FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
How
do I get to the Yukon?
How do I pay in Canadian
funds if I'm not in Canada?
Where can I rent a canoe
or kayak?
How
do I measure my canoe or kayak?
Where can I get a river
map?
How fast is the Yukon
River? Are there any rapids I should
worry about?
What about Lake Laberge,
why do we need a spray skirt?
What should I wear? How
do I keep from getting hypothermic?
What about mosquitoes
and other possible Yukon wildlife encounters
How dark does it get
overnight? Do I need a light?
What’s available
at the Carmacks checkpoint? What is
the cost? What
about support? Are there hotels nearby?
I don't have a support
crew. What are my options for getting
my gear to Carmacks, on to Dawson, and
then getting back to Whitehorse?
Can we have feeder boats
or crews at Little Salmon or Minto?
Why did you add the
Kirkman Creek checkpoint? What will
be there for us?
Where can I camp or
get a room in Dawson City?
Proof
of Visitor to Canada Health Insurance
- What is this and how do I obtain it
for the event?
Q:
How do I get to the Yukon?
A: The Yukon River Quest has worked
with Air
North on a low convention fare for
flying north to our event. All racers
will be e-mailed the code and reservation
information upon registration. Air
North flies daily from Vancouver,
British Columbia, and several days a
week from either Edmonton or Calgary,
Alberta. Contact the airline about international
connections.
There
is also daily jet service to Whitehorse
from Vancouver provided by Air
Canada, and during the summer directly
from Frankfurt, Germany on Thomas
Cook/Condor Airlines. Whitehorse
is located about 1,000 miles up the
Alaska Highway from lower U.S. and Canada
to Alaska, that's about 2,000 miles
from Vancouver. It is 110 miles from
Skagway, Alaska, the end of the Alaska
Marine Highway, via the South Klondike
Highway. For Whitehorse and Dawson information
and brochures, see www.yukoninfo.com.
Q:
How do I pay in Canadian funds if I'm
not in Canada?
A: Go to your bank and have them make
out a bank draft in Canadian funds (see
amounts on application and rules pages)
to be mailed in with your registration
form. We also take Visa and Mastercard
credit cards only, and there is a space
on the registration form for your Visa
or Mastercard number.
Q:
NEW: How do I measure my canoe or kayak?
A: View
this page!
Q:
Where can I rent a canoe or kayak?
A: The Yukon River Marathon Paddlers
Association will be renting 10 Clipper
Jensen design canoes and one voyageur
canoe for the Yukon River Quest. See
our rental
page for more information. Whitehorse
outfitters Up
North Adventures and Kanoe
People should be contacted directly
for information on renting solo and
tandem kayaks for the race, as well
as other recreational canoes and voyageur
canoes.
Q:
Where can I get a river map?
A: The map that most racers and safety
boats use is "The
Yukon River: Marsh Lake to Dawson City"
by Michael Rourke. Available at www.yukonbooks.com
. Way
points for GPS systems are listed
elsewhere on the site
Q:
How fast is the Yukon River? Are there
any rapids I should worry about?
A: The Yukon is Class 1 most of the
way. Current varies from 3-4 mph near
Whitehorse and in the 30-mile section
to 6-7 mph after major tributaries like
the Teslin, Big Salmon, Pelly and White
rivers join up. There are two rapids
about 4 hours downriver from Carmacks
that require your spray skirts to stay
on when you leave that checkpoint. The
first, Five
Finger Rapids, is normally Class
2, and can approach Class 3 when the
river is high; at low flows it can be
no more than a big riffle. It must be
run by all racers in the FAR RIGHT CHANNEL,
and takes just a few seconds. DO NOT
TAKE THE MIDDLE OR LEFT CHANNELS - VERY
DANGEROUS. After running the right rapid,
be cautious, as the squirreliest water
is usually where water from the three
fingers meets beyond the rapid. A safety
boat crew is stationed on the island
about 1 km past the rapids and their
fire can be seen by racers going through
at night. The second set of rapids,
Rink Rapids, is about a half hour downriver
and can be easily avoided by staying
river right.
Q:
What about Lake Laberge, why do we need
a spray skirt?
A: Lake Laberge is the most dangerous
part of the journey, because strong
wind and large waves can whip up in
a matter of minutes. We require racers
to have spray skirts securely attached
until the end of this huge lake. You
must stay on the right side, near the
eastern shore. Because if you do dump,
it's a cold swim! The first mandatory
Lake Laberge verbal checkpoint is located
about five miles down the lake in a
position that pulls everyone over to
the right side after you enter the lake.
You must pass within a buoy marker and
call out your team number. A second
buoy marker and monitor point is located
at Cathers about 8 miles further down
the lake. In addition, we have our largest
concentration of safety boats on this
portion of the race. This keeps you
within a safe distance from shore (no
more than 200 meters) and positioned
properly to hit the outlet on the right
of the lake at Lower Laberge. It is
rare that the lake will be dead calm
for the entire 30 miles of its length.
Winds can come from either direction,
but usually from the south, creating
steady rollers that hit you at an angle.
These can be a fun challenge to ride,
but if you get too crossways, water
will get in your boat if you don't have
a spray skirt or closed cockpit. Also
be wary of getting too close to rocky
points along the eastern shore if the
water is choppy. If the waves get too
rough, the race will be stopped by the
race marshal until conditions improve.
Q:
What should I wear? How do I keep from
getting hypothermic?
A: Even though this race is run "Under
the Midnight Sun" it gets cool
enough at night and in the early morning
hours until sunrise, or if it's rainy
and windy, for racers to catch hypothermia
if they are not prepared. We now require
two extra sets of clothing. Cotton is
not recommended because it does not
dry out. There are any number of wool,
neoprene and synthetic materials that
will wick water. Bring them, in layers!
And if you get wet and chilled, stop
and change. It is strongly recommended
that you stop after crossing the lake
at the Lower Laberge campsite and make
a quick change before hitting the river.
The 30 Mile section of the Yukon is
the most beautiful stretch of the river,
but you will be going through there
at near-darkness during the coolest
hours, and at your lowest ebb in the
wee small hours. Be warm and comfortable
so you will enjoy it. Bring warm fleece.
Bring waterproofs in case or wind and
rain. The temperature can drop to 5C,
(40F) or lower overnight. Bring a fleece
or woolly hat. And, if you are tired
and must stop to rest, use your sleeping
bag and shelter to crawl into before
you get too cold. If you do experience
hypothermia symptons in this section,
alert a safety boat crew.
Q:
What about mosquitoes, bears and other
possible Yukon wildlife encounters?
A: On the river mozzies won't bother
you. You may encounter them at the checkpoints,
and if you stop beside the river for
any purpose you may encounter swarms.
Be prepared. As part of your emergency
kit prepare for mosquitoes to bother
you. Bears are a different matter. You
are traveling in bear and moose country.
Hopefully you will see many –
and none too close. Be wary of stopping
near streams; if so, call out to give
animals proper warning that a human
presence is near. Most bears and moose
will dart back into the woods at your
site or sound. Do not paddle close to
either on shore unless you foolishly
desire an encounter. Bear spray is certainly
an option to take with you. If you feel
a need to stop and rest, or visit the
woods for other needs, carry it with
you. Familiarize yourself with the spray
product before using it, but try not
to use it unless you have to. It is
not to be used like mosquito repellent
– only at bears that want to get
close to you.
Q:
How dark does it get overnight? Do I
need a light?
A: The first night, which you will probably
spend on the 30 Mile section of the
river or between the Teslin and Big
Salmon river
confluences, is fairly dark. You will
be able to see the banks of the river
and obstructions in the water, but you
won't be able to see much colour. The
sky will not be dark, but nor will it
be daylight blue.It also could get foggy.
We require you to turn on a light between
midnight and about 4 a.m. so our safety
boats and checkpoints can better see
you. On the second or third night you
will be sufficiently far north that
it will be quite light.You will be able
to see the river clearly in colour,
and if you are lucky the sky will be
pink and blue. We still require you
to turn on a light during the early
morning hours. See required gear list
in rules.
Q:
Where can we stay in Carmacks? Is there
a cost?
A: The race checkpoint is at the Coal
Creek Campground on river right about
a half-mile upriver from the main part
of Carmacks. The campground owners have
set aside campsites for racers to sleep,
support crews, and volunteers. This
campground is secure and your boats
and gear will be safe. We have Canadian
Rangers and volunteers watching boats
and gear at all times. The racer camping
fee is included with your entry, however
there is a $5 charge per person, per
day for support crews who stay at the
campground. Showers, rest rooms, a phone
and a snack shack are on site. Your
support crew can find the Coal Creek
Campground just past the main part of
town on the N. Klondike Hwy. about a
half-mile past the bridge and just before
the Campbell Hwy. junction. Coal Mine
Campground also will have staff available
to provide support for those who do
not have their own support crews. Cost
of this support is $25 for a solo team,
$35 for a tandem team, and $50 for a
voyageur team. To sign up for this support
e-mail coalminecampgroundcarmacks@yahoo.ca.
This fee will need to be collected at
registration. The support person would
help the racers find their way around,
set up their tent, get their ordered
meals, and a wake up call, and help
clean out there boat, and help get ready
to leave. If you do not want to stay
in the campground and would prefer a
room, there is the Carmacks Hotel (867-863-5221)
in the main part of town, about 4K from
the checkpoint. There also is the Mukluk
Manor B&B, 867-863-5232. Carmacks
also has a grocery store, restaurant,
bar, and gas stations. Please respect
our volunteers, who put in long hours
keeping track of boats and racers, and
do their best to report results as they
get them from other checkpoints or safety
boats.
Q:
I don't have a support crew driving
ahead. What are my options for getting
my gear to Carmacks, on to Dawson, and
then getting back to Whitehorse?
A: Race officials will transport your
gear to the checkpoint and on to Dawson.
Just clearly mark a bag with your name,
which bag goes where, and have them
ready at the pre-race meeting. As for
getting back from Dawson, there are
a few options. A new bus service, Yukon
Alaska Tourist Tours, is providing
Dawson-Whitehorse-Dawson service on
weekends and will be returning to Whitehorse
on the Sunday of our event. To reserve
a spot on the bus, call 1-867-668-5944
or e-mail info@yatt.ca.
If you want to have all of your travel
arrangements taken care of for you,
Shelley Gellatly of Northern
Athletic Experiences can
provide that service. In addition, you
may be able to get a ride back with
a fellow racer's support crew. Post
a notice on the Forum saying you need
a ride. Finally, there are flights back
to Whitehorse via Air
North and Alcan Air.
Q:
How much food do I need? Can we have
feeder boats or crews at Little Salmon
or Minto?
A: What you eat and what you can stomach
in an event like this is up to you (for
tips see “How Not to Blow the
Race”), but you can only be fed
at Carmacks. In order to preserve the
wilderness qualities of this race, and
to be fair to all racers, the YRMPA
concluded that support will only be
allowed at the 7-hour Carmacks checkpoint.
Plan to carry enough food and water
to sustain you between Whitehorse and
Carmacks, and between Carmacks and Dawson.
If you are seen getting help at other
points along the race with road access,
you will be disqualified. No feeder
boats of any kind are allowed.
Q:
What is available at the Kirkman Creek
checkpoint?
A: This second rest stop later in the
race was added in 2004 at the request
of many racers, for their safety. It
has proved to be a welcome addition.
The 3-hour rest will occur about an
hour upriver from the confluence with
the White River, where racers can get
distracted by many channels if they
are not rested. At Kirkman Creek, there
are limited facilities, but a limited
number of wall tents are available in
which racers may roll out their sleeping
bags (now required to minus-5) and sleep.
As soon as you land, race volunteers
will advise you of your departure time
and you can let them know when to give
you a wake-up call. Place your life
jacket and bib number outside the tent
your are in so you are easy for crews
to find. Before or after your rest,
you can get something to eat from the
Kirkman Creek kitchen.
Hot
soup and sandwiches will be available
at no charge to racers, and the owners
also have a bakery on-site where you
may purchase additional items. Your
support crew will not be able to support
you at Kirkman Creek.
Sample
Menu for Kirkman Creek (subject to revision)
SOUP AND SANDWICHES (provided by YRMPA
for racers)
Includes homemade soup - Beef or chicken
Sandwiches - meat, poultry, veggie
Note: Can also provide tomato or mushroom
soup for vegetarians
ALSO AVAILABLE:
Cookies (12) $4.00
Muffins $ .75
Chocolate Bars $2.00
Pie (slice) $3.00
Cinnamon Bun $2.00
Coffee or Tea-hot $1.50
Coffee or Tea- iced $2.00
Homemade Rootbeer $2.00
Hot Chocolate $2.00
Lemonade $1.50
Orange Juice $1.50
Q:
Where can I camp or get a room in Dawson
City?
A: It is strongly advised that you make
reservations in Dawson City well in
advance. Sometimes it is hard to predict
when you will arrive, but it is advisable
that if you think you will arrive early
in the morning on Saturday, then you
should book a room for Friday and Saturday
night. That way you will have somewhere
to go right after you check in to warm
up, clean up and rest. In terms of support,
all we provide at the finish line is
an outhouse and a gear tent (for those
who sent gear with us). The Yukon government
campground is across the river via a
ferry that operates round the clock.
There also is a hostel nearby. Information
on hostels and hotels at www.yukoninfo.com/dawson/
Also, Northern
Athletic Experiences can help with
these and other
travel arrangements.
Q:
I am not from Canada and see I need
“Proof of Visitor to Canada Health
Insurance.” What is this and how
do I obtain it for the event?
A: Any racer outside Canada will be
required to show a certificate from
an insurance company at final registration
the day before the race. It is advised
that you purchase this before you leave
for the Yukon. Ask your insurance broker
or travel agent. For those who wait,
there is a provider in Whitehorse. Contact
sterlinginsurance@northwestel.net or
toll free 866-700-LIFE (5433) for details
and pricing. On average, the cost for
a healthy 50-year-old with no medical
concerns is about $6 per day. This emergency
medical coverage is also advised, but
not required, for non-Yukon residents
of Canada, to assure coverage beyond
your province.
If
you have more questions, email
us!
