2006 Race Results

1. Bobby Schnell
Chris Robertson 4 days, 10 hours, 42 minutes

2. Tyler Johsnson
Craig Barnard
Gordy Vernon
Thai Verzone
John Pekar
John Collins 5 days, 13 hours, 10 minutes

3. John Lapkass 6 days, 16 hours, 10 minuets

4. Brad Marden
Merrick Johnston 7 days, 5 hours, 5 minutes

5. Rourke Williams
Bob Groseclose 9 days, 1 hour

Good Motivation

Watch this video next time you're feeling lazy and don't feel like doing a workout.

2009 Race Results Addendum

Take a look at the 2009 Race Results again. Luc Mehl came in fourth place but was accidently left out of the original results. Sorry about the ommission Luc, and congratulations on finishing the race. The results should be correct now.

2001 Race Report

Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic

2001 Race Report and Results

The superhuman android boys, Steve and Rocky Riefenstuhl set a new course record of 53 hours and 49 minutes. Roman Dial came in second. Chad Taylor, Kevin Armstrong and Doug Woody came in third, and Dick Griffith and Donna Klecka finished in time for the Roast.

It was a wildly unusual year. It had been raining for weeks prior to the start, and just getting to the start was an ordeal. There were a series of impressive washouts on the Nabesna road. My top heavy camper swayed to such a degree on the first of the washout crossings, that Dick Griffith was considering calling Child Protective Services on me since my kids were in the camper during the crossing. They pretty much know how to swim, but the windows in the camper are fairly small (hard to get out).

Those few who made it to the start were pretty daunted by the conditions. We sent up one of those hardy Riefenstuhls in a plane with a digital camera to photograph the Nabesna and Jack Creek, and when he returned, we all gathered in the Devil's Mountain Lodge to view the results. We decided to wait till morning and see how things were. Morning wasn't much better, with a steady drizzle and grey skies. We decided to go anyway. After all, it's the AMWC. By the actual start time, there were only 15 starters. By the time I said "Let's go" there were 13. By the time we blew up boats, there were only 12 going on. Wow.

Things got progressively better, but what a race. Of the 13 actual starters, 8 finished. (Actually a slightly better-than-sometimes ratio.) No bears ate boats (like 2000). The banquet was wonderful. For the 20th running of the AMWC to be faced with all this stuff up front, it turned out that we had a great time joining with the McCarthy folks (especially Natalie and Kelly Bay) in "roasting Dick". The McCarthy Lodge served up a tremendous spread, and the case of champagne special-ordered for the event didn't hurt. Roman Dial, Peggy, and kids drove all the way from Anchorage for the event.

Roman, Donna Klecka, Claire LeClaire and I, among others, told lots of stories about Dick, some of them true. For 2002 there will be an ABSOLUTE LIMIT of 30 racers. So, enclosed you will find a registration form and some photos of the race. Due to the very limited field, the registrations from the 2001 race did not quite cover expenses. This year again, the cost of the color enclosures in this packet is not taken from race proceeds (there weren't any). So Merry Christmas from me to the race. I still don't think we need to change anything we are doing, (in terms of $ or organization), I just can't send a partial refund like usual to those who paid the entry fee. Maybe this year'll be different.

Keep in mind that this is the last ofthe 3 year cycle. We will be moving on from the Wrangells next year. I will be gone for a while this summer, so Dick Griffith has generously agreed to co-organize. Please note that entries and fees should go to his address, which is listed on the entry form.

p.s. don't take this personally, but if you don't respond to this letter, with at least a "yeah, I'm here", this is the last announcement you'll receive. Thanks to all of you for everything. I hope to see you in Nabesna..
Michael.

Rocky Reifenstuhl
Steve Reifenstuhl - 2 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes

Roman Dial - 2 days, 13 hours and 14 minutes

Kevin Armstrong
Doug Woody
Chad Taylor - 3 days, 16 hours and 42 minutes

Donna Klecka
Dick Griffith - exact time unavailable but they finished about 6:45 p.m. Saturday

2009 Alaska Mountain Wildereness Classic Race Results

Here's a good article about Forrest Karr and Steve Taylor from the Fairbanks Daily News Miner that includes the full results of this year's race. Congratulations Forrest and Steve on a respectable rookie finish. Race Results and Article.

1. Bobby Schnell, Chris Robertson and Andrew Skurka — 3 days, 17 hours, 54 minutes
2. Roman Dial and Forrest McCarthy, 4 days, 8 hours, 41 minutes
3. Eben Sargent and Brad Marden, 4 days, 14 hours, 11 minutes
4. Luc Mehl, 4 days, 14 hours, 41 minutes.
5. Stephen Taylor, Forrest Karr and Rob Kehrer, 7 days, 5 hours, 42 minutes
6. John Lapkass, 8 days, 22 hours, 22 minutes.
Scratches — Kyle Amstadter and Jesse Bernwald; Craig “Chunk” Bernard and Jordan Manley; Michael Martin and Michael Penuelas; Donna Kleck; Don Moden and Scott Wilk; Christopher Bernshoof and George Feree; Mark Ross; William and Clay Collins.

Video from 2009 Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic

Here's a great video made by the team who won the 2009 race. Congratulations Chris, Bobby and Andrew!

Video of 2009 Race

Here's a great video made by the second place team in the 2009 race.

More Classic Info

Roman keeps posting great stuff about the Classic on his blog. I should probably put a permanent link on my opening page but until I get around to doing that, check out his page here.

Also, here's another cool site with some great Alaskan adventures and great cycling gear.

And yet another tidbit of Classic beta: a brief article in the Fairbanks Daily News Miner about this year's Classic.

More Photos from 2000 Race - Nabesna to McCarthy

Here's some more pictures from the 2000 race.


Race start at the end of the Nabesna Road. The Ellis family very graciously allowed us to gather and start near Devil's Mountain Lodge. The ice climbing out here in the late fall and spring is excellent. However, ice climbing in the middle of winter here is not feasible because it's just too cold.



Old school method of blowing up rafts. About five miles into the race on the bank of Jack Creek.




Floating Jack Creek. It's slow and winding but faster than walking. Jack Creek eventually flows into the Nabesna River where the excitement really begins.

The Nabesna River looking much warmer than it actually is.

Checking the maps after about an hour of floating on the Nabesna to make sure we haven't passed the take-out at Cooper Creek.

Packing up the rafts to begin the hike up Cooper Creek.

Never ending ankle abuse on Cooper Creek.

We hiked until it was so dark that we couldn't see our feet and then bivied in the open. Here's sunrise the next day after we had been hiking for an hour. The fresh snow on the mountains was lower than we would have liked.

Stellar scenery coming down Notch Creek, a few miles shy of Chisana, which is about 50 miles into the race. If you look carefully, you can see a member of our group who was lagging just a bit.

Happy times and good weather at the first checkpoint in Chisana.

Checking the maps near Geohenda Creek. We lost several hours thrashing around in the woods by missing an obvious drainage.

After sleeping under an alder bush in pouring rain near the top of Geohenda Pass, we woke up to see that snow level was twenty vertical feet above us on the hill next to us. Yea, the picture is dark and poor quality but it accurately reflects the mood at the time.

This pack trail at about 5200 feet is between Geohenda Pass and Solo Mountain. We lost the trail several times because of fresh snow. The soft ground trail is a welcome relief after the unstable rocks of creek drainages.

The legendary Solo Mountain Cabin about 75 miles into the race. It's real, and you will never see a more welcome sight.

Smooth terrain in the White River Valley near Lime Creek.

Past Lime Creek and starting up the moraine of the Russell Glacier.

Unnamed 7500 foot peak near the Russell Glacier.

Near Skolai Lake with Castle Mountain in the background.

Standing on the edge of Chitistone Pass. One of the most beautiful places in the world. Chitistone Pass is about 100 miles into the race.

The Chitistone Gorge.

The Goat Trail.


More ankle torturing rocks, near the confluence of Glacier Creek and the Chitistone River. About 125 miles into the race.


After arriving in McCarthy at the finish line at about 4am, we stood sopping wet and hypothermic in the street for three hours until a local inkeeper woke up and took pity on us. She gave us small cups of hot coffee and an apple each. Since we had run out of food 16 hours and 30 miles before, it was highly appreciated.

And the winners are . . .

The winners of the 2009 Classic are Chris Robertson, Bobby Schnell and Andrew Skurka, all finishing together. Roman Dial and his partner Forrest McCarthy finished second. Roman has a nice summary of the race with more information on his blog. http://packrafting.blogspot.com/ Roman's summary also has a great picture of "Wilderness Classic Foot" that is a must-see. Or not, if you happen to have a weak stomach.

It sounds like it was a great race with a fair number of people dropping out at the first checkpoint and many people surviving excessive hardship. I'm sure there are a lot of great stories about the race and it'll be fun hearing them as they come out.

No Results Yet But Hopefully Soon

Ok, I know everyone is clamoring to find out who won so I'll try to find out as soon as I can. Most racers should be across the finish line by now. I'll post as soon as I find out some preliminary results.