Apologies for the slow updates on the website. The internet in Pelly Crossing is a bit slow right now.

If you follow the MYAU on facebook you will have seen already who finished and how everyboday is doing. In case your are not on fb, here is a quick summary.

Unfortunately, some more 300 milers did have to scratch – for various reasons, e.g. stress fracture, immersion foot, chafing. Those athletes concerned are now all back in Whitehorse and I hope they get better soon and we will see them come back to have another go.

In the bike category Florian Reiterberger (Germany) came in ahead of Tim Sommers (Australia) and Wolfgang Kulow (Germany). Rank 1 in the fool category goes to Jan Kriska (USA). He also set a new 300 mile record. Rank 2 goes to Gavan Hennigan (Ireland) and rank 3 was achieved by Bernadette Benson (Australia). Which means of course in the women’s ranking she is number 1. Other finishers in the order of reaching Pelly Crossing are: Hugo Smith (Australia), Daniel Heon (Canada), Brian Bougourd (Guernsey), Joaquin Candel (Spain), Jorge Rufat-Latre (USA), Paul Fosh (England).

We are now waiting for Mario Villemure (Canada) who should reach the finish line very soon. Not too far behind him are Jerym Brunton and Rick Ferguson (both New Zealand). Just out of Pelly Farm are Davide Ugolini and Omar Mohamed Ali (both Italy). And last but not least, Jessie Gladish (Canada), Julie Pritchard (England) and Oliver Lutte (England) who are soon reaching Pelly Farm and should have no problem to get to the finish line before the cut-off at 10:30 AM tomorrow.

This is just one of many great photos that Derek Crowe took during this year’s Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra. This one shows Jan Kriska, winner and holder of the new 300 mile record on foot (117 hours 26 minutes). For all of Derek’s photos please go to his gallery.

Julie, Oliver and Jessie got into the Carmacks CP way before cut-off. And so did Kabasawa. Unfortunately, Kabasawa has got immersion foot with the risk of an infection. That’s the initial diagnosis. He is resting now and we will have another look at it around midnight to decide if he can safely continue. The “J team” and Oliver want to get going again around midnight.

Florian is reaching the finish line as I write these lines. Which makes him the overall winner of the MYAU 2016 in the 300 miles. Not only am I very happy for Flori but also for MAXX Bikes as he is riding our special edition fatbike which was put together with our race in mind. Now we know it works.

Florian Reiterberger, overall winner of the MYAU 2016 300 mile race – copyright: Derek Crowe

The other two fatbikers, Tim and Wolfgang, are on their way to Pelly Farm. Jan Kriska, our leading athlete on foot is actually in front of them. I am sure all three will enjoy the stay at the farm.

Gavan is already more than half way to the farm and Bernadette is also heading that way. Initially I had thought that Gavan did not rest in Pelly but that was not what had happened. He did stop and rest. So, if Jan has got no injuries it will be difficult to take the first rank in the foot category away from him.

Gavan Hennigan – copyright Derek Crowe

Hugo Smith, Daniel Heon and Brian Bougourd are on their way to Pelly Crossing. Davide Lugato is brought there by snowmachine. It looks like he pushed too hard and got hypothermia. I should have more news in a couple of hours.

The remaining athletes are all on their way to McCabe. I have seen most of them to

This morning it was – 30 degrees Celsius and it has not warmed up a lot. However, all athletes are handling the cold very well by now.

Unfortunately, James Innes had to scratch. He got a ride in with our guides. Enrique made it on his on and a long time before cut-off but will likely not continue.

Everybody else is doing well. Florian is now on his way to Pelly Farm and if he does not run into any unexpected difficulties he should win. First on foot is Jan but there is a race now. When Gavan came to Pelly Crossing and realised Jan had just left he did not stop for long. It will be interesting to follow those two guys now.

Bikers Tim and Wolfgang are on their way to Pelly Crossing. 66 year old Wolfgang is amazing. The things he has done in his sporting life are pretty crazy – amongst them a Deca Triathlon (38 km swim, 1,800 km bike, 422 km run). How is that for a start?

Also going strong are Bernadette Benson and Davide Lugato. Both on their way to Pelly Crossing.

At 14:45 today fatbiker Florian reached Pelly Crossing. Since he really cold feet going through overflow he decided to get another good rest before he leaves for Pelly Farm.

Florian leaving Carmacks – copyright: Derek Crowe

Tim who is in second position got to McCabe a bit later. He will rest now, too. Everybody else still in the race is doing fine. Michael Haenel is struggling a bit with chafing but fingers crossed it won’t stop him. Jan Kriska is leader in the foot category and currently also at McCabe.

Gavan Hennigan is not too far behind Jan. And behind him is Wolfgang Kulow on bike. Third in the foot category is currently Bernadette Benson. All of them are going really strong. Next are Davide Lugato and Hugo Smith.

Daniel Heon just left Carmacks at 19:55. Brian Bougourd is resting here and plans to leave at 4 AM. Everybody else is on the way to Carmacks and should make it before the cut-off tomorrow at 10:30 PM.

Brian Bougourd out on the trail – copyright: Derek Crowe

We have seen most athletes come into Braeburn today. Right now there is only 100 miler and xc-skier Thomas Keller still out there. He will be here a long time before cut-off. To take on the challenge of skiing in this event is a tough one. It seems obvious that skiing would be a great method of travel in the coldest and toughest ultra marathon in the world – there’s plenty of snow and the trail is relatively flat – who wouldn’t want to ski it? Well I can tell you the trail is not best for skiing – there are many places where it is so undulating that to get up a good, consistent rhythm for fast skiing is nigh on impossible. This is why the skiers often are slow and so we should applaud Thomas Keller for his patience and endurance on what can be a very frustrating trail.

For the 300 miles things are in full swing. Braeburn Lodge has been really busy for Steve and his fabulous crew of chefs, bringing out enormous burgers and cinnamon buns for hungry athletes. Last night headquarters was busy too with both cabins full of tired, snoring volunteers and guides and the office buzzing with journalists and photographers uploading their photos and stories.

Don Banks was in his element cooking the best pizza in the Yukon for a hungry bunch of guides (and Race HQ). There have been a small number of people who have had to end their race early due to medical issues – it seems unfair when we prepare so well for something only for our stupid bodies to let us down! But one’s personal health and safety should always take priority over an event – after all the Yukon will still be here next year – as so many other returning athletes can testify – there’s always another race another year.

So currently the bikers are in the lead. Florian already left for McCabe where he plans on getting a good rest. Tim is resting at Carmacks which is an indoor check point with some elements of luxury – this is one of the few check points where the athletes can take a shower. What a blissful though after travelling in the freezing cold for over 36 hours. 🙂 And if anyone has time they can have a curling match on the indoor curling rink!

News from Dog Grave Lake checkpoint is that it is now closed as all the athletes have come through and the crew there have packed it down and are back in to Braeburn ready for some more crewing of further checkpoints. No more reports of frostbite which is great.

Diane is in Carmacks where she is waiting for Jan Kriska who is our leading runner in the 300 mile race.

David Hirschfeld (USA) reached the 100 mile finish at 16:50 yesterday placing 2nd. Michael Faergegaard (Denmark) followed in the evening to take rank 3. Both were tired but in good shape. David already went back to Whitehorse, together with his friend and race volunteer Bob Scott. Michael will get he shuttle back this morning.

Fabio Faria from Canada who is in the 300 mile race had to scratch at Dog Grave Lake. He will come out with the crew when they leave for Braeburn.

All other athletes in the back have reached Dog Grave Lake. In the front Tim Sommers (Australia) and Florian Reiterberger (Germany) are leading with their fatbikes. Both are resting for the night at Ken Lake and will reach Carmacks later today.

In the foot category Jan Kriska (USA) is currently a short distance ahead of Gavan Hennigan from Ireland.

Braeburn sees a busy night and volunteers Damaris and Richard are in charge of the CP while Diane is getting a rest. I am sure both really are looking forward to some sleep! It has been a long day and night!

Michele arrived at the Braeburn 100 mile finish line after 21h 56min. Only local athlete Justin Wallace managed to have a better time in 2012. Congratulations Michele! Really well done.

Later this morning we had to bring Virginia Sarrazin by ski-doo from Dog Grave Lake to Braeburn. She go frostbite on her toes. Luckily nothing that will last but enough to have to stop racing. Virgina is already back in her hometown Whitehorse.

Domenico Barbalace from Italy will also come out on ski-doo. Due to back problems and a bit of frostbite he pushed his SPOT help-button.

In the meantime, Florian Reiterberger from Germany is leading the field of 300 milers. He is on his way to Ken Lake where the crew is ready to welcome him. He said he would just take it easy … Bavarian understatement I guess …

Just heard from Dog Grave Lake that John Dennis also had to scratch or was told to better stop. He has got a chest infection and will travel south on ski-doo with Tony and Ross.

Everybody else seems to be doing okay right now.

The Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra (MYAU) 2016 started on time yesterday, at 10:30 AM at Shipyard’s Park in Whitehorse. It was very windy but relatively mild. The “warm” temperatures also meant that the trail was pretty soft at the beginning. But further down the track the ground got harder. So, great for marathon runners and our bikers. And even the xc-skiing was quite okay.

The marathon did indeed prove to be a fast race – the winner – David Eikelboom from Whitehorse came in to the finish at Rivendell Farm after 3 hrs 25 minutes. Of course cyclist Joel Hegner was first in the Mountain Bike Category with a winning time of 3 hrs 19 minutes. The trail was solid and the weather balmy with blue skies and sunshine. Who could ask for better conditions? It was only during the ride back to Whitehorse that marathon competitor Corey Nislow revealed he had just popped up from Vancouver for the day to do the marathon and was due on the afternoon flight home – how’s that for confidence in running time – and so he should be with a fast time of 3 hours 58 mins. Love your dedication Corey! The full results are now in the results table now.

Once the marathoners had come through the rest of the competitors either stopped for a break at Rivendell or continued on – someone who wasn’t going to stop was Michele Graglia aiming to finish the 100 miles in record time. As always the cyclists were ahead of the game and it soon became apparent that Florian and Tim were racing each other. As day light faded the temperatures dropped but not too drastically and by all accounts most people had a fairly comfortable night. And if they were lucky they may have seen some good Northern Lights along the trail. And so, on to day 2 …

From tomorrow onwards MYAU participants can fill their fuel bottles with white gas at Coast Mountain Sports in Whitehorse. If you want to make use of this free of charge service please do bring your own fuel bottles as the gas will be poured from 4 litre canisters. Thank you to all Coast Mountain Sports staff for helping with this!

Unfortunately, there is no Primus winter gas because there have been customs issues again. Primus have changed the shipment process but it’s still not working.

MYAU Facebook group

A great source for frequent news on the MYAU is our facebook group. It’s also great because anybody who is a member can post updates, pictures, etc. If you do use facebook please join! It’s fun to watch how the excitement is building up.

Trail news

As we already expected, the trail will have more overflow than normal. With a bit of luck a lot of it will freeze by Feb. 4th. But I am sure there will be enough left. So, Neo Overshoes are strongly recommended.

There is likely also more ice. Therefore, everyone should have Yaktrax or similar in order to get some grip.

Right now it also looks like the Pelly River is so rough that we can’t use it on the way from Pelly Crossing to Pelly Farm. It looks like we will be going out to Pelly Farm on the farm road and coming back on it again.

Rules

I may have said this before but I will say it again. All participants please read the rules and make sure you are familiar with them.

SPOT update

The SPOT units from Trackleaders.com are scheduled to arrive Feb. 3rd. So, it does look very likely that these will be handed out at the dinner rather than at the briefing.

Everyone please make sure you get the right batteries for them (see previous updates).

Once the race is on everyone at home just needs to click on the Trackleaders.com logo on our website to get to the page with the athlete’s positions.