Expedition Alaska
A Plan Comes Together
Pyro / 18.02.2015
A number of details are starting to come together for the inaugural Expedition Alaska Adventure Race, and it's looking to be a unique and thrilling week of racing for the teams.
For a start, here aren't a huge number of races where the event will play out in almost 24hr daylight. There also won't be many races in the AR World Series where the mandatory gear list includes bear spray and pack hanging lines; drysuits and pack rafts; ice axes and crampons. The Kenai Peninsula, known as "Alaska's Playground" has a bit of everything terrain-wise: coniferous forests, several icefields and glaciers, large amounts of wetland, and treeless alpine areas, and the teams have already been advised that snowshoes or cross-country skis could be handy, as well as the crampons. The drysuits will be mandatory for the three open-water kayaking legs, and will presumably be a great comfort on the 3 packraft sections, especially since the rivers will be running with a good amount of glacier meltwater by late June.
The format of the race follows organiser Perpetual Motion Events formula from the previous Expedition Idaho race, allowing for all teams in all ranking categories to finish within a single day slot, making for a better viewing experience for spectators and easier logistic. Teams race essentially point-to-point through the various 'segments' of the race, up until a Dark Zone on the final night. Various short-routes optional CPs and the chance to drop segments allows for teams to pick their own route or aim to clear the course. Following the Dark Zone, the teams will be released in waves, for a final blast to the finish line in Seward.
So far, teams vying for the prize include the World #1 ranked Columbia Vidaraid, making their way over from Spain and fresh off a second place in the World Championships in Ecuador, as well as #4 ranked and 4th in Ecuador team Tecnu. Team Yogaslackers, winners of Expedition Idaho and ranked #11 will also be headed for Anchorage for the race. A number of European teams are making the trip over, including Team Allex and Vauscluse Aventures from France, Adventure Explorers from Denmark and Team Nutrixxion from Sweden. South America also has its representatives, with Ultra Sport from Uruguay, Ecomotion from Brazil and Argentina's Secretos du Illum Rayovac all making the long trip north. The race is almost full, although Race Director Dave Adlard said "We could still take a couple more teams!" If you're reading this and you're keen, see the website link below and get your entry in ASAP
Two of the 'segments' of the race will pay homage to friends and family of the race organisation who have passed away over the past year. Cody Roman Dial (son of Roman Dial, the Alaskan adventure legend and co-course designer) is being honoured in the 'R2 Traverse', Segment One of the race and apparently, one of the hardest segments. Cody, known as 'R2' to his friends, went missing in the Costa Rican jungle back in July, and despite extensive searches and a crowdfunded campaign, neither he nor any of his equipment have been found. Segment Nine will also be named 'Chad's Scramble', after Chad Denning, the ultrarunner and Race Director who died of a heart attack while out running on the Appalachian Trail.
All in all, Expedition Alaska looks like it will provide a unique and beautiful experience, if the pictures being posted from the area on the race Facebook page are anything to go by. Let's just hope the bear spray isn't needed.
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