If you plan to do this year's Classic, you should check out Luc Mehl's website. Thingstolucat
It's a cool site and chronicles his amazing exploits, including his recent traverse of Mt. Logan. Luc has all the info you need for the race. Here is his recent announcement:
The 2012 Wilderness Classic application is ready! Please follow the
link below and print your forms. If you choose to email your
application to me, please scan a paper copy so that the signatures are
legally binding. Please bring the paper copy to the race start as well.
I need rookie applications as soon as possible and no later than July 2.
I
need all applications and entry fees (payable to 'Luc Mehl, AMWC') by
July 6. Please let me know if you are a returning racer intending to
participate this year. Previous winners are now allowed one fee waive.
If you have already raced free since your win, you will need to pay this
year.
A few comments regarding the Chakina River exit:
A
few weeks ago I floated by the Chakina confluence with the Chitina. The
burned area looks highly variable for hiking- some of it looked like
easy going, some looked pretty miserable. To my knowledge nobody has
floated the Chakina since Embick - I have asked everyone in the area and
other likely suspects. The forest fire was followed by massive flooding
and the potential danger from log jams is very high. I will add some
photos to the website soon. The Chitina was pretty pleasant, fast and
without rapids to speak of. It will be significantly higher in July, but
should be pretty straightforward.
Please let me know if you have any questions-
-Luc
I'm in McCarthy waiting for the finishers! Maybe next year I will have the time to do this race.
ReplyDeleteAny updates, results? I am soooo curious!!
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that this is/was a very hard race. Difficult course, lots of rain?
http://newsminer.com/blog/10930895/Outdoors+with+Tim+Mowry
ReplyDeleteNo finishers yet in Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic
by TimMowry_FDNM
Jul 12, 2012 | 1978 views | 1 | 3 | | | permalink
As of Thursday morning, there was still no winner in the 31st annual Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic, the state’s premier wilderness race.
The race started Sunday on top of Thompson Pass north of Valdez and the finish is the Lakina River bridge at Mile 44.3 on the McCarthy Road.
This year’s route is a new one that has never been used in the Wilderness Classic, which rotates routes every three years. The route is a minimum of 140 miles, depending which way you go.
I don’t know how many racers started or how many remain. I did hear a rumor that the trio of former champs Tyler Johnson and Todd Kasteler of Anchorage and Danny Powers of Fairbanks had bailed out of the race and re-routed to Cordova.
Jeremy Pataky at Wrangell Mountains Center in McCarthy said the earliest possible prediction for the first people to finish was Wednesday night but heavy rain and abnormally deep snow in the mountains as a result of last winter’s heavy snowfall will likely slow racers down. The heavy rain has caused creeks and rivers to rise significantly, which could make pack rafting an adventure.
“I think the general expectation now is that today/night or tomorrow (probably the latter) are looking more likely,” Pataky wrote in an email Thursday morning.
Race organizer Luc Mehl said this year’s route wasn’t going to be a picnic and it appears he was right.
“It promises beautiful terrain but is likely to be very challenging due to thick brush, steep drainages, and unrunnable rivers,” Mehl wrote in describing the route on his web site.
http://bedrockandparadox.com/2012/07/13/classic-carnage/
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/lxL1s55DA2I
Congratulations to all finishers.