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Desert Adventure Fitness by Kayak Lake Mead
We're all about outdoor fitness and multisport adventures.
This guide is about YOU doing adventures and getting fit doing so. These adventures are presented to be self-guided, i.e. go out and have FUN! However, we are available to provide guiding and or coaching.
About Us:
The adventures that we've created Desert Adventure Fitness -
we've done 'em all, all of them more than once, and some of them many times.
Go here for a short bio of the Director of Kayak Lake Mead.
Adventure races are multisport! Here are some of the races we've done...
Team Kayak Lake Mead Racing:
Mother Lode 2009 - 4 day race in the Sierra Nevada November 2009 Robert, Druce, Sylvie Maracci, Mark Jackson 3rd Place
Primal Quest 2009 - 10 day 600 mile expedition race August 2009 Robert & Druce Finlay, Amy Van Voorst, Valentin Chapa 15th Place
Baja Travesia - 3 to 5 day 275 mile expedition race March 2008 Robert, Amy, Druce 8th Place
Baja Travesia - 3 to 5 day 220 mile expedition race March 2007 Robert, Briana, Druce 2nd Place (50 miles of kayaking)
Desert Rage Vail Lake, CA - Feb 28, 2007, Druce, Robert, Amy Van Voorst 1st Place
Desert Rage Oracle, AZ - Feb 2, 2007, Druce, Robert, Amy Van Voorst 2nd Place
Desert Rage Lake Mead - Dec 2, 2006, !st Place 2-Person 2nd Place Overall
Explore the West Adventure Race - Big Bear, CA 24 hour race Sep 9, 10, 2006 Druce and Robert Tied for 3rd Place Solo
Baja Extreme - Marina de Salina, Baja, August 5, 2006 Druce, Robert and John Whiteside Men's 2nd Place
Quest for Fire - Angel Fire, NM, July 15, 2006 12 hour, Druce 1st Place Solo and our 4-person coed team 2nd Place
Explore the West Adventure Race - Lake Mead 24 hour race May 13, 14 2006 2nd Place
Desert Rage Lake Roosevelt, AZ - April, 2006 2nd Place
Everglades Challenge - March, 2006 finished in 5 days Druce and Robert (300 miles of kayaking)
Desert Rage Lake Mead, NV/AZ - November, 2005 1st Place solo (Robert Finlay) 1st Place 2-person (Briana, Druce Finlay)
West Coast Adventure Race- May, 2004 1st Place with son and daughter
Desert Sol Cup - Las Vegas, NV Winter 2004 1st Place of 3 race series
Desert Sol Challenge - Las Vegas, NV Dec. 14, 2003 1st Place
Adrenaline Rush - Scotland June 2003 (310 miles with 65 miles of paddling)
4 Winds OIC - Park City, UT Aug 2003 2nd Place (Father & Son Team) (120 miles with 15miles of paddling)
Balance Bar Series - Phoenix, AZ 2002 1st Place Corporate Division
Desert Dash 2002 Series Champions (Father & Son Team)
Desert Dash 2001 Nevada State Sprint Champions (Father & Son Team)
Adrenaline Rush - Scotland June 2001 (350 miles with 70 miles of paddling)
Desert Dash - Lake Mead - April 2001 1st Place (Father & Son Team)
Desert Dash - Lake Mead, March 2001 1st Place (Father & Son Team)
Four Winds Adventure Co. - Lake Mead, Nov. 2000 2nd Place (120 miles with 45miles of paddling)
Robert Finlay Director: Kayak Lake Mead
Certification: Instructor, American Canoe Association
Age: 57 (born May 1953, in case I forget to update this page...)
Military: Graduated US Army Ranger School 1974
Education: BS - US Military Academy at West Point 1976
Occupation:
Instructor: Presidio Adventure Racing Academy (climbing and paddling instructor)
E-Camp: (see www.teamsole.com) (trekking and paddling instructor)
Climbing Guide: Jay Smith's High and Wild Mountain Guides
Ironworker: Foreman; Heavy construction, bridges, high rises, etc.
Race Director: The Desert Winds Adventuring Racing Series
My Racing (some stuff below, some stuff above, some stuff lost to memory):
Quest for Fire - Angel Fire, NM...July 15 2006...12 hour...Team took 2nd Place with Druce taking 1st Place Solo.
Explore the West Adventure Race - Lake Mead...24 hour race...May 13, 14 2006...2nd Place.
Desert Rage - Lake Roosevelt, AZ...April, 2006...2nd Place.
Everglades Challenge - March, 2006...finished in 5 days...Druce and Robert (300 miles of kayaking).
Desert Rage - November, 2005...1st Place solo (Robert Finlay)...1st Place 2-person (Briana and Druce Finlay).
West Coast Adventure Race - May, 2004...1st Place with son and daughter.
Desert Sol Cup - Las Vegas, NV Winter 2004...1st Place - 3 race series.
Desert Sol Challenge - Las Vegas, NV ;Dec. 14, 2003...1st Place.
Adrenaline Rush - Scotland...June 2003 (310 miles with 65 miles of paddling)
4-Winds OIC - Park City, UT; Aug 2003...2nd Place (Father and Son Team) (120 miles with 15 miles of paddling).
Balance Bar Series - Phoenix, AZ ; 2002...1st Place Corporate Division.
Desert Dash - 2002 Series Champions (Father and Son Team).
Desert Dash - 2001 Nevada State Sprint Champions (Father and Son Team).
Adrenaline Rush - Scotland...June 2001(350 miles with 70miles of paddling).
Desert Dash - Lake Mead...April 2001...1st Place (Father and Son Team).
Desert Dash - Lake Mead...March 2001...1st Place (Father and Son Team).
Four Winds Adventure Co. - Lake Mead...Nov. 2000...2nd Place (120 miles with 45 miles of paddling).
Eco-Challenge - British Columbia 1996 (350 miles with 100miles of paddling)
EXPN X-Games - New England 1996...5th Place (350 miles with 170 miles of paddling).
Raid Gauloises - Argentina 1995 (350 miles with 130 miles of paddling).
Eco-Challenge - Utah 1995.
Other Experiences:
Television commercial for CompuServe - actor, stuntman and technical advisor.
Rock Climbing - 26 years experience
Long Distance Speed Hiking - 26 years experience
Mountain Biking - 15 years experience
Sea Kayaking - 17 years experience (including 50 mile paddles in approx. 10 hrs).
Athletic Achievements:
World-Class Ascents:
The Sentinel - Steck/Salathe Route, on site, unroped solo, approx. 2100...6 hours. NOTE 1
Devil's Tower - Soloed, 5.9 on sight, unroped solo.
Red Rocks of Nevada - Black Velvet Canyon Dream of Wild Turkey IV 5.9, unroped solo, approx. 1400 feet in 2 hours.
Epinephrine V 5.9 on sight, unroped solo, approx. 1900 feet, 4 hours base to base.
Other Ascents:
El Capitan, Salathe Wall, on sight, 2 days. NOTE 2
Half Dome, regular route, on sight, 7 hours, 11 hours base to base a 9600 foot change in elevation. NOTE 3
Desert Mountain Biking:
July 4th weekend crossing of the Mojave Desert-Searchlight, NV to 29 Palms, CA, 180 miles of dirt, no support, 3 days. NOTE 4
Death Valley, CA to summit of White Mountain, CA, 2 days, a 14,300' change in elevation, temperature to 130 deg.
Solo Hiking:
70 mile crossing of Mojave Desert, 100 F+ temperatures, no support, 38 hours.
Survival Highlights:
Retreat from an ascent of Dream of Wild Turkeys in full deluge from thunderstorm, essentially underwater for 1hr. NOTE 5
Retreat from first ascent of Return of the Jedi (a continuation of X-15) on Challenger Wall, Red Rocks, NV. Rappelled 900 feet down unknown wall at night in 60+ mph winds. NOTE 6
NOTE 1: When this was first solved the effort was called "The Climb of the Century".
NOTE 2: The longest rock climb in United States. It usually takes 4-5 days.
NOTE 3: This is the face Ansel Adams captured so eloquently with the full moon.
NOTE 4: No water bladders, navigating from spring to spring or well, etc. with a scorpion sting on my neck. I passed out while in the bike saddle.
NOTE 5: 1000 feet up, breathing in a waterfall
NOTE 6: The rappel ropes blowing straight up! This was a first ascent of, Return of the Jedi, with Mike Ward.
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