Course Details and Schedule
Date Jan 28-Feb 1, 2024
What you can expect from our pre-race workshop:
Learn from the hard-won knowledge of race veterans who have spent thousands of accumulated 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).
Participate in a full overnight bivy experience on the MYAU trail.
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.
Three 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 during the race! We are all passionate about the trail, the race and the entire MYAU family.
2024 Costs:
Full Workshop (Online+four days): $1300 CDN + money transfer fees
Facebook+Zoom: $200 CDN
1:1 meeting: $40 CDN/hr
Day Trip Only: $200 CDN
2024 Workshop Jan 28-Feb 1
Day Trip on January 30

Online Schedule
October 2023-January 2024
The exact dates and time TBD. Zoom meetings will be 2.5 hours.
time TBD (late Oct/early Nov)
Meeting #1
Intro: Jessie, Gillian, Fabian, Marianne – followed by all participants.
Topics agenda:
Training
Personal responsibility
Gear – mandatory gear overview
Race rules
Footwear
Travel: flights/airlines, hotels, insurance for travel & race
Questions
Homework
time TBD (Dec)
Meeting #2
Bivy systems
Stove/fuel
Clothing layers
Headlamps, batteries, electronics, battery packs, etc
Food and hydration planning
Overflow
Mental strength
Questions
Homework
Mid January
Meeting #3
Medical issues, cold injuries, personal first aid, emergencies, etc.
The Yukon – remoteness, environment, climate, etc.
Spot, In Reach, sat phones
Travel plans
Workshop plan – overview/questions
Workshop Schedule
Dates Jan 28-Feb 1, 2024
Day One - January 28, 2024
1000
Transport from downtown Whitehorse to accommodation (Takhini Hot Springs Resort Suites)
1100-1300
Introductions
Review agenda for the day/weekend
Waivers
Housekeeping: hostel rules, hot springs use/location, coffee shop location & hours, room assignments, internet, etc
1300-1400
Lunch
1400-1700
Rental gear handout
Kit check (all mandatory gear must be present)
Stove lighting, bivy set up, & sled/bike packing demo – at least one instructor will go through their set up systematically, and then participants will find a spot to set up their own.
We will go for a short walk (~1.5 hrs) from the hostel to test sleds and rental gear.
1800
Dinner
During dinner we will review the plan for the next day.
Day Two - January 29, 2024
0700-0900
Breakfast
0900-1200
Powerpoint presentation:
Trail description for 100 & 300 mile routes
Etiquette on the trail
Weather forecast for today and tomorrow
Navigation – lesson on map reading which will be a hands-on lesson in the afternoon
1200-1300
Lunch
1300-1400
Pack full kit for a sled pull
We will be gone until dinnertime so bring water/snacks
1400-1700
Sled pull from overland trail into the hills (~20 min drive to trailhead)
Fire starting demo by instructors
Fire starting practice for all participants
Stove lighting
Navigation exercise
1830
Dinner
Free time after dinner
Day Three - January 30, 2024 - Day Trip & Overnight
0800-0900
Breakfast
0900-1200
Powerpoint
Overflow
Extreme cold – revisit medical issues and emergency scenarios
Animal encounters
Stove maintenance lesson - Fabian
1200-1400
Light snacks provided
Pack your sleds and be 100% ready to go by 2pm (full afternoon and night out, with late lunch provided at Muktuk; ***bring your own trail meal for dinner***)
You will need fuel, your stove, matches, firestarter, water, spare layers, full sleeping system – we are spending the night and will not be back at the hostel until about 7-8am.
This is a mock race day/night 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. There is no expectation to keep up with the group and there are no ‘winners’.
Pack everything you are planning to bring to the race (for food just bring what you need for snacks + your trail dinner).
1400
Pick-up/transport to Muktuk Adventures (approx. half hour drive)
Anyone who is joining us just for the day trip will be picked up at the Sternwheeler Hotel (downtown Whitehorse) and taken out to Muktuk.
1500
Lunch provided by Muktuk at their lodge
1600
Leave for Old Dawson Trail
The stretch is about 18-20 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. An instructor will be at the bivy area and show everyone where to go to set up camp.
The finish location is off the river and in the forest near the overland trail parking lot
2000/2100
Approximate arrival at Overland Dawson Trail parking area – it will be dark!
On arrival find a spot to set up your bivvy (remember what you learned about choosing a spot – make sure it is a good spot to sleep)
Have your trail meal, light a fire, and get into your bivy
Be prepared to spend the night and not be able to sleep – bring a book!
Day Four - January 31, 2024
0700-0900
Transport back to hostel – unpack, warm up, dry out
Breakfast
0900-1200
Debrief trail outing and address any gear concerns/malfunctions/etc
Review trail descriptions for 100 & 300 where applicable
Chat about fatigue & decision making & mental strength
Problem solving exercise on mistakes & solutions
1200-1300
Lunch
1300-1700
Discuss pre-race schedule
Where to shop in Whitehorse for food/gear etc
Look at the forecast
Feedback forms to participants
Slide show/race video
Revisit any area of concern and/or cover anything we haven’t touched on
1700-1800
Free time
1800
Dinner
Group hot springs soak
Please be ready to move out in the morning by 11am
***If anyone wishes to be in town tonight instead of the next morning, we can accommodate this***
Final Morning - February 1, 2024
0900-departure
Breakfast
Clean up
1100-1200
Transport to town
Hotels may allow early check-in or hold onto gear until you can – sleds can stay in the U-Haul until check in
There are nice places to have lunch in town and walk around/shop