Luke : Pre Race

Luke Cunliffe reports from the pre-race training course

As part of my preparations for the Yukon Arctic Ultra I enrolled on the training course run by Race Director Robert Polhammer and co-organiser Shelley Gellatley. This involved several hours of classroom-based training/discussion initially, covering subjects such as emergency fire-lighting, shelter building, first aid, movement over icy terrain and what to do if we break through "overflow" on lakes, rivers and creeks. Then we experimented with our equipment, cookers and sleeping systems, in daylight, before testing them again, in anger, so to speak, on a local trail at night.

MORE...

The grand finale of the daytime’s activities was a chance to witness the skills of a local mountain rescue member and her dog in finding a previously hidden dummy in a snow-covered playground. On successfully locating the dummy, the enthusiastic hound demonstrated what can only be described as admirable protective instincts. Basically she refused to release its prize into the hands of her owner. For several minutes we were impressed by her devotion to duty.

The nocturnal part of the training involved being driven out of town to a local trail area where we embarked on a four hour mini-expedition into the wilderness. This provided an opportunity to test out clothing and equipment under simulated race conditions although the temperature here was still unseasonably warm (by about 15 degrees). On finding a suitable camping area we gathered kindling and branches for our emergency fires, This proved relatively easy. Trees are not in short supply round here. In fact there are millions and millions and millions of them. And the branches can be extremely brittle, dry and easy to light. Nevertheless, it was a reassuring exercise, if only to prove that if we are out on the trail during the race and the weather turns ugly we can all survive if the organisers are unable to get to us for 24 hours or more.

To top off the night we were treated to the most stunning display of Northern Lights that any of us had ever seen. With a backdrop of a crystal clear sky, the aurora formed the most beautiful hazy light clouds and tornado-like twisters which covered the sky. At times it seemed as if someone was marching behind the horizon with a mega-billion watt torch. I began to look forward to racing in this environment.

The last two days before the race will be spent checking kit and making
final preparations. We set off at midday local time on Saturday.