More than 300 military personnel from around the world are competing in a wilderness challenge in West Virginia.
The 12th annual
All-Military Wilderness Challenge
begins Thursday and continues through Saturday.
The competition includes an 8K mountain run, a 12-mile mountain bike race, a "forced" 14-mile hike through the mountains, 14-mile whitewater raft race on the Gauley River and a 7-mile kayak race on the New River.
Event coordinator Michael Bond said in a news release that the wilderness challenge is one of the most grueling and hard-fought competitions in the armed forces.
The event is also a qualifying race for the United States Adventure Racing Association's National Championships. Participants will complete in teams of four. All must be active-duty servicemembers, active reservists or ROTC members. Each teams must have a at least one woman.
ACE Adventure Resort is hosting the event.