There are some pretty crazy races out there and the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic is another one to put on the lists of all you competitive endurance adventure buffs. Winter Wildlands Alliance (the one’s who keep our backcountry terrain peaceful and untracked by snowmobilers) Public Lands Director, Forrest McCarthy, recently spent his summer vacation competing in this event with teammate Roman Dial. They finished in second place, 15 hours behind the winning team…28 people entered the race, but only 8 finished.
Here’s a little video recap from their race. For those that don’t know him, Forest is the main character and you can watch his pants slowly turn into one-legged shorts throughout the race.
The Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic started in 1982 and it's course typically changes ever few years, but ranges anywhere from 150-250 miles and goes through some of Alaska's most beautiful areas. The goal is to get from point A, to point B...by any route/means possible...excluding motored vehicles of course. Most racers go by foot and pack-raft, but bikes, skis and even paragliders have been used. Today, satellite phones are required to be carried by each competitor. There is also a winter version of this race, the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Ski Race that has taken racers through the Brooks, Wrangell St. Elias and Alaska mountain ranges since starting in 1987.
One of the cool things about this race is that it is not affiliated with any organized group...meaning, there are no sponsors or prizes. While the "no prizes" part bites, not being an "organized race", I'm sure avoids many of the permit hoops one mush go through to organize an event in a wilderness setting. I've often thought this would be a good way to pull off a rando race on Teton Pass. The Teton Pass Challenge...how many laps can you do from 6am to 6pm! What do you think?
Congratulations Chris and Bobby on another victory!
Teton Pass Race…sounds kinda insane. How about Grassy Lake Road to Teton Pass?
How about Union Pass to South Pass or Togwotee Mountain Lodge to Pahaski Tipi or Smoot to Hoback Junction? Have the race in early May when avalanche danger is low and the Creeks are high.
All those options sound fun, but I think the more “out-there” you make it…the less participants you will have. While this could be good…my vision of a “Teton Pass Challenge” would not only be from a competitive stand point, but also from a celebratory angle, reflecting on how much the skiing community has benefited from it.
Rando – Look at the Grand Traverse,Pierra Menta or Hard Rock 100 (running race) the more “out there” the more folks will chase down an entry slot, but the more head aches for the organizers. ….maybe keep it low key like this AK race to reduce any head aches.
Forrest – love the idea, probably in pairs of two to keep it ‘safe’??? Make it happen!
A few more folks completed the course:
First: Chris Robertson, Bobby Schnell and Andrew Skurka.
Second: Roman Dial and Forrest McCarthy
Third: Brad Marden and Ebbin
Fourth: Luc Mehl
Fith: Rob Kehrer, Steve Taylor and Forrest Karr.
Sixth: John Lapkass.
In all 12 out of 28 people completed the course.
I did the race in 1996 when the route went from Donnelly to McKinley Village. Good to see it is still going. I did it solo and just sort of showed up with a map torn from an Alaska Gazetteer. Nothing I’d ever done compared to the intensity and sheer insaneness of those four days in the Alaskan Wilderness.
Nice Dave! That race sounds ultra-tough. Forrest is pumping me to do the winter ski race with him. ❓
Wick is pretty right on, being a 20 year veteran of the ultra race scene. The cool thing about the Alalska Wilderness Classic was it was (and undoubtedly still is), an “anti-event”. I was burnt on the self promotion, ultra race scene when I went up there, and was really happy with how it all went down. Roman’s wife was the RD, as Roman was doing a bike trip across Alaska at the very same time. We paid 150.00 entry fee, which bought us rescue insurance (at 100.00 I believe), a t-shirt, and post race beer and pizza party- more than a fair price for sure. We had seven days to get in, then they called out the dogs. The more low key the better- there are plenty enough over-organized, moneymakersforsomeone events out there.