NEWS ENGLISH

Two emails with some news have gone out to all MYAU 2019 participants this week – one on January 21st and one on January 23rd. Just in case some of you did not get these emails I am also posting the content here:

Using private SPOTs
Some of you are using private SPOTs. Here are just a few reminders if you are one of these athletes:

• Please do remember to get the right batteries (Energizer Lithium)
• Don’t forget to create and save a separate “Message Contact Profile” for MYAU. Under that contact profile, we recommend you do not include family at home on either type of distress message (Help & SOS) as they may worry when there is nothing to worry about. Inclusion of family on the Check-in/OK message is fine. Within the contact profile you need to define and include recipients for the Check-in/OK message, which in the past has been, “Still smiling” (this is best programmed to send only to email); Custom Message, which has been used for, “I’m taking a bivy” (email only as well); “Help” should be both email and text. SOS has no email option. You program a phone number only. IMPORTANT: There is a notes section for SOS, and it should read like this: “User is part of a human-powered race on the Yukon Quest Trail. If SOS is being transmitted, please phone the primary SOS contact directly, as for the purpose of the race, use of SOS is defined to mean life or death. Race central # (contact = Jo Davies/Robert Pollhammer) at 1-867-668-2777 (until Feb. 10th) and at 1-867-993-6704 (from Feb. 11th). Race director, who will at times be out of cell phone range on trail cell phone = tbc.” You do not want GEOS emergency response center to waste time calling family. You want race central to be the first call.
• Please note that the timing for race central # may still get updated. That means you may have to update your “Message Contact Profile” accordingly.
• If you are bringing your own SPOT we will need to get your ESN-Number which is in the battery compartment and the URL to your shared link page.

SPOT tracking through Trackleaders.com
Trackleaders.com once more is the company providing the SPOT service for us. They will set up a page with all the details. The link to the tracking page is prominently placed on arcticultra.de.

Please tell your friends and family that even if you have the right batteries and are not doing anything wrong, a SPOT may not always work and send a position. Obviously, if you do something wrong it won’t work at all. So, if back home your SPOT is not moving or not sending everyone should stay calm. If they can see it, we can see it. And we will always deal with it as soon as possible.

News during the race
The place with the most frequency of news will be our facebook group. More detailed but less frequent will be the news on arcticultra.de. Apart from that, there is of course the SPOT tracking page and our detailed results table that will show everyone’s progress. This time we will also try to be more active on Instagram. We will see how that works out. Last but not least we will have our image gallery and of course Yann’s and Thilo’s videos.

Teams
All athletes who want to be also ranked as part of a team please send me a reminder of your Team Name and the Team Members. It will then be included in the results table. As a reminder all team athletes do remain individual athletes, i.e. if someone in a team as to quit, the team is a DNF but the team members who continue will still be ranked as individual athletes.

Contact information
For those athletes using a sat phone and/or Garmin inReach or similar during the race, we have a full race contact sheet available pre-race in the Yukon. Please just approach me if you need one.

Gear check
After my last update I have not received an email from anybody who would like to do the gear check as part of option #1 on Feb. 1st from 17:00 – 21:00 during an outing. That is absolutely fine. If by January 28th I still do not have anybody wanting to join this, it will be cancelled. And all athletes who are not part of one of the survival courses will then get their gear checked on Feb. 2nd 11:30 – 14:00 Coast High Country Inn (Library and Room B).

The trail
The Canadian Rangers have sent in a first trail report. To sum it up, it has been challenging for them due to lack of snow in some places. That is affecting dog teams more than it is affecting us. It has been particularly challenging where the trail comes off a lake or river. Without enough snow the Rangers can’t prepare a smooth and gentle slope. That makes it very difficult for mushers and their dogs. Therefore, the Quest has changed the route for the YQ 300. The YQ 1000 stays on the regular trail. Unless of course something new happens and the Quest organization decides to make changes here, too.

So, right now, we are on the regular trail. No changes. The going for the guys on foot should be good. For bikes it should be very good and for xc-skiing it’s tough. HOWEVER, we still have some time left and we will hopefully see some more snowfall. If at the same time temperatures remain cold, we are all set to go.

UPDATE: Shortly after I had sent this email, the Quest did decide to also change the trail for the YQ1000. Mushers and their teams will take the regular route to Braeburn but will then be transported to Carmacks where their race re-starts.

At this point we are keeping a close eye on any further developments and we will inform all MYAU athletes if we will also be forced to make changes.

Transfers for local marathon runners
Could all local marathon runners please send me a quick email to let me know if they need a transfer from the finish line back to Whitehorse?

Visiting Muktuk
As you all know Muktuk is the finish line for our marathon. Locals are more than welcome to visit. To local athletes, please tell your friends and family who want to greet you at Muktuk the following:

• Dog trails cross the road down to the kennel. Drive slowly!
• When they arrive down at the kennel and it’s not obvious where to park, they should please approach Muktuk staff to ask where parking is possible. The road around the dog yard always needs to remain open.
• Visitors with dogs please check with Muktuk staff if it’s okay to take your dog out of the car. Under no circumstances may visitors leave their dog off the leash.
• Visitors who want to pet the Muktuk dogs may only do so after checking in with Muktuk staff.

Changes at Muktuk CP
I believe I did already inform about this but just in case I want to repeat it here. Last year all athletes were allowed inside at Muktuk. That was of course nice. However, it also caused some issues, e.g. moisture in clothing and shoes that was not too much of a problem outside, turned everything wet once inside the warm house. Also, as hard as having to stay outside is, in previous years it had served as an early reminder what it means to sweat and then being forced to stop. Therefore, all athletes, except for the marathon runners, have to stay outside at Muktuk. We will have a very close look at how sweaty/icy the ultra-athletes arrive. If we notice that stopping outside at Muktuk gets you in trouble, we will only let you go again if you have shown us that you can handle the situation. This may include an enforced stay of up to 4 hours; time that will not be credited.

Remember: Try to avoid sweating and have enough spare clothing as drying things during the first 100 miles will be very difficult.

Gear check
As you likely all have seen there are 2 options for the gear check this year. If you are doing one of the 4-day survival courses you do not need to come to either. You get your gear checked as part of your course. All other ultra-athletes not doing a course can join us for option #1 on Feb. 1st from 17:00 – 21:00 (meet in front of Coast High Country Inn Lobby) for a little outing, i.e. you bring your full sleeping system and stove (that is what will be checked) and whatever else you want to test. Obviously, you need take whatever is important to stay warm as we will be outside for about 2 to 3 hours. Since this gear check may require a transfer, please send me an email if you want to join.

Option #2 is Feb. 2nd 11:30 – 14:00 Coast High Country Inn (Library and Room B); i.e. this gear check does not involve us going anywhere. You bring your full sleeping system and your stove and we check it at the hotel. Stove lighting will of course be outside – MYAU crew will show you where.

Travelling drop bag
The 300 and 430 mile athletes, please remember that this year we will have a travelling drop bag, i.e. you will have access to one and the same drop bag at Braeburn, Carmacks and Pelly Crossing (300 milers)/Pelly Farm (430 milers). This drop bag can have max. 80 litres volume. A second (and smaller!) drop bag you can hand in and it will be brought to the finish line in Dawson City.

Insurance
I have received a lot of insurance paperwork and will get more in Whitehorse I am sure. I just want to remind you that I won’t be able to read all the small print. I get your insurance certificates and that means I can tick the box. It remains your job to make sure that your respective insurance is the right one for the participation in an event like the MYAU.

Please also remember to have your insurance information with you when you need to go to the hospital in Whitehorse. Also, you will need your credit card!

Labelling your food
Please remember to label all your food items with you race number.

From 2019 onwards Allied Feather & Down will be a new main sponsor for the Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra. This US company was founded in 1987 in Vernon, CA, specializing in the manufacture of the highest quality down and feather product. They are a family-run operation constantly innovating their products and processes to ensure they remain the quality leader. The Allied Feather & Down commitment extends to safeguarding the environment and the welfare of animals. Thanks in part to their ethical measures, they have earned the prestigious bluesign® approval.

Today, Allied is the world leader in the manufacture of the highest quality downs and their blends. They are proud to be the fill of choice for top-tier brands in the outdoor industry. Allied also plays an active role in setting global industry standards for down. They are a founding member of the International Alliance for the Pro Down Initiative and a member of the International Down and Feather Bureau (IDFB).

To have Allied Feather & Down as a new main sponsor is truly an honor. When it comes to extremely cold temperatures, down filled products to this day are the ones with the best warmth to weight ratio. That is why all MYAU participants have at least one down product with them. As outdoor athletes we love nature and we are very aware of the impact, products we use, have on our environment. So, it’s great to know a company like Allied has this at its core. We really welcome their support and look forward to giving them emotional content for their brand.

To find out more about Allied Feather & Down and how they make sure they are leading in environmental standards please have a look at alliedfeather.com.

I updated rule #11 that deals with drop bags.

In 2019 we will try something new by having a “travelling” drop bag for the 300 and 430 mile athletes. For the marathon runners and 100 mile athletes nothing will change, they still get one drop bag for their respective finish lines.

In our facebook group I asked athletes if they prefer to A) bring their own bag, B) rent one from MYAU or C) buy one from MYAU. Most people answered they prefer to bring their own. So, all MYAU 2019 participants are more than welcome to bring their own drop bag. Please note that the bag can have a maximum volume of 80 litres, i.e. it’s okay if the bag is smaller but it can’t be larger.

Montane makes a very nice 60 litre duffle bag, the Transition 60. Should this volume be sufficient for you, it’s a great solution because it is light and still super robust. Participants are entitled to a 20% on it (and any other Montane gear). If you are interested, please contact me for the updated discount code.

I will further look into renting out and selling an 80 litre drop bag for those who prefer one of these options. I should have an update on it soon.

 

 

I have just updated the information on our usage of SPOT in the FAQ section. Please read it carefully.

The most important changes in a short overview:

• Any rental SPOT will be handed out with the batteries. One set for the 100 and 300 miles and two sets for the 430 miles. The batteries will be invoiced with the rental fee later this year.
• If you have a private SPOT you want to use I need to know by mid November. Otherwise, I will order a rental SPOT for you. If you do use a private SPOT you can bring your own batteries (please make sure these are the right ones!) or you can pre-order batteries that will then be handed out to you in Whitehorse.
• If you have a private Garmin inReach you can take it along as a back-up means to communicate but you will still need to have a rental or private SPOT.

Racelite is an online shop specialized in trail running. I actually started it in 2005 as a consequence to organising the MYAU and having to deal a lot with questions and issues regarding clothing and gear for the Arctic. Over the years the product range offered on Racelite has grown significantly. Thus it has become increasingly challenging to actually filter through to the products that are relevant for cold to extremely cold temperatures. In order to change that, from now on there is an MYAU Shop-in-Shop on Racelite that focuses 100% on (ultra) running in cold weather. It is called MYAU shop but of course the product featured in it is relevant for any cold weather training or event.

In addition on Racelite you will find an updated gear list with many interesting tips for winter ultra running in an event like the MYAU.

From next year onwards we will rent out Exped DownMat XP 9 sleeping mats. These mats have an R-value of 8 and are rated down to – 38° Celsius. With the help of the included pumpbag you can inflate this mat in no time and you won’t get humidity inside.

To have the best possible sleeping mat is absolutely vital for a sleeping system that needs to work in even the most extreme temperatures. And that is not to say that at – 40 or colder this sleeping mat will guarantee you a warm and cozy night. You still need to have picked the right spot for your camp, be well hydrated, have the right liner and bivouac bag or tent. Your sleeping bag needs to be dry and you may need to build a wood fire. But if you do not have a good piece of insulation between your sleeping bag and the ground these temperatures will be dangerous and there is no way you will get any rest.

For all the information on the product and the rental price please check out Rentals in our Service section.

You are wondering what the Yukon is like in the summer? And while you check it out you would like to run an ultra? How about entering the Reckless raven?

The Reckless raven is a 50 miles race with beautiful single track trails, quad roads, 3 ridges, 2 peaks, about 2,361 m of elevation gain, water crossings and fun aid stations. You can participate solo or as a team of 2 runners. The third edition will be held on June 30th, 2019 with a start in Whitehorse. Registration will open in October. You can follow the Raven on facebook  and of course there is a website, too: recklessraven.runforlife.ca.

Once again the Downtown Hotel is our partner hotel in Dawson City. Just as a reminder to all athletes who are in the 430 mile race, accommodation in Dawson City is not included in the entry fee and sleeping at the finish line checkpoint is not possible. The Downtown Hotel is giving athletes reduced room rates. I just updated the respective information in our information section on travel.

As you will see rooms rates are based on single or double occupancy, i.e. if you team up with other finishers you can save money if you want to. Please feel free to use our facebook group if you want to share a room and get in touch with others.

There are no transfers from Dawson City to Whitehorse prior to February 16th. So, if you arrive earlier you stay in Dawson City until that day. Time to relax, gain back some weight and watch others cross the finish line. We will all leave Dawson City together on February 16th at noon at the latest and get back to Whitehorse late afternoon.

It is possible to book an Air North flight from Dawson to Whitehorse at your own expense if you are optimistic and plan for an early finish. I do not recommend to count on an early arrival because delays are always possible. But people have done it and it can of course also be done spontaneously, i.e. after actually having reached Dawson City.

The first new Montane products for autumn/winter 2018 are becoming available! Many of these are great for the Yukon, e.g. the Alpha Balance Jacket which is a hybrid fleece with a perfect combination of lightweight, comfort, warmth, breathabiltiy and protection for the body’s core. Or the family of the very successful Men’s Icarus and Women’s Phoenix Jackets which is growing. There is now also a Micro Jacket (without hood) and vest. All with the great windproof PERTEX® QUANTUM ECO outer and the innovative PrimaLoft® ThermoPlume synthetic insulation.

To get an overview of what already is in stores and what is soon to come, please check out montane.co.uk.