Due to the dangerous conditions of the Yukon Arctic Ultra it is an absolute must that you carefully read and follow all the rules. You need to be aware of all risks involved when participating in a race like this. You are doing it at your own risk.
Rules can only prevent problems to a certain extent. It will be your responsibility to take the warning very seriously and prepare yourself for the challenge ahead of you.
Every athlete must sign the digital Yukon Arctic Ultra waiver.
Every athlete must have English speaking skills, sufficient to follow a briefing in English, to understand the information contained in the English arcticultra.de website and the digital Application & Waiver.
The mode of transportation (foot, ski or fatbike) must be kept for the entire distance.
Athletes must sign in and out at each checkpoint. Please note that this does not affect the overall timing. We start the clock in Whitehorse and we stop it when the athlete finishes the race. The time that is spent at a checkpoint (CP) is part of the overall time.
Athletes who arrive at Checkpoint 1 sweating more than they should and/or totally exhausted will have to stay/rest at the checkpoint for 4 hours. The decision is taken by the Race Director or crew. All other checkpoints also have the right to stop athletes who arrive and show signs of poor management of their clothing layers.
No outside assistance to advance up or down the trail.
It is the athlete’s responsibility to take along all gear necessary for a safe race, e.g. shoes/footwear (including solution for extreme cold, e.g. Neos Overshoes), stove, food, water, sleeping system, head torch, sufficient clothing for all weather conditions. It is also the athlete’s responsibility to make sure all clothing and gear is functioning.
The following gear is mandatory for the 150, 375 and 480 km races:
The following gear is mandatory for the Muktuk Challenge (32 km):
Not having mandatory gear will result in severe time penalties or disqualification. Athletes who forget essential gear (e.g. insulation layers, thermos, etc.) at a checkpoint, will get a time penalty of 3 hours per item. This also goes for equipment that is lost on the trail.
The racers must carry all their gear the whole distance. The 150, 375 and 480 km athletes may deposit non-mandatory gear in their drop bags.
No littering. Racers must not leave anything behind on the trail. No gear, no trash or anything else. Athletes must mark all their food items with their race bibb number. Random checks may be done any time during the race.
Athletes who need to poo or pee are asked to do so off the trail. Toilet paper either needs to be transported out or burned by the athlete.
Failure to comply with this rule results in immediate disqualification.
The race officials have the right to remove or disqualify a racer at any time during the event. Possible reasons may be: the physical condition of the racer, insufficient gear, littering, cheating.
150 km racers can give us a drop for their finish lines. 375 and 480 km athletes can hand in one “travelling” drop bag that will be available upon arrival at Braeburn, Carmacks and Pelly Crossing.
The drop bag for the 150 km race must be max. 25 liters/10 kg. The drop bag for the 375 and 480 km must be max. 50 liters/15 kg.
The volume/weight restrictions will have to be enforced due to transport space restrictions! All drop bags will be weighed when handed in.
When not needed anymore or if an athlete drops out, the bag(s) will be brought back to the Sternwheeler Hotel (luggage storage) as soon as possible.
Drop bags can be handed in after the pre-race dinner (same room as the dinner is held in) until 10:00 PM that evening at the latest.
The bags need to be packed well and CLEARLY marked with name and bib number. Food drop bags also need to state the checkpoint location.
Time limits:
Athletes in the Muktuk Challenge (32 km) need to finish 8pm at the latest.
The 150 km racers need to reach Braeburn within 3 days. For the 375 and 480 km athletes there is one cut-off in between. They need to get to the Carmacks checkpoint within 4 days and 12 hours. In total, the 375 km racers must reach the Pelly Crossing finish line within 6 1/2 days and the 480 km racers must arrive at the Pelly Crossing finish within 8 days.
Racers who do not finish in time will be evacuated off the trail or from the remote checkpoint. Cost for this transport is CAD 250.
If it is safe for us and the respective athlete to evacuate her/him off the course with a snowmobile, we will do so. Each evacuation with one of our snowmobile guides will cost CAD 250. The evacuation fee is to be paid upon arrival at the checkpoint or deposited with the reception of the Sternwheeler Hotel.
If specialists are required for the evacuation by snowmobile or by any other means of transportation these costs will have to be covered by the athlete.
Athletes need to have an insurance that covers any evacuation costs by local authorities and subsequent medical treatment and transportation, including operations and extended stays in the local or any other hospital. All participants need to proof that they have sufficient health insurance for the Yukon Arctic Ultra. Should a participant fail to provide the required confirmation, a participation in the race is not possible. The cancellation fees as per Application & Waiver apply.
There will be medical advisors for the event. If conditions become absolutely life threatening due to storms and/or extreme cold these advisors may stop the race at any time. Athletes will then have to stop at the nearest checkpoint. Should it be impossible to restart the race, or should an athlete have to quit because of booked flights back home, this will be treated like an evacuation.
Road and trail use: Follow state road laws while on roads (e.g. stay on the right, look before crossing roads, etc.). Please yield the trail to motorized vehicles and any dog teams. Pull off the trail if you stop for repairs, change clothes, etc.
ATHLETES WHO TRAVEL ON THE ROAD RATHER THAN ON THE DESIGNATED TRAIL WILL BE IMMEDIATELY DISQUALIFIED!
Runways: Do not bike, ski, walk, run, snowshoe, camp or sleep on any runway. Runways are usually defined by a groomed, maintained area, much longer than wider, and having “cut” tree boughs or other flagging placed along its length and/or both ends.
Sleeping between Checkpoints: Athletes who are going to bivvy (sleep) in between checkpoints have to tell the crew that they intend to do so. They need to bivy just off the main trail, but still in sight of the trail, so other racers and our snow machine rovers can see them. Sleeping on the trail will result in disqualification.
Athletes who bivy and want to be evacuated need to attach the emergency tape (which they will receive prior to race start) clearly visible to their trekking poles or a stick/tree nearby. Our guides on snowmobiles will then stop and wake them up if need be.
When athletes are start their bivy time they need to push the “Custom Message Button” on their SPOT. Failure to do will result in a 2 hour time penalty. Repeated failure to do so will result in disqualification.
Teams have to arrive at the checkpoints and finish complete and at the same time. Should 1 or 2 team members have to be evacuated the rest of the team will become part of the individual racers category.
Only experienced winter athletes will be accepted for the ultra distance races. Athletes with no prior experience with extreme cold weather conditions need to participate in a winter survival course which will teach them the essential skills for the race.
Medical Certificate: Each athlete needs to provide a Medical Certificate. This certificate needs to prove that the athlete is fit to take part in an endurance race in Arctic conditions. In addition to the certificate, each athlete must fill in a medical form.
Food: We will serve 1 hot meal upon the arrival of the athlete at all community checkpoints (Muktuk, Braeburn, Carmack, McCabe Creek, Pelly Crossing and Pelly Farm). If an athlete prefers to have his/her meal before leaving the CP, rather than upon arrival, this is possible. However, it is not possible for an athlete to receive 2 meals! Neither is an athlete allowed to ask our staff for food when out on the trail. The only exception is a case of emergency.
The remote checkpoints (Dog Grave Lake and Mandanna) will not serve any food. Athletes need to provide their own expedition meals.
Out on the trail athletes have to have sufficient emergency food for 2 days. Also, we recommend taking along several meals to eat in between checkpoints. Experience has shown that an athlete’s body needs more food than what we serve with one meal. It has happened that athletes run out of food between checkpoints. This is a reason for disqualification!
Athletes are allowed to buy food at checkpoints supermarkets (Carmacks and Pelly Crossing).
Water: All checkpoints provide hot water. However, at remote checkpoints it may be impossible to serve the requested quantities at all times. In that case the athlete has to wait until enough hot water is available again or use his/her own stove to melt snow. At remote checkpoints it can also not be guaranteed that the water handed out is always boiling hot.
Athletes do need to leave each checkpoint with at least 3 litres of water filled in insulated flasks. Depending on the respective distance that will be covered 3 litres may not be enough. So, either the athlete takes more water or is prepared to stop and melt snow out on the trail.
Not eating and not hydrating enough seriously increases the risk of hypothermia and frostbite!
Fatbike athletes need to cope with any mechanical problems themselves. Should outside assistance at a checkpoint be necessary we will try to help solve the problem. Any time that is lost while help is being organized will not be credited. Also, time penalties will apply. The extent of the time penalty will depend on the support given.
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