Quite a few athletes have already arrived. And almost all of their luggage, too. At least last night when i was at the airport to welcome eveyone. More athletes are on their way and I keep my fingers crossed, all goes well for them, too.

We were complaining about the warm temperatures not too long ago. Well, now it’s definitely changed. – 30 degrees Celsius during daytime in Whitehorse is quite interesting. And it looks like it is going to stay like that until Sunday and then possibly warm up a little bit.

The first day and night of the race will be a very big challenge, though. As a matter of fact, already our training course which could see temperatures down to – 40 will be a very intense test. Anybody with the wrong equipment will immediately feel it. But that’s what the training course is for. To learn the right lesson when there is still time to make some changes.

For the race a daytime low of – 30 puts us into what we call an “alert” status. If the trail crew agrees it will not mean that we change the race course. But we may do certain things that we normally would not do. Mind you, it’s still a bit early but just so you get an idea what this could mean, I will give you a quick idea:

• Frostbite checks for all athletes at Takhini Bridge. And please remember that frostbite means, the respective athlete has to stop racing! No discussions.
• Frostbite checks at Rivendell Farm. Anybody arriving and looking very sweaty, complaining about the cold, giving us the feeling they are not in full control, will have to stop for some hours and show us they can handle the situation (whilst staying outside at all times).
• Kit checks – and we would mainly focus on things like: means to cut wood and start a wood fire, stove, down jacket, back-up clothing.
• Possibly we ask people to travel in teams.

Also, you all need to be aware that if you push the help button that night and it is – 40 degrees or colder, we will only come looking the next morning. The problem is machinery. So, we will assume you want to stop racing but you have the means to get through the night by building a wood fire, getting something hot to drink and staying in your sleeping bag.

Last but not least, and I have said this before, when we check the sleeping systems before the race and the bags show weak loft, we will NOT accept it. I know it is a big pain because if you need to buy a new bag it is an enormous expenditure. But letting you leave with a bag that will have you freezing at – 20 when we already know it is going to be – 40 would simply be irresponsible.

Starting at Shipyard’s Park

By now I can also confirm that our race will start at Shipyard’s Park. Everything looks good for the timing, too. So, it will be 10:30 AM on February 8th, we plan to make the countdown.

We will likely offer to bring the sleds over to the start area again. I will confirm this once I know for sure and let you know at the trail briefing.

At Shipyard’s Park there is a building open for us in case standing around waiting outside means you are getting cold.

The Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) plan to conduct measurements for the first time – during the Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra 2015. Robert H. Coker, PhD is an Associate Professor at UAF and has over 15 years of experience studying the regulation of metabolism during exercise under a variety of different physiological scenarios. Dr. Coker will be working with Dr. Mathias Steinbach from the Center of Space Medicine Berlin who has now continued his collaboration with the organizers of the Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra.

Whilst Dr. Mathias Steinbach is focusing on the 430 miles and the runners. Dr. Coker’s research will also include the 100 mile participants. Athletes who decide to partake in this study will receive detailed information of the investigated parameters, which will provide valuable information about their own health and performance level, which will be helpful in their further training and planning of their ongoing extreme marathons and expeditions. The measurements will especially provide feedback regarding:

• Energy- and nutritional needs
• Water balance
• Changes in body composition
• Sleep hygiene
• Clothing demands

Who Dr. Coker is looking for:

The participants in the study should be runners/cyclists/skiers aiming to complete the full distances of 100 or 430 miles and preferably be experienced. There are no age limitations, and he encourages women and men to participate in his study.

Parameters of Interest

During the race, Dr. Coker would like to evaluate the following variables

• Energy expenditure and activity
• Sleep parameters

In addition, he will measure changes prior to and immediately following the race

• Body composition (fat mass, fat free mass, and body water)
• Blood parameters (stress and metabolic hormones)

These data will provide us the UAF with a greater understanding of the interaction between environmental and physiological stresses on the human body in a dynamic environment.

If you would like to get more detailed information and/or participate in the study please email Dr. Coker at rcoker@alaska.edu as soon as possible.

As some of you may have read on the Yukon Quest website, they have not yet made a final call as to whether the dog teams will start in Whitehorse or not. However, with the colder temperatures we are seeing now it is becoming more and more likely that both our races can start at Shipyard’s Park in Whitehorse. Gary also went with his ski-doo from Whitehorse to the overland trail last weekend and made there safely. He did encounter areas with overflow and with the warm temperatures we have had, overflow may be seen more frequently than normal. Therefore, I recommend all athletes to have a clear strategy as to what you do if you end up getting wet. Always have a dry set of clothing, fire starters in several places and be cautious. If we get to an overflow first and there is a way around it, we will re-mark. The problem is that overflow is often unpredictable. It may be a problem for some athletes and perfectly fine some hours later – if it froze again.

I have no detailed updates on the situation on the rivers, yet. I hope with the fresh snow it will all become a bit smoother.

Another thing to keep in mind that there is always a chance for fresh snow. It will make moving more difficult and it may also make it challenging to find the trail until we get there again. If you are not sure where to go, I recommend waiting for other athletes or wait for trail crew. Do not push the help button on your SPOT! As it will mean to us you are lost of injured and your race is over. Obviously, not being able to move or being uncertain about the trail is very hard on one’s nerves. But please be patient and keep in mind that nobody can do anything about the weather. If it does snow we will try hard to travel all the trails you are on asap.

If you do have snow shoes, take them along. Should the weather forecast not predict any snow you can still leave them at your hotel or deposit them in a drop bag further north.

Improving sleeping system

The weather change right now also is a reminder that we do get very cold temperatures. Therefore, make sure your sleeping system is up for the job. Keep in mind that the Extreme Temperature Rating on your sleeping bag is not really what matters for a good night’s sleep. Only at temperatures around the comfort temperature range will you not be cold. Therefore, you should have a good sleeping mat, use a good liner and bivvy bag. Try to only sleep in places that protect you from the elements and do not rest in cold spots (rivers, lakes).

Trackleaders.com has confirmed all our rental units. Those of you who bring their own SPOTs, please email me (info@thegreatoutdoors.de) following information:

• ESN (serial #) which you will find in the battery compartment and
• the URL of your shared link page (you need of course have your tracking service activated)

With this information Trackleaders.com can add you to the system that is set up for the MYAU and we and everybody else following the race will have you on the “radar”.

All athletes who rent a SPOT as always need to bring their own batteries to run the devices. You will need 4x AAA Energizer Lithium Ultimate (model # L-92). The SPOT will NOT work with regular alkaline batteries! Trackleaders.com does recommend a back-up set of batteries. I know these are expensive batteries but they last significantly longer than other batteries (especially in the cold) and also work with many other products like headlamps, etc.

Trackleaders.com have also offered to upload a photo that will show when people click on your tracking symbol. If you want that, please email a 150 x 150 pixel close-up portrait photo of yourself to Matthew at heymatthewlee@gmail.com. Please send him your full name, distance and race bib number (which is the number you have on the race roster).

Paperwork

I am still missing a lot of originals from paperwork. For those of you from outside of the EU that’s find. Please bring it to the Yukon with you. Athletes from within the EU who have missed the message and still need to hand in originals, please bring these now to the Yukon with you, too. Otherwise, your papers will end up in Germany while I am already in the Yukon.

VERY IMPORTANT: I need the MYAU Medical Certificate signed from a doctor from all ultra distance athletes. General medical certificates do not count. A start without a signed MYAU medical certificate is NOT possible.

Schedule

Just in case you have not seen the schedule posted on arcticultra.de already, I will also show it here:

February 5th, 2015

17:00 – 18:00 Hand-Out of the rental gear and fuel, Coast High Country Inn. If you can’t be there during that time please leave a message for me at the front desk of the hotel or contact me beforehand and we will arrange for a different time.

February 6th, 2015

12:30 – 15:00 First part of the YAU training course (indoor) – for signed up athletes only, Gold Rush Inn

17:00 – 21:00 Second part of the YAU training course, trails near Whitehorse, meeting point in front of the Coast High Country Inn; again, only for athletes who signed up for the training course

February 7th, 2015

08:00 – 09:00 De-brief of the training course, Coast High Country Inn

09:00 – 10:30 Official trail briefing and hand-out of SPOT units and fuel for ALL athletes, Coast High Country Inn

11:30 – 14:00 Gear check for all participants who did not participate in the training course, hand-in of any missing paper work, hand-out of maps, race bibs, Coast High Country Inn

15:00 – 16:00 Briefing for volunteers, Coast High Country inn from

17:00 Pre-race dinner for all athletes and volunteers, Coast High Country Inn

February 8th, 2015

10:30 Start of the Yukon Arctic Ultra 2015, Shipyard’s Park, Whitehorse

Please note that the location for the indoor part of our training course has changed to the Gold Rush Inn. The timing for the training course has been updated, too.

Also, please note that I have included the hand out of Primus fuel on several occasions.

Trail conditions

It is still a bit early to say anything reliable about trail conditions. But it does look like there is a good chance trail conditions will be challenging. The Canadian Rangers who do all the hard work on the Quest trail were out this last weekend. I hope to get some feedback soon. The main problem seem to be the rivers. A lot of jumbled ice and lack of snow make up for a bad mixture. However, we have had perfect trail conditions before and then one week before the race it all went „bad“. It can still snow and colder temperatures can still have an impact.

I will keep you all up to date as I get the news.

I wish all of you a Happy New Year and many great adventures in 2015!

Montane Extreme Smock

The Montane Extreme Smock is one of the first pieces of clothing that our title sponsor put into the market more than 20 years ago. Since then it has proven in countless expeditions that it is perfect kit for extreme challenges in the cold. Over the years it of course has been improved and gotten even better. That’s why it is the first item that is sold with our brand new logo.

Athletes can purchase the MYAU Extreme Smock with a 20% discount. The cost for the logo application is EUR 8.95. Anybody interested in purchasing one, please send me an email to info@thegreatoutdoors.de.

Logo Patches

Thanks to Peter Mild, owner of Peter Mild Design and MYAU 300 mile athlete, we now also have great looking logo patches. At the moment I have rectangular ones with different backgrounds.

Within a week or two I should also get a round one. Prices are EUR 5.95/patch.

I also still have some of the “Wolf Logo Patches” left. These now sell for EUR 2.95.

As with the smock, anybody interested please send me an email to info@thegreatoutdoors.de.

On the menu

The meals at our checkpoints come from different places. In the cases of McCabe Creek and Pelly Farm we get the meals directly from our hosts. The lasagne and the hospitality at Pelly Farm are legendary. One more reason to make it there! And Kathy Kruse at McCabe Creek makes excellent meals, too.

For most of our other checkpoints the meals come from the Deli in Whitehorse. The meals they will prepare for us are:

Rivendell Farm – Soup and Sandwiches, Dessert – made fresh that morning (variety of sandwiches)

Dog Grave Lake – Potato/Ham/Broccoli Soup with european wieners on side, buns, dessert

Carmacks – Beef Stroganoff with broad noodles, Bread, Dessert

Pelly #1 – Chicken Casserole with Rice and Veggies, Dessert

Pelly #2 – Bison Stew, Bun, Dessert Scroggie Chicken Stew, Bun, Dessert

Dawson Baked Salmon Loin, Rice, Veg, Dessert

The size of the portions from the Deli are 16 oz (approx. 470 ml) each. So, if you only have a small cup or plate, please feel free to come for a second serving.

In Braeburn you will eat from the menu. And it’s okay if you are hungry. They serve one of the world’s largest burgers. If you still are hungry after your checkpoint meal or you want to eat again after your rest, you can. Other meals are just not included in the entry fee. So, please take a long a bit of money. You may also want to check out their cinnamon buns. They definitely ARE the world’s largest.

The meals for Ken Lake I need to confirm, yet.

Our assistance point at Takhini Bridge, about half way to the marathon finish is only there for the marathon runners. No meals are served there but marathoners can get hot water and tea, to drink right there and to fill up water bladders or flasks.

Indian River is an assistance point between Scroggie and Dawson. Again, there are no meals but a safe place in case of emergencies and a place where you get something hot to drink.

Drop bags

Drop bags need to be handed in after the pre-race dinner. You do have until about 10 PM to give us your bags. So, you don’t have to bring them right to the dinner. You can finish packing after dinner and bring the bags then.

Please note that the drop bags need to be packed really well. Do NOT use plastic or garbage bags. Also, the bags need to be clearly marked with your name, bib number and the checkpoint. Do not just put tape on the bag. This may work fine in a warm hotel room. As soon as the bag gets into a cold trailer, tape comes off. So, please keep in mind that the marking needs to withstand the cold and handling of the bags.

The bags will be transported in an enclosed trailer. So, they will be in the cold for an extended period of time and they will be piled on top of one another. Therefore, please do not pack anything that can break easily or will be damaged by cold temperatures.

Drop bags once used by athletes will not be transported north. When you are done with a bag it will be stored at that checkpoint and transported back on one of our trips to Whitehorse. If you need to stop your race at an earlier checkpoint we will try to get your bags which are further north to Whitehorse as soon as possible. All drop bags will be brought to the storage room of the Coast High Country Inn.

Internet and electricity

I often get asked if checkpoints have internet access and electricity. The answer is: „It depends“. Internet you really only get in Carmacks. And there is only one computer. So, if many athletes want to use it at the same time, it may be a bit difficult.

Electricity is available in more places, i.e. Braeburn, Carmacks, McCabe and Pelly Crossing. Especially at Braeburn availability may be tight when there are many athletes at once.

In a few places there are pay phones. In Whitehorse you can get calling cards and then use these phones for very little cost per minute to call back home. Places with pay phones are Braeburn, Carmacks and Pelly Crossing. Of course we will also make frequent news updates and there is the SPOT tracking. So, friends and family have an idea where you are and how you are doing.

GPS-track

I also often get asked if we provide a full GPS-track of the trail. The answer is „no“. Mainly this is due to the fact that the trail can change from one year to the next. And it even may change on short notice – due to overflow or other reasons. Athletes who are tired may make the mistake to follow their GPS rather than focussing on the trail ahead and the trail markers. If they do that, they can get into some very dangerous situations. It is still good to have a GPS, though. It can tell you at what speed you are traveling at. Which in turn will allow you to take a better guess as to when you reach a checkpoint, when to take a break, etc. Also, if you really do get lost, you can back-track with the GPS or find a way to a checkpoint (as we do have the co-ordinates for checkpoints). But please keep in mind that walking off a trail and cross-country to a checkpoint, certainly when it is still far away, should be your last resort. Don’t forget, if you do have a SPOT and even after a good rest you are sure you won’t find back to the trail, push the help button.

We do give out maps of the trail but like the GPS these are for rough orientation only. Since the trail on the maps is based on a GPS-track that is not updated every year, the trail can be different. So, like I say every year: follow the trail markers and use common sense.

Buying gear in Whitehorse

With Coast Mountain Sports there is a great outdoor and sports store in down town Whitehorse. Many athletes go there every year for some last minute shopping. If you need something specific like Neo overboots, snow shoes, larger quantities of expedition food, etc. it makes sense to contact Coast Mountain Sports as soon as possible. That way they have a chance to order missing gear in time for the race and reserve it for you. Your contact there is Corina Zumer (corina@cmsyukon.ca).

Dr. Mathias Steinach who will be with us for the second time to study the effects the 430 mile race has got on runners is still looking for athletes. He already came for research in 2013. In 2015 he will be back to get more data. Mathias works for the renown Center for Space Medicine Berlin which is part of the University there. Athletes who participate not only help understand better what extreme environments do to us humans in general. They will of course also gain very interesting insight on how our race affects their body.

The premiere two years ago worked really well. Mathias found a way to get all the data necessary without interfering with the race rhythm of the participants. He is looking for four more athletes who would like to be part of this. So, if you are interested, please send me a quick email (info@thegreatoutdoors.de) and I will send you more detailed information on what exactly will be done.

Medical Certificates

I just want to remind all participants of the MYAU 2015 not to forget their medical certificates. A start without this certificate signed by a doctor is not possible. It may be possible to get the certificate in Whitehorse but of course having to run after this just days before the race causes stress and can be costly.

Application & Waiver

In order to spend less time with paperwork in Whitehorse I would like to ask all athletes from European countries to send their original Application & Waiver and all the forms it contains to the following address:

Robert Pollhammer
Rathausplatz 14
82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Germany

Please keep a copy in case the envelope gets lost in the mail. Take your copy with you to Whitehorse just in case.

All athletes who are from countries outside of Europe, please take your original paperwork with you to Whitehorse and hand it in there. This also goes for pages 1 to 4 of your Application & Waiver which you may have sent in by email already.

Training course

So far we have very few athletes signed up for the training course. Therefore, I just want to remind you all that the training course is mandatory for all those without previous cold weather experience. If most of you have the experience and that is why you have not signed up, that’s awesome. If you have not been out in temperatures below – 20 degrees Celsius please sign up by emailing me until January 1st. I need to have the numbers as I need to confirm the room booking and catering. Showing up on short notice won’t work I am afraid.

MYAU documentary on Japanese national TV

At the MYAU 2015 the Japan Broadcasting Corp. (N.H.K.) will film for a 100 minute sport documentary. It will be part of a series that also covers some of the world’s most amazing races.
To fill 100 minutes of documentary you need to tell interesting stories. And that is why the production team would like to get to know our athletes a little better. So, if you don’t mind, please take a few minutes to answer the below questions and email this to info@thegreatoutdoors.de. I will then forward it to the production team.

Your Name:
Contact (email) if it is okay for them to contact you:
MYAU experience (past participation):
1) Please tell us about your personal aim in the race?
2) What motivates you to this extreme race?
3) What do your family or friends say about your participation?
4) During the most difficult situation or challenging part, what would emotionally support you to keep going?

Race Photography

In a previous news update I had already told you that in 2015 Yann Besrest-Butler will be our official race photographer. We will do our best to get Yann out on the trail as often as possible and that he can take pictures of everyone. If he catches up to you and manages to take some photos, it is possible to purchase photography from him. He will provide one image for GBP 25.00 and 5 images for GBP 100.00. This is an offer of course. Should you not want to spend money on photography you can always ask checkpoint crew or other athletes to take your picture.

If you want to see some of Yann’s work, please check out his website www.yannbb.com.

Swedish company Primus has been creating products for outdoor use since 1892. They have been tested on expeditions by such pioneers as Fridtjof Nansen, Roald Amundsen and Sir Edmund Hillary. Today, Primus is known for its reliable, safe and innovative products that make people enjoy their outdoors adventures – both big and small. The focus is on creating environmentally friendly, easy to use and lightweight products. Primus Marketing Manager Johan Sollenberg says: “The MYAU is extremely tough and challenging – exactly the conditions where Primus feels at home.”

Free LPG Winter gas canisters or white gas

Needless to say that I am very happy and proud to get such a great company to support our race. As the Official Fuel Supplier, Primus will supply the participants with either LPG gas cartridges or, for colder conditions, white gas. LPG Gas? Yes! For this winter season, the Swedes have introduced their new Winter Gas. Its secret is the Vapor Mesh, a special absorbent paper on the inside of the LPG cartridge. Increasing the surface from where the liquid pressurized gas can evaporate, it can be used at temperatures down –20° C (–4° F) compared to –12° C(+10.4! F) with conventional canisters. Although we do not recommend LPG gas stoves for the MYAU, we are fully aware that some athletes prefer this kind of set-up and have used it successfully. The innovative Primus Winter Gas will make this type of stove more reliable and it is of course great that we can give it out free of charge. But don’t worry that only LPG cartridges will be for free. Everybody who uses a stove that runs on white gas will get Primus PowerFuel free of charge, too.

New rental stove packages available

Another service we can now offer is rental stoves. It is hardly possible to get liquid fuel stoves so clean that they actually don’t smell anymore. So traveling to Whitehorse (or back home) can be bit of a headache: There is no guarantee that security check at the airport are not going to keep your stove anyway. Not having to buy a stove can also help keep down cost and decrease luggage weight and volume. We rent out the Primus OmniLite Ti. It is light, state of the art and expedition proven. The rental package will also include a Primus Eta pot 1.0 l and the Primus Powerlighter. The recommended retail price of this package is EUR 284.85 (stove = EUR 229.95, pot = EUR 24.95, lighter = EUR 19.95). The rental fee will be EUR 99.95. If you are interested in renting, please send an email to info@thegreatoutdoors.de.

Primus OmniLite Ti

The handing out of the stoves and fuel will happen at the Coast High Country Inn February 5th from 17:00 to 18:00. For all those who are not there that day, we will also provide the equipment on February 7th at the gear check from 11:30 to 14:00. Same location. If you want to read more about Primus and their products please check out www.primus.eu.

In 2015 we will work with SPOT satellite tracking devices again. As with any technology, there are pros and cons. But overall the positive aspects are more than the negative ones. The main reason we have SPOTs is for their 911 function. And thankfully, so far it has only been used once. The 911 button to us means there is an absolutely life threatening situation. This also means if there is no life threatening situation, IT CAN’T BE PUSHED! Please keep in mind that the cost for a 911 rescue operation can be enormous and it has to be paid by the athlete or his/her insurance. Obviously, if life is at risk it just has to be done. But if you are lost, tired, exhausted or have any other problem that a good rest and common sense can solve, do not push that botton. If a good rest is of no help, there is a button on the SPOT that is called exactly that: „Help“. It is a signal to the race organisation that you do have a problem and want to end your race then and there. But otherwise you are fine and will wait for us to come.

The third function that is great for us and all those following you at home, is the tracking function. If your SPOT has got good exposure to the sky it will send your position to us several times per hour. This will then be updated to a MYAU section on Trackleaders.com.

The cons are that of course sometimes people use the „Help“-button when they really could have solved the problem themselves. Or they decided to use that button rather than going back to a checkpoint. Mind you, if you can’t walk anymore, that’s fine. Push it. But being tired is no reason. Please just take a good rest and decide then. Because if we have to „rescue“ someone who is actually perfectly fine and at the same time something serious happens, it is bad to have resources bound.

Another con is that it’s technology and it does not always work. Usually this is due to not operating the SPOT correctly. But it also may be technical failure. It means we don’t get a signal and people back home start to worry. In most cases race headquarter knows what’s going on, e.g. because we got in-/out times of a checkpoint or just recently had contact with the athlete.

Anyway, over all I would say the safety that SPOT brings to the race make it worth its while.

For 2015 the rental fee (tracking service, shipment and set-up included) is EUR 50/unit. If you bring your own SPOT, the set-up fee is EUR 20/unit. All those of you who bring your own SPOT and did not tell me that already, please email me by December 10th. If I have not heard from you I will assume you need a rental unit and I will order one for you.

Regarding the 100 mile race, I will have to wait until after December 10th to decide if SPOTs will be mandatory here, too. Interestingly, in our Facebook group in a small survey I did, there was a majority of people in favor of making SPOTs mandatory for the 100 miles. But I won’t know until mid December if I can get enough additional rental units. In any case, if you do the 100 miles and know already that you want to rent a SPOT or if you want to bring your own, please let me know.

Rescue Missions

Above I already talked a bit about SPOT and rescue. Now I just want to make sure everyone understands that no matter if it’s a „Help“ or a „911“ message, rescues in the winter wilderness of the Yukon will likely not be as quick as you would think.

If a „Help“ message is sent or a checkpoint calls us and asks for transportation of an injured athleted from a remote checkpoint, it depends on various factors as to how fast we can be. If for example an athlete is in relative saftey at that checkpoint and the weather is extremely cold and it would be a risk to send a ski-doo guide, then it will take as long as there is no more risk. In places like Scroggie Creek (430 miles only) there may also be the need for air evacuation rather than ski-doo. Depending on the circumstances it can be safer and quicker for a plane to do the rescue there. PLEASE note that air rescue to 100% has to be paid by the athlete! Also, we try to avoid ski-doo rescue at night. So, if you push the help button in the middle of the night it is very likely that only in the morning you will see us arrive.

Even a 911 mission can take hours. And again, if the weather does not permit, there is no air rescue at all. That is also, why it is so important to have basic survival skills, enough food, warm clothes and the right sleeping system.

I will not talk about survival skills or what to do or not to do in serious or dangerous situations. There is a lot of interesting literature on the market and pretty likely you have read at least one of these books already. Or you may even have had survival training. In any case, it’s good to be prepared and think about certain scenarios and what you will do.

We got a new logo for the MYAU pretty much one year ago. And it was a nice one. However, I have not been 100% happy with it. Due to lack of time I used it anyway. With the help of MYAU competitor Peter Mild from Sweden, I re-started the project some weeks ago. We tried many versions and even had a look at the “wolf” idea again. But we decided that it’s athletes that stand in the centre of everything and that’s what it should be like in the logo. I think it turned out really well and I also like the maple leaf as a symbol of where we are. I hope you all agree with me.

Thank you Peter for the great job and your patience with me! If any of you ever need a really professional agency for corporate branding and graphic design, please check out Peter’s company www.milddesign.se.

Entry deadline approaching

This is just a reminder for all athletes who plan to enter the 2015 MYAU that our deadline for race entries is November 30^th, 2014. This goes for the 100, 300 and 430 mile distances. Since sometimes people cancel on short notice please feel free to contact me also after this date. If the numbers on the race roster permit I may be able to accept your entry. People wanting to do the marathon can also sign up until mid January.

Sat phone rentals

Once again Total North, a communication specialist company based in Whitehorse will supply the satellite phones for the MYAU. These phones play a vital role for our communication and thus for the safety of all participants. With the phones and the service we get from Total North, we know things will work perfectly.

They also offer sat phone rentals for participants. The daily rental fee is CAD 25. If you rent for a week it is CAD 125. Air time is CAD 2.50/minute. Alternatively, you can purchase air time bundles.

Sat phone are not mandatory for the race. However, I do strongly recommend it for the 300 and certainly for the 430 miles. The SPOT units you will carry will allow you to alert us. However, you will not be able to get a clear message through to us as to what the problem is. And of course it is a great option to share some magic trail moments with friends and family back home. Should you be interested in renting a sat phone, please get in touch with me (info@thegreatoutdoors.de) and I will forward you the Total North sat phone rental form. And make sure you don’t wait too long as during our race and the Yukon Quest rental sat phones are in high demand.

Rental gear

Just a quick reminder for everyone to please let me know if you wish to rent any gear (sled, sled bag, harness, sleeping bag) asap. Especially the amount of rental sleeping bags is limited and on short notice I may not be able to help.

Gear checks

Also I would like to remind all participants about our gear checks. We will look at your sleeping system (i.e. mat, sleeping bag, bivvy or tent) and we want to see if you can light your stove. Stoves that work with gas canisters are not recommended. It remains your decision if you want to take one anyway. The problem with these stoves is that depending on make and model they may not work in temperatures colder than – 20 degrees Celsius. So, if you take one please make at least sure it is a product that the manufacturer does recommend for extreme conditions. If you want to be on the save side, take an alcohol stove (like Trangia for example) or take a multi fuel like the MSR Whisperlite.

A very important part of your gear is the sleeping bag. Not only does it have to have the right temperature range. It also needs to have enough loft! If the label says “Extreme Temperature -40 degrees C” but the bag has no loft, it will not be accept. That is for your safety! If you are not sure about what condition your bag is in please check with a good outdoor retailer or friend who frequently uses down bags. Also, please note that using two down bags which each do not have any loft, will not result in a better solution.

Down jackets will not be checked but I want to mention some feedback I got in our facebook group when asking what type of down jacket people have used in the past. The main opinion was that for the MYAU you definitely should have an expedition type down jacket, like the Montane Deep Cold Down Jacket or similar. It’s not so much for when you are walking. Your other clothing should have you covered for when you are on the move. This jacket is more for your breaks and in case of an emergency. Also, this type of down jacket can help you get more out of your sleeping system. If you wear it on the move and sweat a lot, it won’t be of much use when you get in trouble.

SPOT

As always all 300 and 430 mile athletes will have to carry a SPOT unit. If you already do have a SPOT, please let me know as soon as possible as it will help me give Trackleaders.com a more accurate guess as to how many devices I need. If you use your own SPOT there will be a small set-up fee to include it in our tracking. If you don’t have a SPOT you will be able to rent. More info on this soon.

100 mile athletes do not have to use SPOTs. However, you are welcome to get connected with your own unit or you can rent one from us, too.

Yann Besrest-Butler will be official race photographer of the MYAU 2015. He already helped with race photography in 2011 along with Mark Gillett. In 2015 Yann will be back and once again take great pictures. If you want to see his work please check out our photo gallery. Apart from taking pictures at great adventures, Yann also likes something a bit more calm. Although, thinking about it, it’s probably just as much of an adventure … just different. Yann is a really great wedding photographer. Check out his website and you will see what I mean. So, if you are planning on getting married anytime soon or know someone who does, he is your man.

Downtown official MYAU hotel in Dawson City

Like in all past editions the Downtown hotel in Dawson City will be our partner hotel. As is the case in the Coast High Country Inn hotel in Whitehorse there is a discounted rate available for MYAU participants. All athletes need to make their own hotel arrangements for Dawson please. Bookings can be done via email to Sarah Edwards (sarah.edwards@yukonhotels.com) or contacting the Downtown hotel directly. Either way, please make sure you mention you are with the MYAU. Then you will get your discount. The Downtown hotel rates per room for the MYAU are:

Single/Double: $112.00
Triple: $127.00
Quad: $142.00

Rates are without tax and breakfast is not included.

Make sure you visit their bar and try the world famous Sour Toe Cocktail – after 430 miles of Yukon Quest trail it will be the grand finale of your adventure!

Reduced rental car rates at Driving Force

Once again Driving Force will provide the rental vehicles for the MYAU. As is the case with hotel accommodation athletes, friends or family can get a discount. In this case it is 10%. You can make your rental car booking by emailing Nikita Hryniuk (nhryniuk@drivingforce.ca) or Roxane Pike (rpike@drivingforce.com) or call (867) 456-2277, (867) 668-2137 or booking online via www.drivingforce.ca. If booking online please  write in the notes this is for “Montane Yukon Artic Ultra”.