FAQ

Do I need snowshoes?
This will depend on snow conditions and temperatures. So far hardly any athletes took along snow shoes. However, if there were a lot of fresh snow, warm temperatures and wind every day I am sure it would be nice to have some. Our trail crew does travel back and forth with their snowmobiles a lot in order to pack the snow onto the trail but if weather conditions are bad they won’t be very fast. Then you may have bad trail conditions for many hours. Therefore, just check out the weather forecasts prior to the race. If you already have snow shoes take them along. Just in case.

How do I best transport my water?
One thing is for sure, you should take along as much water as you can. In the cold you dehydrate very quickly and melting snow takes a long time. Athletes often can’t be bothered to get out their stoves to get snow melted. They decide to go on without drinking. Depending on how long the distance to the next checkpoint is, this can cause serious trouble.

If you take a CamelBak you should carry it on top of your first layer of clothing and underneath any other layers you wear. The tube and the mouthpiece should be insulated. There actually are CamelBaks for winter sports but it is also possible to do the insulation DIY.

Then you should use one or two thermos cans. These are quite heavy but there is nothing like hot chocolate or tea when you are really cold. A very efficient way of transporting liquid is to take e.g. a coke in a plastic bottle and attach a heat pad to it. If you wrap this in some piece of clothing it will stay liquid for quite some time.

How cold does it get?
The extreme temperatures go down to minus 50 degrees Celsius and colder. Don't forget the wind chill, either. Minus 25 degrees and wind will make it extremely cold, too.

How do I prevent frostbite and hypothermia? (see also our section on Hypothermia & Frostbite)

We have had athletes with serious frostbite and mild hypothermia. Never make the mistake of thinking it won’t happen to you. It can happen very quickly. Some things to keep in mind:

1. If you have problems with the blood circulation in your feet or hands the YAU is not the race you should go to.
   
2. Don't wait until you get cold. Do something before that happens, i.e. put on a layer, rest, build a fire, sleep, drink something hot - depending on the circumstances.
3. It's important that you don't get hot either. If you sweat and then later on temperatures get colder your clothes will freeze solid.
4. In addition to having the right clothes for extreme temperatures, you might want to take along chemical heat pads. You can buy these in Whitehorse. They are not expensive and very good if your fingers are getting cold.
5. If temperatures get too cold for moving to the next checkpoint, we recommend you make a fire. Building a fire will keep your body temperature up and the fire you can use to warm up and to melt snow/ice for a hot drink.
   
6. Melting ice is more efficient than melting snow. That means if you are near a creek or lake it may be worth your while getting ice. However, you will need someting to cut the ice, like a small axe.
7. You need to drink and eat well. Your body can deal a lot better with the cold if you take care of these basic needs.
   
8. Make sure you can operate your stove and other equipment with gloves on.
9. Under all circumstances try to avoid getting stove fuel on your skin when it is extremely cold. It can result in immediate frostbite.
   
10. Be prepared for life threatening situations like extreme cold and getting into overflow. Develop scenarios how you deal with these situations. What to do first? Where are my matches and stromproof lighter? Where are my clothes for changing?
    
11. Take along fire starter (several options available locally e.g. at Canadian Tire) in order to build a wood fire fast. Make sure you get it right the first time, i.e. use dry wood, don't build the fire on a snow base (make a hole).
    
12. If you have a down sleeping bag, use a Vapour Barrier Liner. Also, look into buying Vapour Barrier liner gloves and socks.
13. If you borrow a sleeping bag or buy a used one make sure it has kept its loft. A sleeping bag that was stored the wrong way may have lost a lot of its capacity to warm you.
14. Be very careful if you take your hydration bladder with you into the sleeping bag. Valves may defreeze and leak or the entire bladder bursts. Both has happened!
    

Will I get water and food at the checkpoints?
Yes, all checkpoints (including the mandatory camp-out) will have hot water, tea and coffee. In some cases also hot chocolate. Upon leaving a checkpoint we will provide water for you. At the remote checkpoints it is good to let staff/volunteers know when you will need water and how much as water supply gets tight if everyone leaves at the same time and we don't know about it in advance.

Regarding food, there is one hot meal for every athlete and usually a dessert. It is important that you note that it is only one meal, i.e. you can have this meal when you arrive or before you leave but you can't have two meals. To complement the meals you get at checkpoints I recommend good and light weight expedition food, e.g. from Trek n'Eat. You only need to add hot water and within minutes you have a great meal. Also, keep in mind that you need extra food in case of an emergency and being stuck between checkpoint or if you get lost.

How is the trail marked?
The trail is marked with Yukon Quest markers. These are wooden sticks with a fluorescent top. On some parts of the trail, e.g. the Dawson trail, there are also permanent markers which you can use for orientation. Thus it is difficult but not impossible to get lost. You will still need common sense at times, especially if snowmobiles have driven over sticks or new snow and wind are covering the markers.

People have gone to sleep next to the trail and gone the wrong way once they got up again. Dehydration and exhaustion are also likely to get you lost or in trouble, even if the trail is well marked. Remember that.

How often will the guides on snowmobiles check on us?
Under normal circumstances you will see our guides out on the trail at least once in 24 hours. Usually you will actually see them more often but in case of bad weather or evacuations they might be caught up and thus take a little longer to travel up and down the trail.

What do I need to know about the drop bags?

• For the drop bags please use something that does not break easily and can be labeled well. For example please do not use plastic bags. With all the loading and unloading they break and it becomes a big mess.
• When you label the bag with the checkpoint name and your bib number and/or name please keep in mind that a tape put on the bag also easily comes off (especially with the cold). Attach the label in a way that does not come off so easily.
• The bags may be in the cold for a couple of nights, i.e. in an enclosed trailer. So, please don't put anything in there that breaks or explodes (e.g. coke bottle) if it's in the cold.
  
• Don't put anything in there that is fragile, e.g. cameras. We don’t through the bags around but they will be transported in a pile.
• Don't put anything of great value in there (no passports, jewelery, cash). Your valuables should be with you or in the hotel safe.
  
• We try to bring the bags back asap but if you e.g. are signed up for the 300 and have to stop at Braeburn it sometimes becomes a challenge getting the bags back fast.
  
• The bags will be brought to the storage of the High Country Inn – even if you are staying in another hotel.

How should I plan my arrival and departure dates?
If you do not have prior cold weather experience do not forget to include the training course in your travelling schedule. It always takes place the two days before race start in Whitehorse. If you do attend the training course, it's a good idea to arrive at least one full day before. If you don't do the training course it still makes sense to fly in a couple of days early. That way you can acclimatise and do last minute shopping without too much stress. And most important of all you won't have to "freak out" if your luggage does not make it right away.

IMPORTANT: it always happens to some athletes that gear does not come on the flight from Vancouver to Whitehorse. The good news is, in all these year all gear has always made it in time for race start. It may be a good idea to pack some vital gear in your suitcase rather then a bulky luggage (i.e. with the pulk), if you do have a regular suitcase or duffle bag.

For departure don't plan your schedule too tight, either. Normally, from the respective finish lines we try to avoid driving back to Whitehorse with just one athlete in the car. So, for example, you arrive at the finish at 6 PM. If we know there are at least a couple more athletes arriving later on in the night, we may ask you to stay the night at the finish before the transfer leaves next day in the morning. Having said that, no athlete has ever had to miss a flight. And if we do know ahead of time that someone has got a very tight timing we make sure to prepare for it.

Last but not least, when you do plan you flight back, consider that you may be very exhausted. It is always recommendable to put your feet up in a hotel room for at least a day before you go back and have to sit in a plane for hours and hours.