Running in to checkpoint four of the desert trek, Mari Chandler of team DART-nuun was excited to share photos she'd just shot of camels in the desert.

"I saw my first camels!" she said, pulling out her camer to show me the images. "Glenn promised me camels. Now my trip is complete!"

Well, not quite. Still miles to go on the desert trek, and one final day of running, ropes and biking before the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge comes to an end.

Chandler was undeterred. The Michigan native's eyes were still wide open to the wonders around her. "We have sand dunes in Michigan, but they're nothing like these." I concur.