Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic
Encyclopedia
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, with some routes covering over 250 miles (402.3 km). Traditionally, the same route has been used for three years in a row.
The rules are simple: start to finish with no outside support, requiring that racers carry all food and equipment; human-powered; leave no trace; and rescue is up to the individual to resolve. The most common form of transportation is by foot and packraft
Packraft
Packraft and trail boat are colloquial terms for a small, portable inflatable boat designed for use in all bodies of water, including technical whitewater and ocean bays and fjords. A packraft is designed to be light enough to be carried for extended distances...
, although bicycles, skis, and even paragliders have been used by intrepid racers. Beginning in 2004, racers have been required to carry satellite phone
Satellite phone
A satellite telephone, satellite phone, or satphone is a type of mobile phone that connects to orbiting satellites instead of terrestrial cell sites...
s to facilitate emergency rescues.
The organization of the race is grass-roots, having no affiliation to any organization or group. While generally less than 50 people enter in any one year, its influence on American adventure racing
Adventure racing
Adventure racing is a combination of two or more endurance disciplines, including orienteering and/or navigation , cross-country running, mountain biking, paddling and climbing and related rope skills...
, backcountry use of the packraft
Packraft
Packraft and trail boat are colloquial terms for a small, portable inflatable boat designed for use in all bodies of water, including technical whitewater and ocean bays and fjords. A packraft is designed to be light enough to be carried for extended distances...
, and ultralight hiking has been significant. In addition to the summer race, there is an even more low-key winter event, the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Ski Race, which has taken place evey year since 1987, with races through the Chugach Mountains, Alaska Range
Alaska Range
The Alaska Range is a relatively narrow, 650-km-long mountain range in the southcentral region of the U.S. state of Alaska, from Lake Clark at its southwest end to the White River in Canada's Yukon Territory in the southeast...
, Brooks Range
Brooks Range
The Brooks Range is a mountain range in far northern North America. It stretches from west to east across northern Alaska and into Canada's Yukon Territory, a total distance of about 1100 km . The mountains top out at over 2,700 m . The range is believed to be approximately 126 million years old...
, and Wrangell-St. Elias. Detailed records of the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Ski Race are lacking .
Gerstle River to McKinley Village, (Alaska RangeAlaska RangeThe Alaska Range is a relatively narrow, 650-km-long mountain range in the southcentral region of the U.S. state of Alaska, from Lake Clark at its southwest end to the White River in Canada's Yukon Territory in the southeast...
), 180 miles (289.7 km)
- 2010 Robert Schnell, Chris Robertson and Todd Kasteler, Danny Powers
- 2009 Robert Schnell, Chris Robertson and Andrew Skurka (course record: 3 days 17 hours 54 minutes)
ChickenChicken, AlaskaChicken is a census-designated place in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska, United States. Chicken is a community founded on gold mining and is one of the few surviving gold rush towns in Alaska...
to CentralCentral, AlaskaCentral is a census-designated place in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 134. Every February, Central hosts a checkpoint for the long-distance Yukon Quest sled dog race.-Geography:...
, Tanana-Yukon Uplands, 180 miles (289.7 km)
- 2008 Butch Allen and Jim McDonough, Tyler Johnson and Craig "Chunk" Barnard
- 2007 Robert Schnell and Chris Robertson
- 2006 Robert Schnell and Chris Robertson (course record: 4 days 10 hours 42 minutes)
Eureka to TalkeetnaTalkeetna, AlaskaTalkeetna is a census-designated place in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 772.-Geography:...
(Talkeetna MountainsTalkeetna MountainsThe Talkeetna Mountains are a mountain range in Alaska. The Matanuska and Susitna River valleys, with towns such as Trapper Creek, Talkeetna, Wasilla, Palmer, Sutton, and Chickaloon, roughly bound the Talkeetnas in the westerly parts of the range. Sovereign Mountain rises to 8849 feet in the...
), 160 miles
- 2005 Robert Schnell, Jason Geck, Tyler Johnson, Rory Stark (course record: 1 day 23 hours 29 minutes)
- 2004 Gordy Vernon and Thai Verzone
- 2003 Hans Neidig, Chris Robertson, Paul Hanis
Nabesna to McCarthyMcCarthy, AlaskaMcCarthy is a census-designated place in Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 42 at the 2000 census.- Geography and location:...
, (Wrangell-Saint Elias WildernessWrangell-Saint Elias WildernessWrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness is a wilderness area in Alaska, United States. At , it is the largest designated U.S. Wilderness Area, and lies within Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve, the largest national park in the United States...
), 150 miles
- 2002 Roman Dial (course record: 2 days 4 hours 24 minutes)
- 2001 Steve Reifenstuhl and Rocky Reifenstuhl
- 2000 Steve Reifenstuhl and Rocky Reifenstuhl
HopeHope, AlaskaHope is a census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census the population was 137.-Geography:Hope is located at...
to HomerHomer, AlaskaHomer is a city located in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population was 5,364. One of Homer's nicknames is "the cosmic hamlet by the sea"; another is "the end of the road"...
, (Kenai PeninsulaKenai PeninsulaThe Kenai Peninsula is a large peninsula jutting from the southern coast of Alaska in the United States. The name Kenai is probably derived from Kenayskaya, the Russian name for Cook Inlet, which borders the peninsula to the west.-Geography:...
), 150 miles
- 1999 Jim Jaegar and Laura McDonough
- 1998 Gordy Vernon
- 1997 Gordy Vernon and Thai Verzone
Donnelly to McKinley Village, (Alaska RangeAlaska RangeThe Alaska Range is a relatively narrow, 650-km-long mountain range in the southcentral region of the U.S. state of Alaska, from Lake Clark at its southwest end to the White River in Canada's Yukon Territory in the southeast...
), 140 miles (225.3 km)
- 2011 Tyler Johnson, Todd Kasteler, Luc Mehl and John Sykes
- 1996 Steve Reifenstuhl and Rocky Reifenstuhl
- 1995 Clark Saunders (course record: 2 days 12 hours 20 minutes)
- 1994 Frazier Miller
Gates of the Arctic WildernessGates of the Arctic WildernessGates of the Arctic Wilderness is a wilderness area in the U.S. state of Alaska. Located in the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, it is in area, the third-largest designated wilderness area in the United States .-History and Introduction:When the wilderness activist, Bob...
, (Brooks RangeBrooks RangeThe Brooks Range is a mountain range in far northern North America. It stretches from west to east across northern Alaska and into Canada's Yukon Territory, a total distance of about 1100 km . The mountains top out at over 2,700 m . The range is believed to be approximately 126 million years old...
), 130 miles (209.2 km)
- 1993 Gordy Vernon
- 1992 Brant McGee and Dave Dixon
- 1991 Brant McGee and Adrian Crane (course record: 2 days 6 hours 18 minutes)
Nabesna to McCarthyMcCarthy, AlaskaMcCarthy is a census-designated place in Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 42 at the 2000 census.- Geography and location:...
, (Wrangell-Saint Elias WildernessWrangell-Saint Elias WildernessWrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness is a wilderness area in Alaska, United States. At , it is the largest designated U.S. Wilderness Area, and lies within Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve, the largest national park in the United States...
), 150 miles (241.4 km)
- 1990 Brant McGee and Jeff Gedney
- 1989 David Manzer, Adrian Crane, Tom Possert
- 1988 Roman Dial
MentastaMentastaMentasta can refer to:* The Ahtna people of the Copper River region in Alaska* The Mentasta Mountains of Alaska* Mentasta Pass, between the Alaska Range and the Mentasta Mountains...
to Denali National Park, (Alaska RangeAlaska RangeThe Alaska Range is a relatively narrow, 650-km-long mountain range in the southcentral region of the U.S. state of Alaska, from Lake Clark at its southwest end to the White River in Canada's Yukon Territory in the southeast...
), 235 miles
- 1987 Hank Timm and Randy Pitney (course record: 4 days 18 hours 27 minutes)
- 1986 Hank Timm
- 1985 Hank Timm
HopeHope, AlaskaHope is a census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census the population was 137.-Geography:Hope is located at...
to HomerHomer, AlaskaHomer is a city located in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population was 5,364. One of Homer's nicknames is "the cosmic hamlet by the sea"; another is "the end of the road"...
, (Kenai PeninsulaKenai PeninsulaThe Kenai Peninsula is a large peninsula jutting from the southern coast of Alaska in the United States. The name Kenai is probably derived from Kenayskaya, the Russian name for Cook Inlet, which borders the peninsula to the west.-Geography:...
), 150 miles (241.4 km)
- 1984 David Manzer (course record: 3 days 12 hours)
- 1983 Roman Dial and Jim Lokken
- 1982 Roman Dial
Records
- Most entrants: 1984 Hope to Homer
- Highest entrants:Finishers Ratio: 7:1 -- 1985 Mentasta to McKinley
- Fastest finish: Jason Geck, Robert Schnell, Tyler Johnson, Rory Stark: 1 day, 23 hours, 30 minutes -- 2005 Eureka to Talkeetna
- Fastest solo finish: Bjorn Flora: 2 days, 1 hour, 20 minutes -- 2005 Eureka to Talkeetna
- Fastest female finish: Peggy Dial: 3 days, 3 hours, 40 minutes -- 1993 Gates of the Arctic
- Oldest finisher: Dick Griffith: 78 years old --- 2004 Eureka to Talkeetna
- Oldest finisher in 'Master's Division': Dick Griffith -- 81 years old --2008 Chicken to Central
- Youngest finisher: Cody Dial: 17 years old -- 2004 Eureka to Talkeetna
- Most finishes: Tie: Dick Griffith and John Lapkass: 17 finishes
- First use of a packraft: Dick Griffith -- 1982 Hope to Homer
- First use of a packraft and skis: Roman Dial and Jim Lokken -- 1983 Hope to Homer
- First use of a mountain bike: Hank Timm and Randy Pitney -- 1987 Mentasta to McKinley
- First use of a paraglider: Chuck Comstock -- 1988 Nabesna to McCarthy
- First 'Master's Division' finish: Dick Griffith -- 2008 Chicken to Central