The race to St. John’s is underway as the five pairs leave the gold rush boomtown of Dawson City and head south to the third checkpoint, 2,700 km away in the province of Alberta—the picturesque resort town of Banff. Perched in the Rocky Mountains, 4,500 ft above sea level, Banff is the highest town in Canada, and in this leg, there is a need for speed. The stakes are raised, as the team that reaches the checkpoint in last place will be ELIMINATED from the race. The threat of elimination means every decision counts, and with next to no public transport, the racers face a stark choice: hire a car, endangering their race budgets, or gamble on car sharing, which is cheaper but less reliable.
Tricia and Cathie won the second leg of the race, enjoying a 25-hour lead over their nearest competitors. Will they be able to maintain their lead in this leg?