Expedition Alaska 2015 Update
May 23
Only 36 days to go, ladies and gentlemen!
Here are some updates for the race logistics and a few things we need from you…
**IMPORTANT: Team and Racer Bios: Please take a moment and have EACH member of the team fill out the bio form
below, and “cut and paste” it into an email back to us ASAP, but NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, MAY 28!! This will be linked
to the tracking page for each team during the race! Only the captain needs to return the team info. Teams that don’t
have their info returned by May 28 will be penalized one CP for each day late!!! (okay, we’re joking… maybe… )
Please send to dave@permoevents.com
For the Team:
Team Name:
Country:
Team Website:
Team Facebook page:
Twitter:
Instagram:
Home town newspaper:
Contact:
Other local media contact(s):
Sponsors (if applicable):
Sponsor contact:
Captain:
Contact Email:
Phone:
Each Racer:
Team:
Name:
Age:
Email:
Phone:
Where were you born:
Hometown now:
Emergency Contact:
Phone:
Occupation:
Other hobbies:
Years racing:
Racing achievements:
Personal motto:
Strengths as a racer:
Married/Single:
Children?
If so, how many?
Thoughts about, and goals for racing ExpAk:
Thank you!!!!
Okay, here’s your race info…
>Incoming Flights and transport to the lodge: Please advise us of your incoming flights if you would like us to meet
you to pick up your gear etc! We will be collecting gear at ANC during the day on June 24th leading up to our departure
to McKinley Lodge. We request that everyone who is planning on travelling with us to the lodge on the 24th be at ANC by
no later than 2315 (11:15 pm). We will depart immediately after the last racers arrive. Please email
dave@permoevents.com with your flight times, if you have not already done so.
>So, what are you getting in to?
This is NOT your normal, “sanitized,” mostly safe, pretty cut and dried
adventure race, as we have come to know them in the US. This is a wild, uncontrolled, sometimes-brutal quest through
one of the most beautiful and harshest climates on the planet. This is much more like Patagonia or the original Eco races
than what the majority of races are these days… THIS IS FOR REALS!!! Every team will race for the full seven days, and
you will be contending with things you may have never done, and help is a LONG way away in many places, if we can get
there at all… we are not going to be there to “catch” you, so make sure you are prepared to survive on your own in
almost any circumstances… this is far more of an ADVENTURE race than an adventure RACE.
You know that part in the waiver that we all don’t read that talks about “loss of life and limb...” “You could die…” all
that? Yup. Please read it carefully for this one.
This is why some of us got in to AR to begin with, but many have forgotten… while some races are certainly endurance
tests, few are survival tests anymore… this WILL be one of those races. When you make it to the finish, no matter how
many or how few segments you have completed, you will be a champion, and you will have bragging rights for the rest
of your life because you will have survived one of the toughest challenges on earth. Twenty years from now, we will be
having reunions for the folks who have completed ExpAKs, and you will be in the inaugural class – if you are prepared,
mentally, physically and spiritually. DON’T JUST SHOW UP, folks – you need to commit to being ready…
On that note, we HIGHLY recommend that you take a back country emergency first aid course prior to arrival focusing on
tricks needed to stay alive for several hours until help arrives, including splinting, preventing shock, treating
hypothermia, building shelters and fires etc. We may offer a primer at McKinley Lodge if anyone is interested. Please let
us know if you would attend such a class. Learn to Return!
We highly recommend NOT being confident in your navigation! Try to “stay found.” There are very few “handrails” up
here – if you get lost (remember the old adage: “In AR, it’s not “If” you get lost, it’s just “when,” and “How bad!”) you
can be REALLY lost… We want you to be nervous about it, and double check your route often. Take your time and make
sure your team is on board… as Mike Kloser says, “running fast in the wrong direction is bad.”
You are going to spend a fair amount of time being cold and wet, so be ready to manage this. There are LOTS of your
regular crossings, bogs, rivers, lakes, glacier outwash plains etc…
>Gear Updates:
We are getting several questions about gear, and hope we can answer some of them for you
here. Many folks are trying to “cut corners” in order to be “light and fast…” honestly, we think the first concern should
be survival, then worry about cutting weight, but every team needs to make their own choices.
>Snowshoes: at this point, we are quite sure you WILL need them, but we are going up to actually travel the glacier
during the first week of June, and will let you know as we see first-hand the conditions.
>Crampons: Absolutely yes, and they cannot be “trail” or micro spikes. This is a real glacier, my friends… think Rainier, or
Patagonia, but bigger!! You will need “real” crampons. I highly recommend the Black Diamond “Neve” or similar – they
will strap on to any shoe. You will be spending SEVERAL hours on snow and ice during the glacier stage, so make sure
you have adequate socks and things to keep your feet warm and dry for 24 – 40 hours!
>Ice axe: Yes. For sure.
>Satellite phones:
HIGHLY recommended! We can provide rentals through a 3rd party for approximately $100 for
the entire race/team, so basically $25/racer (if you have a 4 person team) can get you peace of mind. These are very
small, durable Iridium network units – not the big “bricks” of yesteryear… remember that help may be several hours in
arriving if you have issues. Please let us know ASAP if you would like to reserve one of these units. We have a limited
number. If you have one of your own, and it is on the Iridium network, then PLEASE bring it with you! Immarsat or
Globalstar networks are NOT supported, and don’t work too well up there!
>Rope: There has been some discussion about the length of required rope for the glacier portion – there ARE definitely
crevasses in the area! We recommend a 50 – 60 meter rope, with some coiled at each end to allow for setting up a
rescue. “SR,” or “short roping” makes rope management easier on the glacier, but can leave you short of rope if needed
to perform a rescue… I think it depends on your skill level and comfort. We will be conducting a glacier rescue class while
at McKinley Lodge, and can make adjustments at that time.
>Packraft PFDs:
You WILL absolutely need PFDs during the packraft sections! We are currently discussing with
our packrafting experts whether an inflatable PFD is sufficient for this and will let you know as soon as we hear a
definitive answer. The water is going to be about 38 degrees, and up to class 3 in spots, so PLEASE make sure you are
practicing – DO NOT just show up and expect to be able to bob down the placid creek…
>Climbing gear: You will need to take your harness for some of the segments, as well as at least one ascender and a
rappel device. We will advise more specifically at the pre-race briefing.
For the glacier, you WILL need a full “glacier package,” which includes a chest harness (you can make from webbing) and
a prussik etc.
>Paddles: You will, for several segments, be taking your packrafts with you, and for some of these, you will be traipsing
your way through “quaint” Alaskan bush, over mountains etc. We highly recommend a 4 piece paddle that can hide in
your pack and won’t get caught up in the brush.
For the flatwater segments, you will see your paddle bags, so if you want to bring your wing paddles for those, great!
>Drysuits: This is going to be one of the decisions that teams have to make for themselves. We will be requiring them
for the ocean leg, but if it were me, and I had a relatively light weight drysuit, I would definitely carry it with me for the
packrafting legs as well. This is sub-arctic terrain, and as I mentioned above, the water is generally in the 38 degree
range (3.5 degrees C), and there is a fair chance you will be spending some time in it. If not, you will need another
system to keep dry enough and warm enough to function.
>Transportation and Lodging: We are asking all racers to arrive on June 24, if possible, into ANC. If you come in earlier
on the 24th, or the 23rd, we may be able to arrange local transportation for you to do any errands or last minute
shopping in Anchorage. One we leave Anchorage, we will have little or no access to stores! All other transfers required
during the race including transportation back to ANC on July 5 are included.
The Lodge at McKinley does have a small store, several restaurants etc but no real grocery store per se, so plan on being
ready once you leave ANC.
If you cannot join us for this transportation on the 24th, you will be responsible for your own way to the lodge!
On the evening of the 24th, at around midnight, we will be busing to the pre-race headquarters at the Princess McKinley
Lodge near Denali National Park.
ROOMING INFORMATION:
If you have not sent back in your rooming preferences from the last update (see below), please do so immediately!!!
Thank you!!!
All upgrades and additional rooms are on a space available basis – we are using prime real estate on perhaps the busiest
week of the year, in 2 of the most popular places in Alaska (especially Seward!)… Again, we are VERY lucky to have this
opportunity, and have been working for many months to secure the spaces we have!
Please email me directly and let us know your team’s preferences so we can assign rooms as needed, as follows by
cutting and pasting the following into an email, if you have not already done so:
Team Name:
Contact person:
Do you wish to join us at the Princess McKinley Lodge with the required upgrade?
If so, for 3 or 4 nights?
Do you wish to upgrade to Double Occupancy with an additional room?
Do you need additional rooms for family or friends joining you? If so, please provide us names and which nights.
If so, how many rooms will you need? (Payment can be made for these rooms upon arrival, but cancellations MUST be
made no later than June 1 or you will be responsible for these rooms!)
Do you wish to take advantage of the transportation to the Lodge from ANC to the Princess McKinley Lodge or will
you have your own transportation?
Please give us your intended arrival dates and times:
We have just heard that our transportation back to ANC from Seward after the race on July 5 will arrive at ANC by
8:00 pm! Please make your departure after that!!
More updates and information:
Extra Racers:
If you are looking for an additional racer, please let us know ASAP!
Payments:
Final payments are due now!! We have several racers who have not submitted payment yet!! You can
use PayPal to dave@permoevents.com PLEASE use “Sending money to friends” option rather than “paying for goods or
services option,” please! Also, if you are going to pay for the room upgrade at McKinley, please do so now!
Emergency evacuation Insurance:
Please provide us with a copy of your Evac insurance now, please.
Volunteers:
If any of your family or friends would like to be a part of the race crew for some or all of the race, please
email dave@permoevents.com available dates and contact info! We guarantee not much sleep, cool shirts, bad food
and one of the best times they will ever have!
**Important update on cameras:
Cameras:
We have just found out that EdgePro Camera will NOT be able to get our cameras to us on time. Each
team will now be back to bringing their own cameras. We will still copy and replace your memory cards at each TA.
Tentative Race Schedule:
closer!
July 24:
The following is the TENTATIVE schedule. Some changes may be required as we get
11:00 pm – 12:00 am
Depart ANC for Princess McKinley Lodge
July 25:
9:00 am
Begin Check in, media interviews and gear check. (Teams will be assigned check
in times prior to our arrival to minimize waiting for the teams)
July 26:
July 27:
12:30 pm
Mandatory dryland crevasse rescue training, pack raft practice and Kayak
deepwater rescue testing (conditions permitting). SPOT tracker training.
7:00 am
Crevasse rescue practice on glacier (conditions permitting)
5:00 pm
Continue check in, media interviews and gear check
8:00 pm
Map distribution, introduction of teams and initial briefing
8:00 am
Finish check in, media and gear check
2:00 pm
Welcome banquet, briefing, Q&A, communal map time
7:00 pm
Parade of Nations Opening ceremonies
12:00 am (Midnight) All bins, bikes etc must be packed and loaded on trucks except for Segment
1 gear!!!
June 28:
July 4:
July 5:
7:00 am
Depart Princess McKinley Lodge for the start!
10:00 am
START!!
6:00 pm
Begin Dark Zone!
9:00 pm
Celebration!
8:00 am
Racers must have all gear loaded on trucks except change of clothes and
toiletries, as well as running gear…
9:00 am
Last Challenge and Finish!
1:30 pm
Awards banquet
5:00 pm
Buses depart Seward for ANC
8:00 pm
Arrive ANC
TAs:
Teams will have access to their bins at all TAs, with the exception of TA 2/3. We will be providing each
team with one additional bin to put in dry clothes, food etc for these TAs (before and after ocean paddle). This is besides
your normal paddle bag.
Bike Rentals: If you would like a bike rental, please let us know, or you can arrange on your own. We cannot
guarantee a rental for you, but the earlier you let us know size, desired bike etc, the better chance we can help.
Bike Boxes:
Soft sided boxes will be allowed, but WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF YOUR
BIKE, AND WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE DURING TRANSPORT!!
Helmets:
We will allow biking helmets for glacier legs and for personal packrafting legs. For whitewater rafting
leg, helmets will be provided.
Hopefully this answers many of your questions! We look forward seeing you in June! If you have any additional
questions, please contact us.
We wish you good training and a successful spring season!