Check Points

There are four official checkpoints. All racers must check in/out with the race official at each checkpoint. Each checkpoint is a public-use cabin owned and maintained by the BLM or a wall tent. The checkpoint cabins will be reserved specifically for use by racers and race officials.

Checkpoints are roughly 20 miles apart. Some of the checkpoints are located on a short spur trail leading away from the main trail. Signage will be in place directing racers to each checkpoint. All cabins have propane lanterns and cook stoves, wood heat, and sleeping bunks. The wall tent at checkpoint #1 will only have a cook stove and wood heat, no bunks. Three race officials will be present at each checkpoint and be available 24 hours a day while the checkpoint is open. They will keep the cabin and/or wall tent warm and provide racers with food and liquids. Do not expect race officials to pamper or wait on you. They are there to support the race efforts and to assist you if you need help. Please be courteous to the volunteer staff.

Some checkpoints may become crowded. We cannot guarantee you will have a comfortable spot to sleep. The race officials will do their best to accommodate you.

Each checkpoint will be equipped with a satellite phone for the race official to call in results to race headquarters (with updates as often as possible on the race website) and for use in case of an emergency. Racers will not have access to the satellite phone and should not expect the race official to make any calls for them unless there is an emergency.

There are other public use cabins along the race course that have not been reserved for the race. Please respect the privacy of others who will be staying at these cabins. Only approach these cabins if there is a serious emergency.

A small trail shelter and wall tent at race mile 91 will be occupied by race staff. No food will be available at the trail shelter - only hot/cold water. The shelter is tiny but there should be a wall tent in the clearing by the shelter. Racers are not required to check in or out of the trail shelter. The race staff will vacate the trail shelter by 6 AM Tuesday, March 26, 2013.

Cutoff Times:

Total time allowed for completion of the race is 48 hours (by 8:00 AM Tuesday, March 26, 2013)
All racers must adhere to the cutoff times for departure from each checkpoint. This is a race, not a tour.
Any racer that is unable to depart a checkpoint by the cutoff time listed in the table below will be evacuated back to the race start by snowmachine as permitted by race personnel.
A fee of $200 will be charged to the racer in the event of an evacuation.
Any racer who is unable to complete the race will be disqualified. If a racer is able and willing to return to the start under his or her own power, or with the assistance of an external source, he or she may do so. BUT all racers MUST inform a race official if they intend to scratch and return to the race start.
ALL racers are ultimately the responsibilty of the race staff and MUST be accounted for at all times. In order to accomplish this, a disqualified racer may require an evacuation or snowmachine escort back to the road system.

Checkpoint	Milepost	Dist. to Finish	Dist. to next Checkpoint	Mandatory Departure Time
Wickersham Dome (Start)	0	101	17	08:00 Sun
Haystack Jct Wall Tent	17	84	22	15:00 Sun
Cache Mountain Cabin	39	62	23	04:00 Mon
Windy Gap Cabin	62	39	20	16:00 Mon
Borealis LeFevre Cabin	82	19	9	00:00 Tue
Trail Shelter	91	10	10	None
Wickersham Dome (Finish)	101	0	0	08:00 Tues

NOTE: All distance are approximate. The total race distance is about 100 miles.

GPS Data

Checkpoint Way Points (Right click on link to save file.)

Checkpoint Descriptions

Race Start/Finish - Wickersham Dome Trailhead
Checkpoint #1: - Haystack Jct Wall Tent
Checkpoint #2: - Cache Mountain Cabin
Checkpoint #3: - Windy Gap Cabin
Checkpoint #4: - Borealis-LeFevre Cabin
Wickersham Creek Trail Shelter: NOTE: Not an official checkpoint

Race Start/Finish - Wickersham Dome Trailhead
The race starts and finishes at the Wickersham Dome Trailhead located at Milepost 28 Elliott Highway. It takes approximately 45 minutes to reach the trailhead from Fairbanks. A recreational vehicle parked at the trailhead will serve as the race headquarters. The race headquarters will be staffed 24/7 for the duration of the race. All racers must physically sign-in at the race headquarters between 6:30 and 7:45 am on Sunday March 24, 2013. Racers must also sign in when they finish the race. A wall tent will also be available for racers to warm up and rest before they drive home or to wait for their ride back to town. We strongly recommend you don't try to drive yourself home after the race without first resting for at least a few hours. This winding section of the Elliott Highway had more fatalities among truckers during construction of the pipeline than anywhere else on the route to Prudhoe Bay.

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Checkpoint #1 - Haystack Jct Wall Tent
The Haystack Jct Wall Tent will be a temporary structure located at race mile 17 and is situated near a trail junction which leads to the Haystack Mountain subdivision. This 10'X12' wall tent is located on top of a rounded ridgeline in a forest of burnt black spruce and has a broad sweeping view of the surrounding landscape. The wall tent will be located in a clearing adjacent to the trail and will be clearly visible from the race course. Racers must depart the wall tent by 3 PM Sunday or else they will be disqualified.
GPS Location: N 65^o 13.7', W 147^o 37.8'.

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Checkpoint #2 - Cache Mountain Cabin
The Cache Mountain cabin is at race mile 39 and sits in an open, sloping area above O'Brien Creek at the edge of an old burn. The cabin is 12'X16'. The trees are sparse around the cabin and there are views up the O'Brien Creek drainage and toward the higher terrain around 4,772' Cache Mountain. To the south, the valley opens up toward Beaver Creek, which is about 6 miles away. The cabin is about 100' to the left of the race trail and is clearly visible. Racers must depart the cabin by 4 AM Monday or else they will be disqualified.
GPS Location: N 65^o 25.6', W 147^o 14.6'.

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Checkpoint #3 - Windy Gap Cabin
The Windy Gap cabin is at race mile 62 and is one of the most scenic checkpoints along the race course. This 12'X16' cabin is situated on the east side of Fossil Creek in a narrow valley. The views of the surrounding jagged limestone ridgelines are stunning. There are frequently extensive areas of overflow and water on Fossil Creek just in front of the cabin. Also, a small creek adjacent to the cabin often overflows across the access trail and it can be very icy. Often, ice and water from this creek surround the foundation of the cabin. Be cautious when approaching the Windy Gap cabin; you will be a bit loopy with fatigue at this point. Racers must depart the cabin by 4 PM Monday or else they will be disqualified.
GPS Location: N 65^o 34.7',W 147^o 25.5'.

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Checkpoint #4 - Borealis-LeFevre Cabin
The Borealis LeFevre Cabin is at race mile 82 and is perched on a bluff overlooking Beaver Creek. This 12'X16' cabin is a few hundred feet up a spur trail to the left of the race trail. The cabin may not be completely obvious in the dark, but its sign is hard to miss. It's a steep 50-yard climb from the main trail to the cabin. If you cross Beaver Creek, you will have just passed the cabin. Racers must depart the cabin by Midnight Monday night or be disqualified.
GPS Location: N 65^o 23.2', W 147^o 44.2'.

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Wickersham Creek Trail Shelter: Note - not an official checkpoint
This is a very cozy 8'X10' log shelter at race mile 91 located at the edge of a small clearing to the right of the race trail. There will be a heated wall tent adjacent to the trail shelter where racers can rest and stay warm. The trail shelter is not a checkpoint and racers are not required to stop or check in/out. The race staff will vacate the trail shelter by 6 AM Tuesday.
GPS Location: N 65^o 16.7', W 147^o 50.8'.

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