On February 8, more than 80 men and women set off along a snow-covered trail normally frequented by mushers and their sled-dog teams, except in this case the competitors went by foot, cross-country ski and, as was the case for the one Australian entrant, mountain-bike.
With the fear of wolves stalking them at night and temperatures dropping to -55 degrees Celsius, the athletes left a frosty downtown Whitehorse to compete in one of the toughest endurance races in the world: the Yukon Arctic Ultra.
Sommers’ fat-tyred mountain-bike.
Ultra competitors have a choice of four course lengths – a marathon (42 kilometres), 100 miles (161 kilometres), 300 miles (483 kilometres) and 430 miles (692 kilometres).
Tim Sommers, the only Australian braving the harsh Canadian winter conditions, had his sights set on taking on the longest distance race on his fat-tyred mountain-bike – a race that was planned to conclude in Dawson City.
The 51-year-old from Sydney said he fell in love with the Yukon after placing second in the 100-mile mountain-bike in 2014.
“The people, both the locals and racers, are simply amazing,” he told Wild from his home in Denver, Colorado. “The trail and the scenery is awesome – breathtaking – and the danger is intoxicating.”
The danger is also very real. One of the biggest challenges of the event this year was the biting cold, with the temperature dropping to a punishing -55 degrees Celsius on the frozen lakes and marshes.
“I saw first-hand what frostbite looks like on myself and other competitors,” said Sommers, an experienced and regular endurance race competitor.
There was also the fear of wolves hanging around the trail and campsites at night. However, the real danger, Sommers said, was exposed overflow (running water over ice).
“It’s terrifying to come across it in the dark when its depth is unknown.”
Imagining the severe conditions from the warmth of an Australian summer may be hard, but try this: the trail Sommers and his co-competitors took on is a mix of jumble ice, frozen lakes and rivers, steep mountain passes, snow, bitter winds and a face-numbing cold.
To prepare, Sommers trained almost daily in Colorado’s snow, but one of the major tests with the Yukon Arctic Ultra, he
Sommers was forced to walk his bike out of the Ultra after its wheel broke.
says, was carrying the gear needed to survive.
A typical race kit includes a sleeping bag that can withstand -40 degrees, a bivouac bag, warm clothes, food, a gas burner, safety equipment, and bear spray. The bike also weighed more than 50 kilograms, making it difficult to ride on snow.
The first competitor to cross the finish line in Dawson City was Italian Enrico Ghidoni, 61, on February 15. He completed the course on a mountain bike in seven days, five hours and 15 minutes.
Sommers was scratched at Pelly Farm, 130 miles shy of Dawson. His rear bike hub broke and he had no choice but to push it for the remaining 30 miles into Pelly. It couldn’t be fixed but he’s glad to make it as far as he did.
Now it’s all over, he says he’s exhausted and happy to be out of the cold, not eating frozen snack food.
“The frostbite on my nose is healing, but my legs are destroyed. I also lost eight kilos.”