Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic

Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic

The Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic (sometimes called the "Alaska Wilderness Classic") is an adventure race that espouses purity of style. Started in 1982 as a 150 mile wilderness footrace, the Classic has crossed various mountain ranges throughout Alaska, with some routes covering over 250 miles. Traditionally, the same route has been used for three years in a row.

The rules are simple: start to finish with no outside support, requiring that racers carry all food and equipment; human-powered; leave no trace; and rescue is up to the individual to resolve. The most common form of transportation is by foot and packraft, although bicycles, skis, and even paragliders have been used by intrepid racers. Beginning in 2004, racers have been required to carry satellite phones to facilitate emergency rescues.

The organization of the race is grass-roots, having no affiliation to any organization or group. While generally less than 50 people enter in any one year, its influence on American adventure racing, backcountry use of the packraft, and ultralight hiking has been significant. In addition to the summer race, there is an even more low-key winter event, the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Ski Race, which has taken place evey year since 1987, with races through the Chugach Mountains, Alaska Range, Brooks Range, and Wrangell-St. Elias. Detailed records of the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Ski Race are lacking .

Routes and Winners


=Chicken to Central, Tanana-Yukon Uplands, 180 miles =

*2008 Butch Allen and Jim McDonough, Tyler Johnson and Craig "Chunk" Barnard
*2007 Robert Schnell and Chris Robertson
*2006 Robert Schnell and Chris Robertson (course record: 4 days 10 hours 42 minutes)


=Eureka to Talkeetna (Talkeetna Mountains), 160 miles=

* 2005 Robert Schnell, Jason Geck, Tyler Johnson, Rory Stark (course record: 1 day 23 hours 29 minutes)
* 2004 Gordy Vernon and Thai Verzone
* 2003 Hans Neidig, Chris Robertson, Paul Hanis


=Nabesna to McCarthy, (Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness), 150 miles =

* 2002 Roman Dial (course record: 2 days 4 hours 24 minutes)
* 2001 Steve Reifenstuhl and Rocky Reifenstuhl
* 2000 Steve Reifenstuhl and Rocky Reifenstuhl


=Hope to Homer, (Kenai Peninsula), 150 miles =

* 1999 Jim Jaegar and Laura McDonough
* 1998 Gordy Vernon
* 1997 Gordy Vernon and Thai Verzone

Donnelly to McKinley Village, (Alaska Range), 140 miles

* 1996 Steve Reifenstuhl and Rocky Reifenstuhl
* 1995 Clark Saunders (course record: 2 days 12 hours 20 minutes)
* 1994 Frazier Miller

Gates of the Arctic Wilderness, (Brooks Range), 130 miles

* 1993 Gordy Vernon
* 1992 Brant McGee and Dave Dixon
* 1991 Brant McGee and Adrian Crane (course record: 2 days 6 hours 18 minutes)


=Nabesna to McCarthy, (Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness), 150 miles =

* 1990 Brant McGee and Jeff Gedney
* 1989 David Manzer, Adrian Crane, Tom Possert
* 1988 Roman Dial

Mentasta to Denali National Park, (Alaska Range), 235 miles

* 1987 Hank Timm and Randy Pitney (course record: 4 days 18 hours 27 minutes)
* 1986 Hank Timm
* 1985 Hank Timm


=Hope to Homer, (Kenai Peninsula), 150 miles =

* 1984 David Manzer (course record: 3 days 12 hours)
* 1983 Roman Dial and Jim Lokken
* 1982 Roman Dial

Records

* Most entrants: 1984 Hope to Homer
* Highest entrants:Finishers Ratio: 7:1 -- 1985 Mentasta to McKinley
* Fastest finish: Jason Geck, Robert Schnell, Tyler Johnson, Rory Stark: 1 day, 23 hours, 30 minutes -- 2005 Eureka to Talkeetna
* Fastest solo finish: Bjorn Flora: 2 days, 1 hour, 20 minutes -- 2005 Eureka to Talkeetna
* Fastest female finish: Peggy Dial: 3 days, 3 hours, 40 minutes -- 1993 Gates of the Arctic
* Oldest finisher: Dick Griffith: 78 years old -- 2004 Eureka to Talkeetna
* Youngest finisher: Cody Dial: 17 years old -- 2004 Eureka to Talkeetna
* Most finishes: Dick Griffith: 17 finishes -- (1982, 1984, 1987-95, 1997, 1999-2001, 2003-04)
* First use of a packraft: Dick Griffith -- 1982 Hope to Homer
* First use of a packraft and skis: Roman Dial and Jim Lokken -- 1983 Hope to Homer
* First use of a mountain bike: Hank Timm and Randy Pitney -- 1987 Mentasta to McKinley
* First use of a paraglider: Chuck Comstock -- 1988 Nabesna to McCarthy

References

* [http://www.alaskaalpineclub.org/WildRace.html Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic Race reports]
* [http://www.alumni.utah.edu/u-news/march05/talkeetna.htm "Across the Talkeetna Mountains"]
* [http://www.aktrekking.com/2004/WildernessClassic/WildernessClassic1.html 2004 Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic]


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