Archive YAU 2008

February 24th, 2008

Final Race Report - This was truly extreme!

It was the 6th Yukon Arctic Ultra. And what I said a couple of years ago once again has come true. Every race will see the athletes, staff and volunteers face new challenges. In 2008 it was the coldest start we have ever had. As a matter of fact with – 40 degrees Celsius it was the coldest marathon or start of a running race ever to be held.

Our arrival in Whitehorse was towards the end of one of the longest cold spells in the Yukon. Uncle Hugh who takes care of the weather station in Pelly Farm told me that they had had -50 degrees Celsius or colder for two weeks. That was a first for him and Uncle Hugh has been recording the weather for a looong time.

Luckily the Rangers had put in a lot of the trail before the cold spell. However, the bit from Whitehorse to the Takhini River was not put in, yet. It was supposed to be ready for us but nobody wanted to go out doing trail work in – 50. Having been out on a snowmobile in – 40 in 2007 myself I can totally relate to that.

For our athletes it meant that they not only had it extremely cold the first day and night. They were also faced with a soft trail for the first 13 miles. Thus for the first time in YAU history we actually recommended to take along snowshoes. As far as I know, those who did follow the recommendation were quite happy with it.

As if all this was not challenging enough another measure caused even more difficulty. Mike Simon who had to postpone the preparation for our remote checkpoint Dog Grave Lake wanted to give it one last try the Friday before the race. With the extreme temperatures he did not even get out of his shop. A call to Braeburn did not improve things, either. “It’s – 55 here this morning”, was the answer to the question regarding the current temperatures in the area.

With the weather forecast predicting no change we had to act. Safety first. So, we announced at the pre-race meeting that we will have a marathon as planned but a changed race course for the rest of the 100 and 300 mile races. We would later on decide how to continue after 100 miles, closely monitoring the weather forecast. The decision was taken by the entire organisational team and it was great to get Steve Reifenstuhl’s input, one of the most experienced winter running athletes out there. Steve told us that he had never raced in these kind of temperatures and he found it appropriate to react and make changes to the race course.

On the day of our race start we had a plan. We wanted to run in a large “Y” with plenty of access to the race course by road. However, again machinery failed shortly before the start and we decided to keep things even simpler and thus as safe as possible. The announcement was made that we would do an out and back race course for the first 100 miles, i.e. to the marathon finish, back to Whitehorse, to the marathon finish and back to Whitehorse again. In a way it seemed that most athletes were quite happy with this decision at first. However, when the 100 and 300 milers realised they had to go over that soft snow towards Whitehorse four times, they sure were not happy anymore.

I can’t emphasise enough how hard this was and how much of an achievement both physically and psychologically it is to have finished the first 100 miles.

But back to the beginning. Funnily, the weather forecast had changed just a few hours before the scheduled race start. Still we were not going to change our decision as the end of the cold spell had been predicted already several times. And I am glad we did not change it as it would have meant even worse frostbites than what we were to see. Athletes would have pushed on to Dog Grave Lake and caused even more damage to their toes, fingers and faces.

For the marathon athletes it was as tough as for the others. However, they had additional challenges. None had snowshoes. Trying to go fast on soft snow makes things worse. Less clothing caused Camelbaks to freeze early and it made all but one runner quit before the finish. Local athlete Keith Thaxter can proudly call himself the finisher of the world’s coldest marathon ever!

At this point I would also like to thank all the volunteers who helped set up the marathon finish at Rivendell Farm. Getting a checkpoint ready and waiting there in – 40 degrees is not a piece of cake, either! Thanks Beth, Myra, Kim, Tammy, Tunde, Sylvia, Shelley, Eric and Mike.

We knew it was cold but we were surprised how fast the cold took its toll. Back in Whitehorse we were waiting for athletes in the Riverview Hotel checkpoint. For a lot of them it was the end of the race already. Frostbite was the primary reason. What was a learning for them and us is that you can feel strong and fine. Still you may get or have frostbite as 100 mile athletes Michael Patmore and Markus Wiaderek found out. Most athletes did not expect to see blue toes or fingers when they took off their shoes or gloves. Luckily, it looks like all will recover. Some have already emailed me and are keen on coming back to have another go. Only Heike Pawzik from Germany may need an operation on one of her toes. And believe it or not, Heike wants to come back in 2 years, too. “If Reinhold Messner can climb Mountains with just a few toes, it won’t stop me either …”, was her comment when I brought her to the airport.

Others, like Marianne Heading or Thomas Wiget had decided to stop because they did not want to go over that soft snow again and again. That and the cold as such were also Alexandre’s and Eduardo's reasons for quitting. Although, I was impressed at how well Eduardo handled the cold. He had no signs of frostbite. Coming for a warm part of Spain (not that there are many cold places there ...) that was quite an achievement.

Thomas Farrell was a victim of the soft snow, too. He twisted a knee and had to give up. Roderick Rennison got along with the cold better than his brother Mark who got bad frostbite during our training course. Mark is recovering but due to his circulation problem the doctors recommended he better not try this again. For Roderick it was a problem with an old injury that made him decide to stop.

300 milers Martin King and Richard Anderson got in trouble because the valve on Martin’s drinking bladder had a leak and got him very wet. In – 40 degrees Celsius that is a serious problem. They managed to deal with it but decided to scratch after reaching checkpoint 1.

Like Thomas Farrell, Mark Allen who originally had signed up for the 300 miles, already changed to the 100 miles before the start. Mark got frostbite on one of his fingers, too. However, he did reach the finish and placed 2nd after Will Laughlin from the States. Will’s performance was impressive. Like the others he suffered. With him it was breathing problems that slowed him right down on the final miles but he made it.

Charlie Norton had teamed up with Kevin Smith. Both reached the finish of the 100 miles and placed 3rd. The Germans Raffael Zeller and Folker Schulz made it, too. Considering the fact that their sleds weighed about 50 kg each they did very well!

By far the fastest athlete on the 100 miles was Steve Reifenstuhl. His performance was unbelievable. It made us wonder if he indeed is from planet earth? It also showed us that Steve very likely would have set the new 300 mile record. The problem for him was that his record would not be comparable to the one Stefano Miglietti set with his friend Enrico Ghidoni last year. And it would not be comparable to future races, either. That is why Steve decided not to continue the race.

So, we were left with 3 out of 10 athletes in the 300 mile competition, Diane (USA), Jerym (New Zealand) and Chris (Netherlands). For logistical reasons we decided to bring them right to Pelly Crossing and then head back south towards Braeburn. At the beginning the temperatures were still chilly. Then the weather warmed up. I believe in the end we had + 9 degrees in Braeburn! As always a weather change creates different challenges. Strong winds had blown in a lot of the trails on the lakes and in the woods the trail became softer and softer.

Jerym had to give up because of shin splints while Diane and Chris were able to continue right to the finish. “I can’t imagine anything more difficult”, was Diane’s comment after it was all over. “My feet have never been this bad”, she told me. Chris had bad feet, too. However, he was already “running” up the stairs again at the High Country Inn and maybe we will see him back for the 430 miles next year.

To sum it up “this was truly extreme …”

I also want to say that I am proud to be able to organise such a tough race. However, I am not happy if so many athletes can’t finish and I am certainly not happy if people get frostbite. The latter is of course a risk that will always be part of the experience but I am sure with the learnings from this year future participants can do things to avoid this problem. Thus we will hopefully also see more finishers even if we start in such cold temperatures again.

I would like to thank all volunteers and staff, the ones I already mentioned above but also Marianne for walking 79 miles with Diane (!!!), Jessica and Mike for all the preparation work and the support during the race, Thomas Wiget who took such great care of Heike, Shelley, Andy and Jacob for being such great race reps, Dave for the maps, Eric for being such a patient medical support. Thank you Kevin and Murray for doing such a great job out on the trails!

Last but not least I want to thank all our checkpoints, the Yukon Quest, the Canadian Rangers and our sponsors!

February 18th, 2008

10:30 local time - What a race!

This will not be my final report, yet. However, I want to tell you a bit more about the end of the 300 mile race.

Since I was not sure if Marianne would go the 44 miles from Ken Lake checkpoint to the finish with Diane I decided to walk towards Diane and surprise her with a wood fire at the end of one of those long lakes. The last km of the race usually seem to strech forever and I thouhgt she could use the motivation. I borrowed a thermos and some other gear from Don Banks from Scuttlebutt Lodge (thanks again Don!!!) and left. I have not been doing any real training for a few years so I walked for about 5 hours and stopped when I found a good spot. That was about midnight and I was hoping I had enough energy left to keep up with Diane.

At 7:00 AM there was still no sign of them and I decided to walk norht some more. And sure enough, about 1 hour later I met both Marianne and Diane. I was glad to see them healthy (and because I got to turn around as my legs were starting to be a bit tired ...) We were going slow as Diane's feet were giving her a really hard time. "I was right about the comparison to child birth", Diane said. "This race is the most difficult thing I have ever done".

About 5 miles from the finish the snowmobile guides caught up to us. The sun was out and it was a beautiful afternoon. A few minutes before Marianne had gone ahead to Braeburn. She felt strong and could go way faster than Diane and I. As for me, Diane's speed was just right. I was starting to have a hard time (having gone barely the distance of a marathon - don't tell anyone ...). Thank you Marianne for walking 79 miles with Diane as a volunteer! I don't think anyone has ever done that in race before!

We got the news that Chris was about 10 miles behind which meant he had a good chance of finishing within the time limit of 9:30 PM (due to the transfer to Pelly, an increased 100 mile distance and a delayed start).

By then the challenge was to figure out when we would get to Braeburn. Diane clearly was suffering and I could see her head slightly moving to the side on every turn hoping that this finish line would show up. The downhills were particularly painful for Diane. So, she came up with a new technique. She sat down and used her poles to push her. Quite the sight I can tell you.

What a relief when we started hearing the highway and finally saw the powerline. At 16:30 we were there. Braeburn Lodge.

Diane got a ride to Whitehorse with Mike and Jessica. Marianne had already been there for a while and went back to town with Kevin. Murray and I stayed to wait for Chris. 

The winds had picked up again and I was hoping that Chris is not on one of those lakes. Sometimes the wind is so strong you actually have to lean against it. 

It was 19:54 when Chris got to Braeburn. He was tired but his feet were in "good" shape. Being an expert with map and compass Chris commented on the trail not being exactly were he tought it would be. That often happens as the Rangers react to the environment when they break trail, i.e. open river water, overflows, etc. Once Chris had his supper, we went back to Whitehorse, too.

Since I was on the trail you have had no updates. Sorry if that made you worry!

I will hopefully get the chance to write my final report within the next couple of days. You will also find more pictures in the gallery soon.

All those of you interested in signing up for 2009, please check the website again in a couple of weeks or sign up for the newsletter. As soon as the Quest has set their start date, I will have the Applications & Waivers ready.

February 17th, 2008

23:55 local time - Diane and Chris reach the finish line in Braeburn

At 16:30 Diane reached the finish line in Braeburn today. Chris followed at 19:54. Marianne who went with Diane also reached Braeburn safely. I will write a more detailed report tomorrow (local time).

February 16th, 2008

09:10 local time - Chris is half way to Ken Lake

I gave Chris a satellite phone last night in order to be able to call us at 8:00 AM this morning. That way the snowmobile crew does not have to worry or go very speedy to see him. He called and said he was about half way to Ken Lake and doing fine.

Right now the crew is already on their way to check on Marianne and Diane. The winds were quite strong last night. The good thing is that it was not too cold. The disadvantage is that the trails on the lakes almost disappear. Then the only means of orientation are the trail markers from the Yukon Quest and if need be map and compass. Marianne being a girl scout and our record holder in building a wood fire (I have never seen anyone make a wood fire at - 30 degrees as fast as Marianne - and that is without a fire starter!) I am sure they are fine.

I drove with Jerym straight back to Whitehorse last night. He is tired and his feet hurt. He is a great athlete and I hope we see him back!

Heike, the 300 mile runner from Germany is still in town, too. So far it seems she may get away without an operation on her toe. Considering the circumstances she is doing fine and she still is planning on coming back ... That's determination.

February 15th, 2008

17:00 local time - Diane has left for Ken Lake

At 16:25 Diane left Carmacks. Marianne Heading who was in the 100 mile race and now is volunteering decided to join Diane. On their way they are going to get to a massive and never ending lake. It's more fun to be there with someone as the trail is likely blown in. Our guides will later on check on them and go straight to Ken Lake where Mike is already waiting since yesterday.

While taking care of her collection of blisters Diane came up with a nice description of the difficulty of the YAU today. "This race makes child birth seem really easy ..." I don't know much about the pain the latter involves but I am told it's quite something. So, you get the picture ... 

Chris is still about 1 hour away. He was fine when he talked to Kevin an Murray. Since he had a rest next to the trail earlier today he wants to rest in Carmacks for only a short period of time and then continue.

Once Chris is on his way to Ken Lake I will head to Braeburn with Jerym. Don has already heated up the cabin for us. We will have a beer, eat some moose stew and talk about all those crazy athletes this event has seen over the years.

14:54 local time - Jerym has to scratch

Due to problems with his shins Jerym has decided not to continue on the last leg of 79 miles. I know exactly what he is going through as I had the same problem in my first winter ultra - just that I only had a total distance of 135 miles. It is very painful and quite a swelling. It was the right decision as the next checkpoint is 35 miles away and things may get worse.

Jerym is now getting some rest and later on we will decide if he goes to Whitehorse right away or if he wants to stay with us here until we all go back.

Chris is fine. He is still about 2 hours away from Carmacks and the guides told me he is determined to finish. And it will be hard work as time is going by very fast.

13:10 local time - Diane is in Carmacks

At 11:00 Diane arrived at our checkpoint at the Carmacks Rec Centre. She is exhausted and her feet are pretty much the same (blistered) but after having had a shower and fueling up on food she is fine. Diane plans on sleeping 2 hours now and then wants to get going again. The clock is ticking but she can do it.

No sign of Chris and Jerym, yet. Our guides are not back. So, they are likely out there with them and staying near to give the guys some motivation. Chris is reported to have problems with his knees. I will know more later.

09:50 local time - We found them

Well, we have not seen them all, yet, but we know that Diane is 3 miles away from Carmacks and volunteer Marianne is going to walk in with her for the last couple of miles to help her find our checkpoint and to keep her from falling asleep. Diane has been walking all night as she found it too cold to rest (it was about - 25 again last night).

Chris seems to have found it nice and warm in his sleeping bag and he stayed about 14 miles behind - that was Diane's guess. There is a good chance that Jerym caught up to him. Kevin is checking on them as I write this update.

08:24 local time - They are not in Carmacks, yet

Had they gone straight through the night, Diane and Chris would be here by now. Since they have not arrived we are guessing that they made camp. In about 30 minutes Kevin and Murray will head out to meet them on the trail and to check how far away from Carmacks they are.

Some videos - filmed by Eric Kocher

Our start at -40 degrees C

February 14th, 2008

23:00 local time - More pictures online

If you go to our gallery on the left you will now find some new photographs.

Update by Jessica Simon on Day 5

Chain Lakes ready to receive

As Chris Hamerlinck and Diane van Deeren left McCabe Creek Farm at 11:15 this morning, Mike Simon moved in to the Chain Lake checkpoint. At 3:20 he phoned from the cabin made available to us by Peacock’s Fishing Camps. Mike reported soft trail on the section between the cabin and our finish line hosts at Braeburn Lodge. There’s no overflow, little glaciation, and the Quest stakes are easy to follow at 50 to 100 metre intervals over the lake ice. The only challenges are the drifts. "The trail is blown in," said Simon, which won’t change until the wind does.

Jerym celebrated his birthday with a long walk this morning to McCabe Creek Farm on the banks of the Yukon River. He’d left Pelly Crossing at 1:15 a.m. after a three hour pit stop last night. Marianne Heading greeted him at 13:45 this afternoon at the Quest Checkpoint. He’s reported to be in great spirits and happy to be making better time.

16:30 local time - Will they manage to stand the pain?

I timed it just right. When I got to McCabe Creek Diane and Chris were about to leave. They reported having had difficulty to find our checkpoint. As it is often the case it seems to have been a problem with fatigue. Those two are just going and going ... By the time they got close to McCabe they were so tired that they had problems finding our markers. Anyway, when I got there they were rested and all smiles again.

"This may be the first race I actually gain weight", was one of the comments Diane made. The reason being that we have so much food at our checkpoints ...

It is a beautiful day out with + 1 degree Celsius in Carmacks! Unbelivable that less than a week ago it was - 50 degrees here. Pretty soon it is going to get too hot ...

Jerym had the same problem getting into McCabe. He was not sure where to go. Well, he did find it and is now resting. He wanted to head out towards Carmacks in about 2 hours.

All of our remaining 300 mile athletes are starting to suffer from hurting feet. I would say Jerym's feet are probably in the best shape. However, he needs to take pain killers, too. Diane's feet seem the worst but she has the most energy. There is some secret power plant in that body! I had to laugh when Diane walked into Pelly Farm the other day and said she is grumpy. If all of us were like that if we are grumpy, this would be a perfect world.

Unfortunately, I do not have the means to upload pictures, yet. I will see if I can get the problems solved.

10:50 local time - Heading south

I only have time for a very quick update. Diane and Chris should have arrived in McCabe by now and are likely on their way to Carmacks already. I will be in McCabe in an hour and then will have all the news. When I last saw them in Pelly Crossing they were in a very good mood as they could speed right along on the farm road.

Jerym arrived in Pelly Crossing at 22:30 lasts night and left again at 01:15 today. He felt strong and wanted to go straight to McCabe without a break.

February 13th, 2008

Update by Jessica Simon on Day 2

Going in Two Directions at Once

On the north end of the trail, the Pelly Checkpoint is officially open. At 4 p.m. today lead runners Diane van Deeren and Jerym Brunton set foot on their first of 200 miles of Yukon Quest trail. The Bradleys at Pelly Farm are ready to welcome them in the small hours of tomorrow.

Fellow 300 miler Chris Hamerlinck arrived in Whitehorse at 11:30 and is waiting on Mark Allen, last spotted a mere 8 miles from town.

100 milers Charlie Norton and Kevin Smith went under the Takhini Bridge at 1:30 p.m. today. Last night the pair separated from travelmate Matt Freear who bivvied midway between Whitehorse and the Takhini River. At 9 o’clock this morning, Canadian Rangers out staking for the Quest reported “a guy on the trail who wants to be brought in.” By the time snowmobiler Mike Simon reached him, Freear had depleted his electrolytes and bonked. But this afternoon he was rehydrating in Whitehorse.

Bringing up the rear are Germans Folker Schulz and Raffael Zeller. They made their last turn around at 4:10 p.m. when they marched out of Rivendell Farm fit and in form. Frostbite claimed another victim overnight. Heike Pawzik arrived in Whitehorse at 6:55 a.m. and when she took her shoes and socks off, one little piggy was black. Physicians at Whitehorse General prescribed antibiotics and rest for overnight and ordered a more detailed examination in the morning. Swiss 100 miler Thomas Wiget has stepped in as medical translator, to the benefit of athletes and physicians alike.

The north highway communities eagerly await the handful of survivors in the 300 mile. The organizers are very grateful to the gracious hosts and volunteers who support our event along the way.  

18:00 local time - Leaving Pelly

Jerym had a good sleep and is continuing the race. We are expecting him in Pelly Crossing later tonight. Transportation by ski-doo is a reason for disqualification. However, considering the fact that he did an extra 16 km (turning around 3 km from the Farm and then walking 13 km before we caught up to him and the others), we have decided to give him a time penalty and let him try to finish the race.

Chris and Diane were racing down that farm road and got here within 12 hours. They are fine and now on their way to McCabe Creek. They could be there by 5:00 AM if all goes well for them.

Eduardo got to Pelly Farm after about 16 hours. Like the others he thouhgt he was lost. "I would have turned around at the next river bend", he said. But he did not have to. There was the farm. He has been resting back in Pelly Crossing and will likely catch a ride to Whitehorse later on.

Hopefully, tonight I will get a chance to prepare some pictures and upload them tomorrow.

02:15 local time - Early breakfast

Diane and Chris stuck to their plan. At 1:00 AM they got up had a hearty breakfast and are now about to head out to Pelly Crossing. It will be a hilly farm road they are on. By car it takes a bit more than an hour. They want to make it in 11 hours. Soft snow may slow them down but we will see. Both have recovered well. Of course they are experiencing pain in different body parts (well, mostly it's blistered feet) but nothing out of the ordinary, yet.

Good news is that temperatures are still and will likely continue to be warm. Pretty soon they will be able to run in t-shirts ...

Just to clarify, Eduardo had to scratch earlier on in the race. Then he recovered and came along with our volunteers to Pelly Crossing. In order for him to get some more experience he decided to do some more km out on these nice trails.

Jerym is still sleeping and I don't know if he wants to continue unranked, yet.

February 12th, 2008

20:50 local time - Magic Pelly Farm

Chris arrived at Pelly Farm at 18:15. Diane was just 2 minutes behind. When I met them out on the trail they were tired but also very happy to finally see this magic place.

As always Sue, Dale and the kids here are taking great care of our athletes. It is great to be here and the athletes enjoyed a foot bath, lasagna, moose stew and apple cake with caramel sauce. Diane also made a new experience. She got to know Dettol, a desinfectant that they use for cows here. Well, it seems to work with human feet, too ...

Uncle Hugh who also lives here on the farm showed me the weather readings of the last weeks. And for more than 14 days temperatures here had been below - 50 degrees Celsius. The longest cold spell since he has been living here.

When Diane and Chris got here there was a bit of confusion because Jerym had been in front of them. But he had not made it to the farm, yet. Murray then went looking for him and eventually found the athlete from New Zealand. It had been a difficult day for Jerym and he had rested on the river bank. The others passed him without noticing. Jerym decided to get a ride with Murray which means he now can only continue unranked. They are all sleeping at the moment and I will ask Jerym later on if he wants to hit the trails again.

Diane and Chris will have breakfast at 1:00 AM and get on the farm road back to Pelly Crossing.

In the meantime, Eduardo from Spain left Pelly Crossing at 6 PM to get some more experience.

16:50 local time - It does not get much more difficult ...

I am currently in Pelly Farm and updating from a satellite connection. The 100 mile race is over and I do know that everyone who remained in the race made it safely back to Whitehorse. However, I have yet to get the exact finishing times.

Unfortunately, Matt Freear had to be transported back by ski-doo. He had cramps in one of his legs and was unable to continue. Mark Allen came second since he had decided to switch from the 300 to the 100 mile race before race start. Charlie Norton and Kevin Smith likely came in together in 3rd place. Folker Schulz and Raffael Zeller came in together to take 5th place.

Jerym, Diane and Chris were brought up to Pelly Crossing yesterday. They all went right out onto the trail - Diane and Jerym a few hours before Chris. We were expecting Diane and Jerym at about 4 am at Pelly Farm. They did not show up so Murray and Kevin went to look for them on their machines. The two encountered our athletes 16 km out of Pelly Farm. Chris had caught up to them. What had happened? The three came as close as 3 km to Pelly Farm. Then they turned around, convinced that they passed the Farm. Our guides told them about their error and they turned around. So, they went an extra 26 km by the time they will arrive here.

Conditions on the river are not easy. It snowed most of last night and the trail once again is soft. You can imagine how they must feel ...

Heike Pawzik who was doing so well had to quit. She had bad frostbite on two of her toes. She is in Whitehorse and getting treatment at the hospital. It is quite serious but Heike is already planning her next start. Crazy ...

February 11th, 2008

05:25 local time - Jerym and Diane reach the 100 mile checkpoint

At 04:25 Diane and Jerym reached the 100 mile checkpoint here in Whitehorse. They are fine but their feet are starting to be very sore. Both will now rest until later this morning. Then we will bring them up to Pelly Crossing. As for now the race clock stops ticking for them. Only when they re-start we will look at the time again. In other words whatever lead people have when they come to the 100 mile mark, they will take that with them to Pelly.

Here comes Jessica Simon's report on Day 1:

Cold Start

With a temperature of -40, 27 ultra athletes gathered under a cloud of ice fog for the start of what was likely the coldest marathon ever. But while people can function to -70, machinery seizes as -35. The deep freeze put three snowmachines out of commission. That left Kevin Burkitt to set track over untouched powder on the only machine available, while volunteers kept tabs on the field from road-accessible points.

Athletes waded through soft thick snow grains. "For the first 12 miles, every step, I sunk in to the knees," said marathoner Keith Thaxter. After about five kilometers, "I’d have paid someone a hundred bucks for a pair of snowshoes," he said.

The marathoners, 100 mile leader Will Laughlin and 300-mile frontrunner Steve Reifenstuhl took turns breaking trail. Unfortunately, the effort ripped the stuffing out of Alberta’s Al Tingley and local racers Joel and Claire Macht. By the control point where the Takhini meets the Yukon, the trio withdrew. Thaxter would win the marathon, if he reached the finish. But, he hadn’t reckoned with the dramatically slow pace dictated by the conditions. The daytime marathon crept into the night and Thaxter had no headlamp. "I was trying to run to keep up so I could have Steve’s headlamp in front of me." Water was another difficulty. Most of the systems froze, even with silicone hot pads extra insulation and drinking tubes draped to take the best advantage of body heat.

Frostbite also reduced the field. England’s Ian Archer was able to recover from his cold injury, but Markus Wiaderek and Michael Patmore weren’t so lucky. Unable to prevent refreezing, both scratched at the 50 mile checkpoint in Whitehorse.

Unlike the marathoners, who only needed to best the daunting trail once, distance runners had to complete four laps to make their 100 miles. Overnight the thermometer rose to -35 and a slight breeze blew away the high pressure system. Light snow fell and those still in the running at dawn were rewarded with firm trail on a sapphire day in the low 20’s.

For the 300’s, the race will move north up the Klondike Highway and follow a southbound route through the Yukon’s most unique communities.

February 10th, 2008

21:30 local time - Will Laughlin wins the 100 mile race

Will Laughlin from Boulder, Colorado, crossed the finish line at 18:58 today. Respiratory problems slowed him down considerably on his way back to Whitehorse. However, he was still a long way ahead of all other 100 mile athletes. At this point it will still be quite some time before the second ranked will make it to town.

Temperatures have warmed up considerably. Now you only need 5 layers of clothing ... Sorry, no jokes about the weather. It is true. It has become a lot warmer. It is still cold out - at some point today we had - 28 degrees Celcius on the course. And at times there is quite a bit of wind. However, the risk of frostbite or other problems has decreased.

Unfortunately, with some of the athletes the damage was already done on day 1. Without them realising it in some cases. I dropped off Markus Wiaderek at the hospital and his frostbite prevented him from continuing. The same happened later on in the day with Michael Patmore. Only when he took off his socks did he see that damage was done to some of his toes. So, another visit to the hospital. Michael had to scratch but his friend Kevin did continue.

Steve Reifenstuhl decided to scratch

Our initial changes to the race course mean that we need to shuttle the 300 mile athletes up north to continue their adventure. They will go to Pelly Crossing to start their remaining 200 miles from the end where we normally finish.

Due to these changes Steve Reifenstuhl decided not to continue beyond the 100 mile mark. He came here to break Stefano's existing 300 mile record. With the changed course he had no chance of accomplishing this goal. At the rate Steve was going, he would have set an amazing record for this year's trail but very unlikely would it ever be matched against another edition of the YAU. Therefore, it is understandable that he quit. We all were impressed by his performance. Actually, we are almost certain that he is from out of space. Even though the temperatures were so low and half of the trail very soft, he kept on going like clockwork. 100 miles without sleep or significant rest. "How does he do it?" was a question we have heard a lot. So, hopefully we will see him come back and have another try!

Diane van Deeren has teamed up with Jerym Brunton. They are going strong and we expect them in the early morning hours. They are followed by German athlete Heike Pawzik. Heike seems indestructable. No matter how cold. No matter how far. No matter how little food or hydration. She always walks into the checkpoints. Warms up, drinks hot chocolate with plenty sugar. Makes her jokes. And goes. After Heike we expect Chris Hamerlinck and Mark Allen.

Rod Rennison, Martin King and Richard Anderson had to scratch. With Rod the problem was an old leg injury. Martin had a drink bladder valve break and consequently got soaked - a very threatening situation. Richard, his team mate, tried to help. Once at Checkpoint 1 they decided to call it a day.

This puts Eduardo Fernandez-Aguera in last position. However, he is already a winner. Eduardo is from an area of Spain where cold does not exist. Despite this he managed to avoid frostbite and is pushing hard. He will sleep now and then decide on his further strategy.

Photos from Day 1 online

Volunteers Beth Laughlin and Eric Kocher have taken some nice photographs and contributed these to the race gallery. You will find this section on the menu to the left.

Results table online

On the Welcome page down in the right corner (you may have to scroll down to find it) you will see our 2008 results table.

06:15 local time - Update from the CP in Whitehorse

In/Out times CP2

100 Miles

Will Laughlin In (Feb. 10th, 01:50) Out (Feb. 10th, 02:16)
Markus Wiaderek In (Feb. 10th, 04:15)

300 Miles

Steve Reifenstuhl In (Feb. 10th, 01:02) Out (Feb. 10th, 01:34)
Diane van Deeren In (Feb. 10th, 05:25)
Jerym Brunton In (Feb. 10th, 05:25)

I have these times because I am currently staying at this checkpoint. Later on I will get an update from CP1, too.

Here things are quiet. Steve is motoring and Will is not far behind. Both seem very strong. Markus is tired and sleeping as I write this. It seems he has frostbite on one finger and a toe. We will have to have a close look at this before he goes out again.

Diane and Jerym are fueling up on food and drink. They are tired, too. "This is a long haul", Diane said when she got in.

00:45 local time - Coldest marathon ever held

Before I get into any detail I want to let you all know that everybody is doing fine. We have had a number of people scratching. However, no serious injuries. Jessica Simon will write a report on what has happened today that will be posted later tonight. So, I will keep it short and simple.

Race start was Feb. 9th at 11:27. It was so cold that we had difficulties getting the snowmachines going. Therefore, the start was later than planned. Due to the cold and the technical problems we have also decided to change our plan one more time. The athletes are going to CP1, coming back to Whitehorse and then they will repeat that.

As the forecast was changed at 08:00 and it actually looks now like as if it will become warmer, there is a very good chance that the remaining 200 miles for the 300 milers will take place without going out and back anywhere.

Here are the In/Out times of our Checkpoint 1 (marathon finish) that I have so far:

Marathon

Keith Thaxter 18:17

100 Miles

Will Laughlin In (18:38) Out (18:50)
Markus Wiaderek In (18:57) Out (19:31)
Matt Freear In (10:13)
Thomas Wiget In (20:45) - scratched at CP1
Marianne Heading In (20:49) - scratched at CP1
Alexandre de Gouyon Matignon In (08:56) - scratched at CP1
Charlie Norton In (20:57)
Kevin Smith In (21:16)
Michael Patmore In (21:16)
Ian Archer - scratched on way to CP1

Folker Schulz and Raffael Zeller were still on the way to CP 1 when I left there.

300 Miles

Steve Reifenstuhl In (18:07) Out (18:30)
Chris Hamerlinck In (19:55) Out (20:38)
Jerym Brunton In (19:58) Out (20:29)
Diane van Deeren In (19:59) Out (20:29)
Roderick Rennison In (20:20)
Mark Allen In (20:41) Out (22:24)
Heike Pawzik In (20:56) Out (22:24)
Thomas Farrell - scrateched on way to CP1

All other 300 milers were still on the way to CP 1 when I left. However, it is very likely that they are there by now.

The race was started at - 40 degrees Celsius. As far as I know this makes us the coldest marathon ever run. Unfortunately, it was not just cold. The entire first half of the trail was also very soft. Meaning this was and is a very, very tough edition of the YAU.

As you can see we also have our first winner. Keith Thaxter from Whitehorse was the only marathon running who endured this very challenging race course. Congratulations!

One of the major problems today was the freezing of drinking systems. I have no confirmation as yet but I think this was also the main reason why all the other marathon participants did not make it - that and the toll the soft trail must have been taking.

Later tonight I will hopefully also be able to post the first photographs from the race.

February 8th, 2008

Cold spell makes us change our plans

The day began as planned. The participants of the training course had their debrief at 8:00. From 9:00 to about 10:00 there was a trail briefing for all athletes. Later on everyone was handing in missing paper work, we checked gear and gave out maps, etc. 

Then I received a call from Mike who was going to start setting up Dog Grave Lake, our second checkpoint. He knew it may get cold and Mike is one of those people who can handle quite a bit of it. However, the machinery failed. Attempting to get his snowmachine started he almost broke it. In the meantime the weatherforecast was updated. And once more the end of the cold spell was postponed. At this point there is no change in sight until Tuesday. Braeburn had - 54 this morning ...

So, we knew we had to do something. As soon as everyone gathered for the pre-race meeting at 17:30 I got a group of people together to help take a decision. These were people who help with the race but also Steve Reifenstuhl as probably one of the most experienced cold weather ultra runners in the world, representing the athletes. 

To make a long story short, we have decided to start the race as planned at 10:30 tomorrow morning. However, after the marathon athletes will return on the same trail to Whitehorse and get to a new second checkpoint. Then they will head up north again on different trails. Once at the next checkpoint they will come back to Whitehorse. 

I have yet to measure the distance as exact as I can. However, it will be roughly 100 miles. As the weather forecast is only reliable for two days into the future, we can't yet decide how we will continue for the 300 milers. If the weather warms up to -35 we can go ahead and probably continue from Braeburn. If it stays cold there are not many alternatives. We also need to see how the athletes are doing in the frist half of the 100 miles in order to make the decision.

Even if we stay south it will be an extremely cold 100 mile race. Temperatures down to -40 are possible in certain areas. And just a bit of wind is enough to make it quite a bit colder.

Our new route alows us to evacuate quickly. Often we have road access. That way we can provide the best possible support under these circumstances.

With the weather being that cold, the field of entrants has already decreased. Local athletes Tunde Fulop and Sylvia Anderson have decided not to run the marathon. Mark Rennison got such bad frostbite on his hands during the training course that he can not start, either. The problem seems to have been bad circulation in his hands and we all feel with him as it is very tough to have to accept this after such a long period of preparation.

February 7th, 2008

It is going to be a cold one

Most of the athletes have arrived. There is of course a lot of excitement and places like Up North and Coast Mountain Sports where gear can be bought have become a second home to most participants ...

The temperatures are chilly. For the first time I actually had flat tires on my car due to the cold. Local marathon runner Keith Thaxter told me he got home yesterday and in his house it was - 30 degrees as the heating failed while he was gone. Such can be life in the Yukon in winter.

The forecast at the moment is about -30 degrees Celsius for Saturday morning. That would be the coldest we have ever had at the start line. It also means that it will be the coldest first night we have ever had. Sometimes the 100 mile athletes are lucky and it does not go much below - 30. Not this year. And I don't think many marathons have ever been run in -30 or colder.

The cold spell has also caused a delay in the preparation work for our remote checkpoint Dog Grave Lake. Brave Mike Simon will go there tomorrow with his snowmachine to bring in a first load of equipment. He expects to have to deal with temperatures down to - 50 degrees. 

Lessons learned

As always prior to the race we have had our training course today for those who do not have prior experience with extremely cold weather. Shelley Gellatly who is not only a local but also a YAU 300 mile finisher started with a few hours of going through important things like fears, first aid and the trail. Then after a break a group of 11 headed out onto the trails to Hidden Lake.

For some it was an eye opener and certainly many useful lessons were learned. Everybody had to light their stove, build a wood fire and show their sleeping system. Of course all the other bits and pieces of gear were tested, too.

Update on the trail conditions

Whilst first reports about the trail conditions were really good, we now know that there are sections where it may be tough going. For a few days there was quite a bit of wind. This wind has caused significant snow drifts. On some lakes the trail is completely blown in.

We will go over the trail ahead of the racers but it still means soft snow. Therefore, for the first time ever we have actually recommended to take along snowshoes.

Lestra new Gold Sponsor

Lestra has come on board as a Gold Sponsor for the YAU! It is a French company specialised in making sleeping systems and other outdoor gear. With their involvement they want to prove that their product is amongst the best and can stand up to the toughest challenges.

The original plan was to already have a special edition down sleeping bag for this year's YAU. That did not work out but Lestra will now implement this idea for our next race. In the meantime we were equipped with existing models to rent out to athletes.

One of the strengths of Lestra is to produce really good quality - they frequently win tests - at very affordable prices. Check it out on www.lestra.com.

February 2nd, 2008

Hello everyone,

it finally has arrived. The Whitehorse cold spell. Before each race there has been a period of really cold temperatures in Whitehorse. This time this period took a long time to arrive. As I write this it is – 43 degrees Celsius in the capital of the Yukon. The coldest we have had at the startline was around – 20 degrees C. Maybe we are in for a new record this time ...

I will leave for Whitehorse on Feb. 4th. So, from Feb. 5th onwards I can be reached in the High Country Inn. With this last newsletter before the race I just want to give some updates and other important information.

The Trail

The following is part of a Yukon Quest press release which reached me yesterday.

“ ... Intensive trail breaking, packing and marking has been underway since last December on both the U.S. and Canadian sides of the border ... Over 5,000 reflective markers identify the Yukon Quest race trail between Fairbanks and Whitehorse. Painted bright orange and black, with reflective tape, they can be seen by mushers against snow, in flat light and in the darkness by headlamp. On the Yukon side of the border, the Canadian Rangers break and maintain the race trail. They report the Canadian side of the trail to be completely marked and ready for the racers with a good to excellent snow base and minimal overflow from rivers and streams ...”

In addition to that it states on the Yukon Quest website (yukonquest.com):

“The Pelly Farm (Stepping Stone) to McCabe Creek crew encountered a fair amount of new snow since the initial rough breaking in early January leaving extra brush to clear and drifted lakes. Rough ice on the Pelly River was reported last week, but the crew had put in extra time chopping this out and the additional snow cover should leave it smoother. Markers had to be replaced due to suspected wolf activity. Overall trail conditions were good, no overflow, open waters or glaciers reported. McCabe Creek to Braeburn is complete with no major problems. Low snow conditions are reported on the last 40 km at the south end of trail to the Takhini River ...”

So, things are looking good. Thanks to the Rangers and the Yukon Quest for making it possible for us to be out there with them!

The note about the wolf activity is interesting ...

The Checkpoints

• CP 1 Takhini (Rivendale Farm). We will have a set-up right next to the Takhini River a little distance further than the SIR North Country Ranch that hosted us in the first few years. Mike confirmed to me that the distance is roughly 26 miles. Athletes here don’t have a place to get warm inside. We hand out the meal, hot water, tea, coffee, etc. Marathon athletes can get changed inside. Cars can enter the property but please follow instructions by people on site and/or signs as there are some vegetable plantations that you have to stay out of! At the race briefing we will inform locals and visitors on how to get there. There is no mandatory stop this time. Only athletes who are not managing their clothing and sweating right will be held for 4 hours.
• CP 2 Dog Grave Lake. As always this beautifully situated and remote checkpoint is organised by Jessica and Mike Simon. And as always they will be supported be Pete. Again, no sleeping inside. Athletes get their Trekking Mahlzeiten expedition meal and local dessert, tea, etc. and then have to stay outside to rest.
• CP 3 Braeburn (also 100 mile finish). Braeburn Lodge is a restaurant and gas station with some guest rooms. We have a few of these rooms rented for athletes to rest in. The food comes from the restaurant and participants may order off the menu. The burgers are XXXXXL and the cinamon buns are beyond believe ;-) Taking a shower may be possible and making phone calls is definitely possible. We will try to bring a full carload of people back to Whitehorse each time. Therefore, transfers depend on the expected arrival times of athletes. However, nobody will miss a flight or has to stay longer than they want.
• CP 4 Ken Lake. On Ken Lake we will stay in a little wood cabin. Well, staff stays inside. Athletes again have to camp outside if they want to get some sleep. As in Dog Grave Lake we will serve expedition food and local desserts.
• CP 5 Carmacks. In Carmacks we will once again be hosted by the Rec Centre (the only exception was 2007). The good news there is that athletes may have a shower and there is access to the internet and a phone. The “bad” news is that the day care which is in the Rec Centre has grown (well actually that’s great news as it means the community has a lot of kids). For us it means that it can be a bit noisy during daytime as the day care is not far from where we are.
• CP 6 McCabe. Business as usual in McCabe. The Kruse family is hosting us in the same facility (basically a workshop) as they host the Quest mushers. The food will be provided by the Kruses, too.
• CP 7 Pelly Crossing. In Pelly Crossing we are in the Curling Rink where we were 2 years ago. The food here comes from the Kruse family, too.
• CP 8 Pelly Farm. This is definitely the all time favourite of all 300 mile athletes. This place is very special. Once you were there you will know why. I am not sure if the back building will be heated or if you will stay in the farm house itself.
• CP 9 Pelly Crossing. Back to the Curling Rink and our 300 mile finish.

Thanks to Jessica and Mike for organising all the checkpoint and thanks to the checkpoints for hosting us again!

Updated Race Schedule

Feb. 6th Picking up rental gear in the High Country Inn between 17:00 and 18:00. If you arrive already on the 5th or if you don’t have time on the 6th between 14:00 and 15:00 try to get a hold of me at the High Country Inn (call my room or leave a message at front desk). Then we can arrange something.

Feb. 7th 1st day of training course Meet at High Country Inn Reception at 13:25

13:30 - 16:00 Indoor part of Clinic Introductions Review of people's worst fears regarding what could go wrong on the trail Review of organizers worst fears of what could go wrong Slide show of the race with images from previous years First aid presentation - outline of common injuries and discussion on how to prevent them Gear review

16:00 - 17:30 Break - Participants get their gear together for the outdoor part of the training course

17:30 Reconvene at the reception with all gear and ready to hit the trails to Hidden Lakes, near the hotel. Racers need to bring full kits and gear. You will be expected to make a fire, cook supper and then camp out until approx. 20:00. We'll be back at the hotel at 21:00 at the latest. In order to avoid gravel we will transport the sleds by car for a couple of hundred metres. Then we get going. Same on the way back.

Feb. 8th

8:00 - 8:30 Reconvene at the High Country Inn to debrief and review the worst fears and whether all had been answered.

9:00 - 10:30 (for all athletes!) Review trail in details with maps Protocol for checkpoints Questions & Answers

11:00 – 14:00 Gear checks, handing in drop bags and missing paper work at the High Country Inn

from 17:30 Pre-Race Dinner at the High Country Inn

Feb. 9th 10:30 Race Start near White Pass Building (5 Minute walk from High Country Inn)

Rental Gear

Pulk Sleds – The rental pulk sleds this time will come from the Alaskan company Northern Sled Works. We have chosen these sleds because they have very tough, flexible 1/8 inch UV treated UHMW plastic, i.e. they last way longer than the sleds we have had in the past. The sleds will come with professional poles and robe on the sides of the hull to attach bungees. Rental price is CAD 175.00. Please note: the sleds do NOT come with a harness or sled bag/cover!

Sleeping Bags – Lestra has not managed to have the special edition Yukon Arctic Ultra down bag finished in time for this year’s race. However, they have provided us with the Lestra Extreme Plus (which comes complete with a bivy bag attached to it) and the Lhotse Extreme which has a separate bivy bag. Also, Lestra have provided a fleece inlay in order to get some more comfort. Rental is EUR 125 including bivy and fleece.

“Care Instructions” for your Pulk Sleds

If you followed last year’s race you may be aware that we had problems with quite a few sleds breaking. Here are some things to consider put together by Shelley in order to avoid that happening:

1. The colder it is the more careful you have to be with the plastic sleds.
2. Be carfeful when going over gravel, open ground, trees and jagged ice, i.e. less snow means more wear and tear on the sled.
3. How durable is the sleds, i.e. thicker is more durable but no guarantee against breakage.
4. If you pack your sled too heavy you are asking for trouble. This is the key problem vs. gravel, thickness of sled etc. If the weight is not evenly distributed and not appropriate for the type of sled you will likely have problems with cold weather, ice, gravel, etc.
5. Under no circumstances should you be sitting on the sled.

Special Reminders for Athletes

• Please make sure you are aware of all the Rules! I will not go through every rule at the pre-race meeting. So, please read the rules on the website – especially the part with mandatory gear! Sleeping bags have to have an extreme temperature range down to -35 degrees Celsius. A combination of a -20 degree bag with a down jacket or other won’t be accepted.
• 300 mile athletes: Your drop bags should not be too large. Please don’t use plastic bags as these tend to fall apart. Pack your drop bags well and CLEARLY mark what checkpoint these are for. Your drop bags will be inside a warm place when you get to them. However, on the way to the checkpoint the drop bags may be exposed to below freezing temperatures for an extended period of time (as we transport them in a trailer).

Safe trip everyone! See you in the Yukon,

Robert Pollhammer 

January 4th, 2008

I hope you all had a great Christmas and I want to take the opportunity to wish you a Happy New YEAR with plenty of health and adventure! The athletes have already received a lot of the following news in updates targeted specifically to them – we send these out in the couple of months before the race as they contain information which is not really that important for anyone not doing the race (e.g. confirmation of rental gear, payments, etc.). However, some of the updates below may be of interest for family and friends or those of you still thinking about signing up for 2008 or already planning for 2009.

Up and down on the race roster

As always a certain percentage of athletes has had to withdraw their entry due to sports injury, job changes, etc. The current race roster is up to date and we have 2 entries for the marathon, 9 athletes for the 100 and 13 athletes for the 300 miles. We may see a few more new athletes in the next couple of weeks. So, stay tuned! Also, we expect some more local marathon participants signing up on short notice and we may see a total field of entries between 30 to 40 people.

For the athletes this is great as we will be less busy at the checkpoints and it will be easy for them to get to know each other. And we get to know them really well, too.

Merchandise

RaidLight has sent me the prototypes of the merchandise. In order to have a look please go to the gear section on our website. It’s great equipment and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Changes to Checkpoint 1

Mike hopes to be able to drive the distance to CP 1 beginning of January. At the moment the river ice is not safe, yet. Then we can confirm the mileage to CP1 which is also the marathon finish.

Sat Phones

Athletes can rent a sat phone for the race. We can help in order to get you in touch with a local company that rents these phones out. It is an interesting safety back-up and it does not cost a fortune. Rental for an Iridium is CAD 150/week plus the cost of calling (package for CAD 100 for 50 minutes or CAD 2.50 per minute). If you want to take one along in 2009 book your phone as early as possible. On short notice it may be difficult/impossible.

Expedition Food

Our expedition food for Dog Grave Lake and Ken Lake will come from Trekking Mahlzeiten, a company owned by Katadyn. On their website you will see what is available. Athletes can decide which meal they want and if they prefer a single or double serving. Also, the meals are complimented by some local food for desert.

Race Schedule

As the new management of the High Country Inn has confirmed their support for the YAU athletes and the race, most of our pre-race activities will once again take place in this great hotel. For the first time the reduced room rate for athletes will also include a complimentary hot buffet breatkfast! If you want to find out more about the High Country Inn, please go to www.highcountryinn.yk.ca.

Feb. 7th

1st day of training course

Meet at High Country Inn Reception at 13:25

13:30 - 16:00

• Start of clinic, introductions
• Review of people's worst fears regarding what could go wrong on the trail
• Review of organizers worst fears of what could go wrong Slide show of the race with images from previous years
• First aid presentation - outline of common injuries and discussion on how to prevent them
• Gear review

16:00 – 17:00 Break - Participants get their gear together for the outdoor part of the training course

17:00 Reconvene at the reception with all gear and ready to hit the trails to Hidden Lakes, near the hotel. Racers need to bring full kits and gear. They will be expected to make a fire, cook supper and then camp out until approx. 22:00. We'll be back at the hotel at 23:00 at the latest.

Feb. 8th

8:00 – 9:00 Reconvene at the High Country Inn to debrief and review the worst fears and whether all had been answered.

9:00 - 10:30 (for all athletes!)

• Review trail in details with maps
• Protocol for checkpoints
• Questions & Answers

11:00 – 14:00 Gear checks at the High Country Inn

from 17:30 Pre-Race Dinner at the High Country Inn

Emails to athletes during the race

As we have done in past years we will try to distribute any messages you may have for the athletes. Please send these by email to info@thegreatoutdoors.de. Please note: We only distribute emails sent between Feb. 9th and 17th! Also, we can’t guarantee that all emails will make it. We don’t have internet connection in all places but we will try our best!

November 20th, 2007

Change regarding our 4-hour mandatory stop at CP1

I know that a lot of athletes will be happy about this one! I have decided to get rid of the 4-hour mandatory stop at checkpoint 1. However, there is an exception to this changed rule. If an athlete arrives totally exhausted and/or sweating more then she/he should, I will make her/him stay 4 hours.

This way athletes who deal with their body and the environment the right way are not forced to get out of their rhythm. They can continue on to checkpoint 2 and take a break whenever it is right form them. Athletes who don't deal with the temperatures the right way will learn an important lesson. They will be forced to stop moving and stay outside in falling temperatures. YAU staff will be able to observe how they handle this situation.  

Links regarding Pulk Sleds

In the section on Gear (menu on the right) we also feature information about Pulk Sleds. At the bottom of this page I have now included several links that you may find interesting when deciding what the best solution for you will be. If you find other good links please let me know and I will include them.

November 1st, 2007

Sean Brown's race report now online

Sean Brown at the 300 mile finish, YAU 2007

Sean Brown from England came twice to do the YAU 300 mile race on foot. Twice he had to give up at Braeburn, the 100 mile finish. However, he came back for his third try in a row in 2007. This time he made it! Now he wrote a very interesting report to share his experiences, views and emotions with others. You will find the report in the respective section. 

The organising team

It’s 0 degrees Celsius in Whitehorse as I write this short update. No doubt, these temperatures will soon fall. They always have. In the meantime the local organising team is already putting everything into place. It is Jessica who is in the lead of this team. She has been in touch with all the checkpoints, is planning logistics, etc. Mike, Shelley and Dave are helping her. Eric Kocher has confirmed to help as part of the medical crew again. Murray who has been with the YAU right from the start will lead the snowmobile guides. His friend Kevin will join the team for the first time. Depending on the final amount of athletes we will complement this team with 1 or 2 more guides. If you want to see the faces to these names please check out the About Us section.

Checkpoints

There won’t be any major changes regarding the race course. At the moment we are having a close look at CP1 as it may stay where it was this year or be down at the river – which would save us going parallel to the road for a couple of km. In Carmacks we will move the checkpoint, too. News will follow.

Gear

If you have not got your gear complete you may want to check out the new YAU gear list on Racelite.com. Not only will you find interesting gear but also useful advise. Interested? Follow this link: YAU Gear List on Racelite.com.

I also hope to soon have more news on the YAU sleeping system engineered by Lestra.

Expedition Food

It is likely that we will offer expedition food again at the checkpoints Dog Grave Lake and Ken Lake. However, this time athletes may chose the meal they want. In time for testing and for the race a list will be sent out. All other checkpoints will once again have "real" food ;-) 

October 24th, 2007

Interview with Steve Reifenstuhl

Steve Reifenstuhl

Steve Reifenstuhl from Alaska has signed up for next year's 300 mile race. He is one of the most experienced and most successful winter ultra runners out there. Being from the North he knows very well what it means to live and run in the cold. Many good reasons to aks Steve some questions:

Your brother Rocky competed in the first two editions of the YAU on bike. We are very happy to have you with us next year. What made you decide to sign up?

[Steve] Well, I love the Yukon Territory and especially the Yukon River near its headwaters. I have competed in several events on the Yukon although in the summer time and wanted to try one in the winter. Also I have competed in some form of the winter Alaska Ultra Sport 350 miles from Kink to McGrath, Alaska since the early 1990's and wanted to attempt a new venue. It will be fun to see new competitors and test a new event.

You have very successfully competed in many winter ultras. What do you think is the greatest challenge of such a race in the cold?

[Steve] I am not sure there is one ‘greatest challenge’ and that is what I love about the long winter races, there is a multitude of considerations. The challenges are significantly mental and logistical as well as physical. This is especially true of the remote winter races – you are out there alone and if you make a mistake you are putting yourself in significant peril. These races are in some ways similar to alpine style climbing in the remote mountain ranges in the sense of extreme cold, physical exertion and completing a route in a single multi-day push. Perhaps the greatest challenge, similar to many races, is to know one’s limits; the difference being a miscalculation at thirty below can cost you dearly.

Why do you like running in the cold so much?

[Steve] It is better characterized as I love competition and wild, remote country; the winter venue just provides another opportunity in the North Country. Alaska and the Yukon have more mountains, glaciers, and wilderness than anywhere but Antarctica, and of course it just happens that at this latitude it is cold for much of the year. That being the case I adapted to the environment and specialize in long and logistically complicated races. I also compete in the summer Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classics and hundred plus mile ocean kayaking races. In August my brother and I hiked and climbed 260 miles through the Brooks Range in 8 ½ days – no trails, no satellite phone, and no GPS. This kind of expedition, like the winter races, takes commitment but yields much more, a purity of purpose that is hard to find in everyday life.

Many ultra athletes who have done desert races want to get to know the other extreme. What do they have to beware of?

[Steve] Don’t wear shorts! They might be surprised that at forty below the humidity is lower than desert air. I think one of the biggest surprises would be race exertion allows for relatively lightweight clothing and footwear. Nevertheless, constant monitoring of face, hands, and feet against frostbite must be maintained. Acclimation to cold is just as important as acclimation to heat. When I do an event in a climate with extremes in heat, cold, or humidity I want at least a week to ten days to acclimate.

Footwear is obviously a very important topic. What is your advice? What shoes can you recommend?

[Steve] Footwear should be light and needs to have a vapour barrier system. Montrail’s new Hardrock Mid GTX is my top choice. It has a Gore lining providing the vapour barrier protection necessary in extreme cold. The tread is aggressive for gripping soft snow as well as ice covered rivers, and the Hardrock Mid has the additional feature of mid-ankle cuff height which provides support and keeps out snow. For those preferring a low cut ankle the Continental Divide GTX is the best choice. Shoe selection is critical, especially in a race of 320 miles. I have put thousands of miles on trail shoes in the winter and no one makes a foot bed that protects like Montrail. Shoe size should be at least a size larger than normal shoe size due to swelling of feet and extra layer of socks.

Do you run with regular running socks?

[Steve] No, I use a vapour barrier liner system (VBL). RBH DesignsTM makes vapour barrier socks and gloves that I use in all winter races. My first layer is a Patagonia capilene liner sock, followed by a RBH liner VBL sock. When it gets below minus twenty I add a RBH VBL thick sock. I have never had cold feet or hands using the RBH DesignTM system, it was truly a break through.

What other advice on gear would you like to share with novice athletes?

[Steve] There is plenty I’d like to share with novices, but others are listening. Seriously, get out and experience the northern latitudes for the quiet, the northern lights, the dark of night, and the chance to look deeper within. As for racing, practice using all your systems – sleeping, water, eating while running for 12 hours, putting on clothes and taking off clothes while moving, storage of clothes when not worn. To be efficient and reduce error, all systems need to work flawlessly and when sleep deprivation comes to haunt you, all your practice and rote will pay dividends.

Thank you for your time and the interesting answers! 

October 20th, 2007

Jacob Nielsen new Race Rep for Scandinavia

So far we have not had a Race Rep specifically for Scandinavia. With Jacob Nielsen we have now found someone who is ideal for the job.

Jacob is an experienced ultra runner. Not only did he participate twice in the Yukon Arctic Ultra. He also completed several desert ultras. That way he can from now on advise the Scandinavian athletes perfectly on what to be aware of when coming to the Arctic after running in the sand - which is what a log of our athletes do. They start with the hot climate and then they go for the other extreme.

Jacob at the YAU 2007

Jacob owns extreme sports which is a company distributing high quality gear in the markets of Denmark and Sweden. This makes him of course also an excellent source on tips for the right gear. If you are from Scandinavia and have questions about the race and/or you want to sign up, please contact Jacob at jacob@extreme-sports.dk.

September 17th, 2007

Nina Prasse official YAU photographer 2008

We have had many photographers at the YAU in the past. And really good ones, too. However, most times they have been there as freelance staff or because of certain media. That made it difficult to make the photos available for everyone. In 2008 for the first time we will have an official YAU photographer who does take photos for media but also for the athletes! All photos will be made available for download right after the race on www.sleepmonsters.com. 

Our photograpname is Nina Prasse. Nina is very creative and is currently on a journey around the world. One of her special projects will be the YAU. If you want to get an impression of Nina's work please check out her website www.gruene-gruetze.de (it is also available in English).

Come train with us in the Alps from January 3rd to 5th, 2008!

After a successful premiere in 2006 we will once again offer a Yukon Arctic Ultra training session in the Alps. This training will take place Jan. 3rd to 6th, 2008 in Bavaria and/or Tyrol depending on the snow conditions at the time. The focus will be on testing gear and endurance. Of course it is also a great opportunity to get to know other athletes and to exchange learnings. Please note: It does not replace the training course that will take place in the Yukon from Feb. 7th-8th where the focus will be more on survival, the race course and other important issues.

On the way in to the Gaistal - the YAU training session 2006

You will find all information on schedule, etc. in this pdf-file (134 KB). If you want to see some impressions of what the training session in 2006 was like, please have a look at the respective gallery.

Maybe you also want to take along family and friend?! Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a great ski resort and while you are training they can enjoy skiing on the Mount Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak. If I can assist with anything, please let me know. 

By the way, you don't have to do the race in order to be able to train with us. Maybe you want to do the race some other year or simply have a bit of a training adventure!

Anybody who is interested please contact me.    

September 15th, 2007

Montrail becomes Gold Sponsor for the Yukon Arctic Ultra

The name Montrail, for the last decade, has become synonymous with cutting-edge outdoor footwear. In 29 countries, Montrail shoes are worn by people who feel their feet deserve nothing less than the most technologically advanced products. That is why we are very proud to work with Montrail as our Gold Sponsor of the Yukon Arctic Ultra. “We have several new shoes made specifically for the toughest conditions one can think of. That is why we chose to support this great race”, explains Paul Curran, Montrail Marketing Manager in the US. Montrail will also send Alaskan athlete Steve Reifenstuhl to try and break the current 300 mile record set by Stefano Miglietti this year. Steve is extremely experienced and must be one of the most determined ultra athletes out there. It will be awesome to see him race against the clock! Soon we will introduce the Montrail products that are up for the Arctic challenge. So, please come back and check it out. In the meantime, visit www.montrail.com. Welcome Montrail!

Being based in the U.S., Montrail will also help us spread the word amongst the many ultra athletes in the Lower 48. For more information about our partnership with Montrail or the Yukon Artic Ultra in the U.S., please contact Andrew Matulionis, our U.S. race rep.

Andy Heading new Race Rep for UK

No other European has done as many miles on winter ultra trails as Andy Heading. His experience and his knowledge make him the best possible race representative for athletes from the UK. Andy not only can help participants with advise on gear and training. He is also one of the best when it comes to mentally facing the challenges of a race in the Arctic.

Andy at the YAU 2007, 430 mile race

And there are more reasons why I am very happy that Andy is part of our team. He participated in both the Iditasport (now called Iditarod Trail Invitational) and the Yukon Arctic Ultra. That means he can explain very well what the difference is between those two races. Last but not least, he has competed on foot and with his Mountain Bike.

For athletes who signed up through EventRate.com this means no significant changes. Just that from now on you can ask either Andy or myself if you have any questions. Also, any further payments towards the 2008 entry fee will be made directly to the Yukon Arctic Ultra. For more informaton on Andy Heading and his contact email please check out his profile.    

August 10th, 2007

RaidLight new Gold Sponsor for Yukon Arctic Ultra

It is with great pleasure that I can announce today that RaidLight will be a new Gold Sponsor for the Yukon Arctic Ultra. “Gold Sponsor” refers to the level of sponsorship and is our equivalent to a Main Sponsor. The number of which is limited to a maximum of 5 brands.

RaidLight is an ideal sponsor for many reasons. Their core is Trail Running, Orienteering and Ultra Running. The founder himself, Benoit Laval, is an excellent Trail Runner. With his innovative products he has managed to make his brand well known amongst athletes in Europe and world wide.

Benoit Laval in action

From now on RaidLight will be the exclusive partner of the YAU when it comes to athlete’s running gear. And the other disciplines will be able to find interesting products for themselves, too.

Shortly, we will create a new section on this site with Merchandise. There you will find interesting gear for your training and of course the participation for the YAU itself. Of course our Give-Away Shirts for all the participants will also be from RaidLight. That’s the end of our famous cotton shirts. Welcome in the world of functional fabrics!

If you want to find out more about RaidLight please check out their website www.raidlight.com. If you want to purchase RaidLight products in general, please check on www.racelite.com. They have got pretty much the entire range in stock.

Lestra to produce YAU sleeping bag

You are not sure what sleeping bag to use for the YAU? Well, then wait a little bit as Lestra is working on a new sleeping bag especially for YAU athletes. I don't have any details, yet. However, with their great reputation for quality and fair prices, this sleeping bag sure will be interesting! If you want to find out more about Lestra, please have a look at www.lestra.com. 

New athletes on the race roster

We have three more newcomers to the YAU! Welcome 300 mile athlete Thomas Farrell from Jersey and welcome to 100 mile athletes Michael Patmore from Newtownards, Northern Ireland and Rafffael Zeller from Bammental in Germany.

Please remember the Entry Deadline August 31st, 2007

For those of you who know that you will participate for sure, please don’t forget that the entry fees go up after August 31st. Of course you can then still enter the YAU 2008 but for the longer distances rates go up by EUR 100. The marathon entry will be EUR 50 more.   

the GREAT OUTDOORS has moved

After about 2 years in the beautiful village of Mittenwald, I have moved to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It is just as beautiful here at the foot of Germany's highest peak, Mt. Zugspitze. It's just a bit bigger and closer to Munich.

Due to this move I can't receive faxes, yet. However, I can now be reached again by regular phone line and of course as always by email and cell phone. My new contact details are all in the Contact section on the left.

July 8th, 2007

I hope you are all having a great summer!

As far as preparation work for the Yukon Arctic Ultra 2008 is concerned, things are quiet at the moment. Quite a bit had to be done in March but most of the work that still remains will be taken care of towards the end of the year.

Jessica and Mike Simon will be heavily involved in preparations once more. Jessica will be at Dog Grave Lake again. Mike’s main job will be to prepare the wilderness checkpoints. Also, he will take on some of the prep work that Shelley has done in the past couple of years as Shelley has got a lot of work with her own projects. She will still help with the training course and try to be with us during the race, too. And she told me if any Canadians have questions regarding the YAU please feel free to contact her.

Regarding ski doo guides, Murray will be part of the crew again and hopefully Thomas de Jager can join in, too. I will have to confirm with him later in the year. Mike Simon will be guide Number 3. Depending on the number of athletes we will need 1 or 2 more guides on certain days and I will introduce them in time. Gary Rusnak won’t be part of the crew anymore. Many of you have gotten to know him in past races. He has always done a great job and I want to thank him for helping us all these years.

New athletes on the race roster

Guess who’s back?! Heike Pawzik from Germany kept her promise. She said she would go for the 300 miles next year and she signed up already. Heike is quite amazing as she has run so many ultras, it’s unbelievable. It will be fun to have her back. Another athlete who will go all the way to Pelly Crossing is Martin King from England. He is new to the YAU and so is Kevin Smith from Northern Ireland who will do the 100 miles. Welcome to you all!

Entry Deadline August 31st, 2007

For those of you who know that you will participate for sure, please don’t forget that the entry fees go up after August 31st. Of course you can then still enter the YAU 2008 but for the longer distances rates go up by EUR 100. The marathon entry will be EUR 50 more.

Natventure Trophy Races

Since I need to keep myself busy in between Yukon Arctic Ultras, I organise Adventure Races in the Alps in the summer time. I started with one race last year. This year there are two. The first one took place last weekend and was great fun. It is quite different from ultra running, biking or skiing. However, I can only encourage you to try it once. It is great training!

If you want to try it over here in the Tyrolean Mountains, the next Natventure Trophy takes place Sept. 1st to 2nd. For beginners there is also a workshop right before the race. 5 days of guided activities are only EUR 180/person and this already includes the entry fee to the race. The nearest airport is Innsbruck and as far as I know flights from the UK are actually quite affordable.

You find all information about the race on www.natventure-trophy.com.

New Ultra Gear on Racelite.com

If you’ve already had a look at www.racelite.com you saw that there are many products which are great for ultras, e.g. the gear from RaidLight, RailRiders, Montane, Macpac, etc. Since last week we also have the Carbon and Titanal Trekking Poles from KOMPERDELL and the gear from OMM in our range. Check it out!

Jungle Marathon 2007

On Sept. 11th, I will for the third time fly to Brazil to help Shirley Thompson with her Jungle Marathon race. Shirley still accepts entries. So, if you are looking for a challenge that is the opposite of extremely cold, this is the one to go for. It is a very tough race but the jungle is not as hostile as you may think. Of course there are insects, reptiles and all the rest. However, with the right gear and preparation you can handle it. And since it is a stage race you have plenty of recovery time at the end of every day … unless you get lost … Anyway, if you have any questions regarding the Jungle Marathon, please let me know.  

May 12th, 2007

12 athletes have signed up already

Quite a few athletes have decided to sign up early this year. 6 of them have opted for the 100 miles and 6 of them will go for the 300 miles. Ian Archer is back to finish the 100 after having to withdraw this year due to problems with his sled. Mark Allen will also give it another try and hopefully go all the way to Pelly Crossing in the 300 this time. The other athletes currently on the race roster, Mark Schofield, Folker Schulz, Clive Gott, Martin Bethell, Huw Owen, Peter Gold, Chris Hughes, Jerym Brunton, Roderick Rennsion and Mark Rennison are new to the YAU. Welcome to you all!

Experience the Yukon in the summer - sign up for the Yukon Gold Ultra!

Shelley Gellatly who is very involved in organising the YAU has last year created the Yukon Gold Ultra. For those of you who live in Canada or have always wanted to experience the trails of the Yukon in the summer, this race is a great opportunity to do so.

Shelley still needs some athletes to be able to run the race again this year. It is scheduled for July 28th - 29th, 2007. The distances are 60 and 100 miles and participants can run or mountain bike it. New this year: a 2-person division for the 100 miles. If you want to find out more details please go to www.goldultra.com.

Racelite.com now available in English

As some of you may already know I have started selling gear for Ultra and Adventure Racing at the end of 2005. I have done it because I am asked very often "what is the right gear and where can I get it"?

Since I am based in Germany my online shop was only available in German. That has changed. As of now the shop is also available in English at www.racelite.com. There is plenty of gear interesting for the Yukon Arctic Ultra and as we get closer to winter even more cold weather gear will be available. Have a look! And I appreciate any feedback as there may still be translation mistakes or products you would like to see in my shop.

Want to come Adventure Racing in the Alps?

When I am not involved in organising ultra races, I try to help establish Adventure Racing in the German speaking countries. Therefore, last year I put on my first Adventure Race in the region of Mittenwald (Bavaria) and Seefeld (Tyrol). It was a great success and the participants enjoyed the many challenges in the beautiful alpine nature.

Adventure Racing is a perfect possibility to get some elevation into your legs and to train endurance in a different way. Our Master-Class has 100 miles and up to 4,000 metres of elevation. There will be two races this year:

• Mittenwald/Seefeld June 30th - July 1st, 2007
• Tiroler Oberland September 1st - 2nd, 2007

You will find all information on www.natventure-trophy.com.

April 2nd, 2007

"Why are there so few mountain bikers at the YAU?"

That is a question I was asked a few days ago by an athlete who wants to mountain bike the YAU. That is a good question indeed and since it may interest some more people I will repeat here what I wrote as an answer.

One of the reasons is that there are not many snow mountain bikers to begin with. Alaska has got quite a few but they like to stick to US races. Only Rocky came over twice and did really well. Another athlete who did well was German Thomas Muhler. The two other Germans who failed had bad luck with unexpected problems. One of them did not have the right bike. The tires were not fat enough. If you have questions regarding the right bike, please let me know. For those of you who are from Europe I have found someone in Germany who can build just what you need.

Thomas and his Fatbike at the YAU 2005

This year the trail was rock hard from the first checkpoint onwards. Mountainbikers would have done really well. So, I think the YAU is just fine for mountainbikes. However, conditions are always unpredictable. Fresh snow, snow blown into the trail or warm weather can turn it into a nightmare even if you have fat tires.

Who wants to see me suffer?

Many times I have been told by athletes in the past "How I wish to see you suffer, Robert!" I guess that is only understandable. The Jungle Marathon (where I work as Race Director) and the Yukon Arctic Ultra are extremely tough races. People need somebody to blame when the pain hits ...

Now there actually will be an opportunity for you all to see me suffer. And for those who want to join me it is a great opportunity to get some elevation into your legs. And elevation is very good for your preparation. 

I am talking about the Karwendel Challenge (starts August 1st, 2007) here in the Alps of Germany and Austria. It will take place for the first time. There are two distances offered: 100 miles/14,265 m of elevation and 50 miles/6,945 m of elevation.

Since I have not done any ultras since 2004 chances are I really will be a sad sight ... But I am looking forward to it. You will find all information on their website.

If you interested in the YAU it will also be a chance to do some gear talking. I will arrange the opportunity to have a look at all the gear that I sell through Racelite.com and answer any questions you may have. 

I can also help with transfers and accommodation. If you are intersted let me know (email info@thegreatoutdoors.de).  

March 27th, 2007

Yukon Arctic Ultra 2008 now open for registration

As of now you can register for the next edition of the world's coldest and toughest marathon and ultra. You will find all necessary information in the Application section.   

We will start in Whitehorse on Feb. 9th, 2008 the same day the Yukon Quest starts in Fairbanks. I confirmed the date with the Yukon Quest and because the timing (i.e. we finish the 300 miles in Pelly Crossing before the mushers get there) has worked out fine in past years there were no objections.

430 mile race to be held every 2 years only

For several reasons we have decided to hold the 430 mile race every 2 years only. Therefore, the next race all the way to Dawson City will take place again in 2009.

The main reason for this decision was the fact that we can't head towards Dawson when the dog teams are coming our way. Of course we could have decided to start our race earlier (January 30th) in order to avoid that "encounter". However, this may have meant that the trail would be less hard packed on our end as there would be fewer snow machines going back and forth so early in time.

Athletes who want to pre-register for the 430 mile race can do so already. We will create a special section on the Race Roster. However, we strongly urge athletes interested to have a close look at what happened to this year's athletes (see Archive YAU 2007). We were shown quite impressively just how challenging those additional 130 miles to Dawson can be. If you want to sign up for this race use your time well getting prepared.

We have also learned some lessons and will soon announce what we intend to change in order to continue the race even if it is as cold again in 2009 as it was this year.

Yukon Arctic Ultra gear list powered by Racelite.com

Racelite.com is a project from the Great Outdoors, the company that puts on the Yukon Arctic Ultra and the Natventure Adventure Races in the Alps.

Racelite.com came to life as a German online shop December 2005 and is specialised in selling gear for runners, ultra runners, adventure racers and other people interested in light weight and innovative gear. Soon Racelite.com will also be available in English. 

Now I have put together all the products of the shop which are interesting for YAU athletes in one list. It is a good guideline of what gear people need and how much it costs. The list also includes additional tips.

You can download the gear list here: Yukon Arctic Ultra gear list by Racelite.com (pdf-file with 1.1 MB)

If you have any questions regarding gear please do not hesitate to contact me.