Overview “MYAU Pre-Race Workshop” – by Jessie Gladish
This course is organized by Jessie Gladish. The instructor team includes Jessie and Gillian Smith, all of whom have finished the race several times. Also, part of the course with his expertise is Fabian Schmitz, owner of Bushcraft Yukon. Past workshop participants will be participating as well, on the course’s private Facebook group.
For 2026, the course offers an online component, which includes the Facebook group, weekly to biweekly discussion topics, and three meetings held online in a group format. The full course includes all online benefits plus three days in Whitehorse – a great opportunity to learn and practice all the skills and gain confidence before the main event.Here are the full details provided by Jessie and her team:
What you can expect from this pre-race workshop:
- Learn from the hard-won knowledge of YAU race veterans who have accumulated thousands of hours in the Yukon wilderness and on the YAU trail.
- Receive detailed trail notes and briefings that have been prepared based on our personal experience on the YAU trail.
- Receive help with your race strategy, whether you are trying to “go fast” or “simply finish”. All of us have different race strengths and experiences and will openly share what we have learnt.
- Access to a private Facebook group as soon as you sign up, to discuss various race topics and questions as they arise.
- Travel on the ‘traditional route’ Overland Trail section, where we will set up a camp for the night and bivy as a group. The overnight is a great way to learn and better plan your strategy for race day. The trail will be similar to the new race trail. Other trails around Whitehorse may be used as well.
- Practice all the essential skills you will need for the race: lighting stoves, making fire, setting up your bivy, resting in your bivy, pacing yourself, developing problem solving strategies. This will be done during the day and night.
- Gear check and advice prior to the race.
- Plenty of opportunities to chat with instructors.
Our goal is for you to have an enjoyable experience regardless of what happens on race day! We are all passionate about the trail, the race and the entire YAU family.
Detailed Itinerary 2025/2026 Online Module
Workshop organizer & instructor: Jessie Gladish
Instructors: Fabian Schmitz, Gillian Smith
Topics we will cover between online:
- Rules & mandatory gear
- Personal responsibility & accountability
- Personal first aid/self-care
- Spot device, In Reach and satellite phones
- Overflow/Glaciation
- Mental strength
- Food/water
- Packing tips (bikes/sleds/packs, etc)
- Layering
- Training
- Race strategy
- The Yukon – weather/temps, remoteness, emergencies, & trail access points
- Bivy system
- Footwear
- Gear
Meeting #1 (2.5 hours):
- Intro: Jessie, Gillian, Fabian – followed by all participants
- Training
- Responsibility
- Gear – mandatory gear overview
- Rules
- Travel: flights/airlines, hotels, insurance for travel & race
- Questions
Meeting #2 (2.5 hrs):
- Bivy systems
- Stove/fuel
- Clothing layers & footwear
- Headlamps, batteries, electronics, battery packs, etc
- Footwear
- Mental strength
- Questions
Meeting #3 (2.5 hrs):
- The Yukon – remoteness, environment, climate, etc.
- Spot, InReach, sat phones
- Travel plans
- Workshop plan – overview/questions
Itinerary in-person module, January 25th-29th, 2026
Whitehorse, Yukon
January 25th, 2026 – Day One
17:00
Transport from downtown Whitehorse to hostel
18:30
Dinner
19:00-21:00
- Review agenda for the day/weekend
- Waivers
- Housekeeping: hostel rules, hot springs use/location, coffee shop location & hours, room assignments, internet, etc
- Rental gear handout
January 26th, 2026 – Day Two
07:00-09:00
Breakfast
09:00-12:00
- Stove lighting, bivy set up, & sled/bike packing demo – at least one instructor will go through their set up systematically, and then participants will find a spot to set up their own. Kit check will also be done at this time.
- We will go for a short walk (~1 hr) from the hostel to test sleds and rental gear.
12:00-13:00
Lunch
13:00-14:00
- Pack full kit for a sled pull.
- We will be gone until dinnertime so bring water/snacks.
- Homemade firestarter workshop
14:00-18:00
- Sled pull from overland trail into the hills (~20 min drive to trailhead)
- Fire starting demo by instructors
- Fire starting practice for all participants
- Stove lighting/set up bivy
18:30
- Dinner
- Stove maintenance lesson
January 27th, 2025 – Day Three (day trip)
08:00-09:00
Breakfast
09:00-13:00 (with breaks)
- Powerpoint
- The routes in detail (elevation gain/loss, distance between, significant landmarks)
- Animals of the Yukon
- Trapline information & safety
- Trail etiquette
- Weather forecast for today and tomorrow
13:00-15:00
- Lunch
- Pack your sleds and be 100% ready to go by 3pm (afternoon and night out ***bring your own trail meal for dinner***)
- You will need fuel, your stove, matches, firestarter, water, spare layers, full sleeping system – we are spending the night and will not be back at the hostel until about 7-8am.
- This is a mock race day/night without the pressure of being timed or on a schedule, but the idea is to ‘do you’ and figure out a pace that works for the temp and manage your own breaks and layers. There is no expectation to keep up with the group and there are no ‘winners’.
- Pack everything you are planning to bring to the race (for food just bring what you need for snacks + your trail dinner).
15:00
- Pick-up/transport to trailhead
- Anyone who joins us just for the day trip will be picked up at the Sternwheeler Hotel (downtown Whitehorse) and brought out to meet us.
- The group can spread out so be prepared to be alone. An instructor will be at the very back and the very front, and one somewhere in the middle. We will have a snowmobile for support, and a well-marked trail leading to where we will finish. An instructor will be at the bivy area and show everyone where to go to set up camp.
21:00/22:00
- Approximate arrival at our camping location – it will be dark!
- On arrival find a spot to set up your bivvy (remember what you learned about choosing a spot – make sure it is a good spot to sleep)
- Have your trail meal, light a fire, and get into your bivy
- Be prepared to spend the night and not be able to sleep – bring a book!
January 28th, 2026 – Day Four
07:00-09:00
- Transport back to hostel – unpack, warm up, dry out
- Breakfast
09:00-12:00
- Debrief trail outing and address any gear concerns/malfunctions/etc.
- Problem solving exercise on mistakes & solutions
12:00-13:00
Lunch
13:00-17.00
- Powerpoint: Medical discussion with Gillian – cold injuries (frostbite), hypothermia, other common trail issues. First aid/self-care.
- Feedback forms
- Revisit any area of concern and/or cover anything we haven’t touched on
17:00-18:00
Free time
18:00
- Dinner
- Group hot springs soak
- Please be ready to move out in the morning by 10am
January 29th, 2026 – Last Morning
08:00-departure
10:00-11:00
- Transport to town
- Hotels may allow early check-in or hold onto gear until you can
- There are nice places to have lunch in town and walk around/shop
