Cut-Offs & Courses - Explained

Welcome to Sunday! Sort of. It's 02:00 at HQ and things are surprisingly quiet on course (knock on wood!). So, it seemed like a good time to explain time cut-offs and the different courses racers may find themselves on.

Cut-offs - why we have them.

The race has a 30 hour time limit. To make sure teams will arrive back at the start/finish area within this period, critical points along the course are identified that that will make the timing and coordination of the dance teams are making across on the landscape work. These points are assigned time 'cut-offs'. Teams who arrive at the location(s) after the assigned time cut-off are moved to a shortened course or moved to the finish.

Courses

We know that every single team out there is working their buns off. To make sure that teams have the opportunity to get the most out of the race, Wilderness Traverse has three courses each of which is related to where a team is relative to time cut-offs throughout the race.

• Expedition Course - this is the 'full course' - teams who finish the expedition course came into all the designated locations on course before the time cut-offs. These teams rank above teams who move to one of the modified courses.

• Explorers Course - teams on this course will have completed large portions of the expedition course and rank above teams who move to the Challenge Course.

• Challenge Course - modified sections allow teams to stay ranked and cross the finish line. Don't be fooled - this is still a huge accomplishment.

WT 2026 Cut-Offs

Ok, down to what you want to know - what does all that mean for my team as I look at where they are on the course? Here are the cut-offs and what will happen if they do or don't make the cut-off.

• Cut-Off # 1 - TA3 - 07:00 - Teams must depart TA3 by 07:00 Sunday to continue on any of the ranked courses. Teams that have not departed TA3 by 07:00 will be transported to the finish area.

• Cut-Off # 2 - CP11 - 08:00 - Teams must reach CP11 at 08:00 Sunday to continue on the Expedition / Explorer Courses (these two have not yet split). Teams that arrive after 08:00 can continue on the Challenge Course.

• Cut-Off # 3 - TA4 - 11:00: Teams must depart TA4 by 11:00 to stay on the Expedition Course. Teams departing TA4 after 11:00 may continue on the Explorers Course.

• Cut-Off # 4 - TA4 - 13:30: Teams must depart TA4 by 13:30 on Sunday to continue on the Explorers Course. Teams who have not departed TA4 by 13:30 will be transported to the finish area.

Teams transported to the finish area are 'retired' and are not ranked.