Course Details and Schedule

January 28-Feb 1, 2023

What you can expect from our pre-race workshop:

Learn from the hard-won knowledge of race veterans who have spent thousands of hours in the Yukon wilderness and on the Yukon Quest trail.
Receive detailed trail notes, gear recommendations, GPX tracks & more.
We will help you with your race strategy, whether you are trying to accomplish a time goal or simply want to finish.
Access to a private Facebook group as soon as you sign up. Here we discuss various race topics and questions as they arise.
Visit Muktuk Kennels for lunch and see the sled dogs! Then travel the race trail from Muktuk Kennels to the Overland Trail, so you can better plan your strategy for race day(s).
Practice all the essential skills you will need for the race. These include lighting stoves, making a fire, setting up your bivy & resting in your bivy, and making a trail meal. This will be done during the day and night to get comfortable in the dark.
Gear check and advice prior to the race. There will be homework/tasks to do at home before arriving.
1:1 hour session with one of the facilitators prior to arriving in Whitehorse.
Two pre-workshop meetings online in Zoom format. These will be 2.5 hrs long and will allow us to maximize our time in person by covering topics ahead of arrival.

Our goal is for you to have an enjoyable experience regardless of what happens on race day! We are all passionate about the trail, the race and the entire MYAU family.

2023 Costs:

Full Workshop (Online+four days): $1150 CDN

Facebook+Zoom: $200 CDN

1:1 meeting for anyone: $40 CDN/hr

Day Trip Only: $200 CDN

Inquire/Apply

Jan 28-Feb 1, 2023 Workshop in Whitehorse
Jan 30, 2023 Day Trip in Whitehorse

Online Schedule

October 2022-January 2023

The exact dates and time TBD. Zoom meetings will be 2.5 hours.
One-on-one meetings during this time frame.

Meeting #1

Introduction of participants and facilitators.
Review items from registration forms & discuss goals, fears, strengths & weaknesses.
Expectations of participants, limitations of the workshop, personal responsibility.
Review the waiver and forms that will be signed.
Training and prep work from now until the race (3 months to prepare!)
Race rules & mandatory gear
Homework assignment

Meeting #2

Food and water
Trail descriptions 100 Mile & 300 Mile
Pulks/gear/systems/bivy
BICO
Homework

Ongoing discussions via Facebook Group

Always post questions to the group, very likely someone else is wondering the same thing!
Packing the sled
Packing a bike
BICO course and what is relevant to us?
Cold weather injuries
Most common issues seen in the race
Spot device/In Reach communication
Travel considerations
Guest appearances either via video message/live chat interactions

Workshop Schedule

January 28-February 1, 2023

Day One - Jan 28

1000

Transport from downtown Whitehorse to hostel.

1100-1300

Settle into rooms
Review agenda for the day/weekend
Intros/biggest fears and/or main concerns for the race
Waivers/forms
Housekeeping: hostel rules, hot springs use/location, coffee shop location & hours

1300-1400

Lunch (veg options)

1400-1700

Rental gear handout
Kit check (all mandatory gear must be present)
Stove, bivy, sled packing practice – Instructors will demo their systems completely from packing the sled & bike to stopping to boil water and setting up the bivy.
We will go for a short walk from the hostel to test sleds and rental gear.

1700-1800

Address any gear issues/free time.

1800

Dinner – vegetarian/vegan option depending on participants needs
During dinner we will review plan for the next day, chat casually about anything.
Free time to go to the hot springs or practice on your own with gear
Catch up for anyone arriving late

Day Two - Jan 29

0700-0900

Breakfast

0900-1200

Medical & first aid chat – Fabian & Gillian – from a wilderness survival standpoint and how to deal with issues during the race/common problems (trenchfoot, blisters, frostbite, chaffing, dehydration, etc).
SPOT device/In reach/sat phone – what happens when a racer needs to quit between checkpoints – time frame, expectations, personal safety, etc.
Overflow – how to deal with overflow and likelihood of it being an issue (forecast/current conditions?). Complete breakdown of what to do in the event of falling into water.
Packing tips, food prep, hydration systems.
Trail etiquette.

1200-1300

Lunch

1300-1400

Pack full kit for a sled pull.
We will be gone until dinnertime so bring water/snacks.

1400-1800

Sled pull from overland trail into the hills (~20 min drive to trailhead).
Practice a full clothing change – overflow simulation exercise.

1830

Dinner
Free time after dinner for casual conversation/hot springs.

Day Three - Jan 30, 2023

0800-1000

Breakfast

1000-1100

Pack your sleds and be 100% ready to go by 10am (full day out with lunch provided at Muktuk but bring your own trail meal for dinner).
You will need fuel, stove, matches, firestarter, water, spare layers, full sleeping system.
This is a mock race day without the pressure of being timed or on a schedule, but the idea is to ‘do you’ and figure out a pace that works for the temp and manage your own breaks and layers.
Pack everything you are planning to bring on the race with the exception of food for three days (aka for food just bring what you need for snacks for the day + your trail dinner).

1100

Pick-up/transport to Muktuk Adventures (approx. half hour drive).
Depending on the road condition we will be dropped off up high and walk the driveway (about 4km) or be driven all the way down.
When we arrive:
- Respect their space and dog yard.
- Ask before approaching dogs, and be mindful of them jumping/ripping your clothing.
- Watch your gear/sled, the dogs WILL pee on it & eat anything that they can find.
- Keep your sleds organized and out of the way.
- Find out where the outhouse is.
- Respect house rules, take off shoes/wet gear before going inside.

1200

Lunch provided by Muktuk at their lodge.

1300

Leave for Old Dawson Trail.
The stretch is about 20 km – it can take 3-5 hours depending on pace; it is all frozen river travel.
The group can spread out so be prepared to be alone. An instructor will be at the very back and the very front, and one somewhere in the middle. We will have a snowmobile for support, and a well-marked trail leading to where we will finish.
The finish location is off the river and in the forest near the overland trail parking lot.

1700

Approximate arrival at Overland Dawson Trail parking area.
On arrival find a spot to set up your bivvy site.

1900 (time is approximate – depends on the day and how the bivvy goes)

We will transport folks back to the hostel once we wrap up.
Please be patient and prepared to hang out in your bivy for a couple hours.
It will be dark when you pack up.
When we get back to the hostel it will be free time to unpack/soak.
Will have nachos or some kind of finger food snack.

Day Four - Jan 31