The third annual Tahoe Challenge Medical Wilderness Adventure Race (MED WAR) is an 18 mile race with different means of transportation, but teams are also tested in medical response.
Sixteen teams of four compete in the eight hour race, and while the event is created to have fun and practice medical skills, it's certainly a physical challenge above all else.
"It's about 5 miles of kayaking," Khristy Gavigan, RN, Co-director of the Tahoe Challenge MED WAR, says. "About 5 miles of trekking, and about 8 miles of mountain biking."
Teams are asked medical questions throughout the race, but once they finish kayaking they take part in an emergency scenario. The situation is a skier got caught in an avalanche and is buried, and they have to open airways, conduct CPR, and assess and treat any other ailments properly.
"Victims are actually buried," Gavigan says. "And then the teams have avalanche beacons they have to actually use to find the victim."
The teams consisted of medical professionals, medical students, and adventurers who want to take part and practice. Gavigan took part in a MED WAR in Arizona, which inspired her to start one in South Lake Tahoe. She says it's half for fun, and half for practicing skills.
"We recognized a need in our community to improve the medical skills of people going out in the wilderness or the back country or even just for a day hike," Gavigan says. "And we also felt the area in South Lake Tahoe provided an excellent place for am adventure race to be held."
This year's winner was "We've Got the Runs," who represent Barton Health, one of the promoters of the Tahoe Challenge MED WAR.
Second place went to "Girls on Fire" and "Bangarang" finished third.
