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Team Towanda, consisting of Brian Eason, Shari Hymes, Mary Scheerer and Keith Ash, stand atop Lone Peak, one of many climbs they made in Primal Quest Montana. Photos courtesy of Mary Scheerer and Keith Ash

Big Sky, Montana - Shari Hymes and Mary Scheerer found themselves right smack in the middle of nowhere, miles from civilization and from where they started Primal Quest Montana. The Sag Harbor duo, teaming up with out-of-towners Brian Eason and Keith Ash, covered more than 500 miles on foot, bike, kayak and all means possible in finishing in 31st place out of 57 teams in the adventure race, which took place across four mountain ranges just north of Yellowstone National Park from June 23 to July 1.

This year's edition of Primal Quest, the premier adventure race in the country, was Hymes' third, and Scheerer's second. Hymes competed in the 2006 Primal in Moab, Utah, as well as the '04 race on San Juan Island off the coast of Washington State alongside Scheerer.

The quartet that makes up Team Towanda crosses the finish line after more than a week in the wild.

Primal Quest Montana consisted of different challenges from past races – cold vs. heat, as well as more undulation. In all, Team Towanda traversed more than 100,000 feet of elevation gained and lost to post a respectable finish.

"It was just incredible," Hymes said. "We were in the middle of nowhere most of the time. It was so vast; that's why they call it Big Sky. We were in a lot of historic areas where Lewis and Clark were."

"I thought we did really well," Scheerer added. "We had a great team, whereas a lot of teams that had a lot of team issues, in-fighting and injuries. [Shari and my] combined age is almost 100 years. The only other two-woman team was a mother and daughter whose combined age was about 70, so that kind of puts things in perspective."

The expedition spanned 548 miles – 240 on foot, 280 on bike and 30 via kayak. A 75-mile paddling stretch on the Yellowstone River was deemed too dangerous, thanks to the "strainers," or big logs from fallen trees, in the water. PQ participants are asked to exhibit a wide range of skills, including climbing up and rappelling down mountain faces. Teams are given a map at the race's outset, but there is no set path to finishing. By orienteering, teams must navigate their way through a series of checkpoints, which had them biking to places like Big Timber Creek and hiking to Storm Castle Rock.

Brian Eason and Shari Hymes study the course map as they prepare for the start of Primal Quest.

Mountain ranges in the area had received upward of two feet of snow in the weeks leading up to PrimalQuest, forcing participants to add snowshoes to their already bulging packs. The rivers' water levels swelled, while their temperatures plunged to an un-summer-like 37 degrees.

Hymes said that the hiking, due to its sheer volume, that was especially difficult for they and the other participants, many of which failed to finish.

"We went through a ton of snow," Hymes said. "It was pure mountaineering at some points. It was very hard on the feet. A lot of teams dropped out because their feet were so blistered. Your feet took such a beating."

The distance was replaced by 70 additional miles of biking. Crazy Peak, at 11,209 feet, was the tallest of the mountains scaled. Hymes estimated that, over the week in the woods, Team Towanda slept about 16 hours, "which is a lot," she said. Feet issues, which in part caused 15 teams to not finish the expedition, also claimed Hymes. Team Towanda, for strategic purposes, chose not to perform an optional hike at the end of the race for fear of logging an unofficial time.

Dozens of teams cross the starting line to kick off Primal Quest Montana.

For all the bruises, scares and thrills, Scheerer and Hymes were treated to tremendous foliage and scenery. "The skies were just loaded with stars and shooting stars, and the wildflowers were magnificent – the larkspur, the Indian paintbrush, the sage, they were beautiful."

Team Towanda came, saw and conquered Big Sky country. The race surely isn't the last for Scheerer and Hymes, although they'll allow their feet to rest in the short term. In September, they will participate in a 90-mile kayak race in the Adirondacks, and follow it up with the Vermont 50-Mile Run on September 28, her 50th birthday. Both will do it to benefit the Animal Rescue Fund in Wainscot, commemorating the passing of their dog in January.

Primal Quest has taken place every other year since 2004, yet rumor has it British Columbia will host the sixth installment of the race next year. Scheerer and Hymes both expect they'll be there, coming off a challenging journey through mountainous Montana.

"We're very very pleased," Hymes said. "We're a team with two women and two men. We just had a blast doing it. It was good competition and a great experience."

Brian Eason, Shari Hymes, Keith Ash and Mary Scheerer covered a good chunk of America in Primal Quest -- 548 miles worth.

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