totally fine. We strongly advise using your own bike however, we can offer bike hire subject to availability. Please note, in country bike hire is very limited therefore we recommend securing your bike hire nice and early at the time of booking. If you cannot rent through us and are UK based, we can recommend using British Bike Hire and transporting their bike overseas.

We want you to concentrate on the views and the hard work of putting one foot (or wheel or paddle!) in front of the other. So we don’t want you to be staring at maps or navigational aids any more than you have to. There is no formal waymarking (i.e. signs) used on this event. Instead, we will provide and then be asking you to download a route file that you will be able to download onto your smartphone or GPS device. You will follow this ‘line’ when on foot and can use this as a back-up at all times. You may use your own device or rent one from us.

We will then augment this with some marshalled junctions or key turning points on the trekking stages. For the kayak stages, well, these are guided stages and as long as you point downriver, you’re going the right way! On the bike, there really are not many junctions or route choices. Trust us, it will be hard to get lost! We will marshal key junctions with our vehicles and staff, also. Don’t worry – you won’t get lost. But if you do – support is never far away.

We are mindful that people will inevitably have varying distances to travel to get to Patagonia. Our plan allows us all to meet at the airport at El Calafate, which is the gateway for most visitors to Argentine Patagonia. El Calafate airport is therefore the start and finish point of our set itinerary