Day 21: The Mighty Yukon
It felt like a collective sigh of relief as each of our athletes arrived in Ruby, the final arrival being Mayella in the early morning hours. With two options to stay in Ruby, the Wild Iris B&B and the school, both having internet, many took the opportunity to update their socials. The consensus of the Alaskan Interior was the same across the board: extreme cold. There was some good trail, then blown-out, trashed trail, beautiful sunsets, and northern lights. And cold: -30 and -50 deg F reported, with very little significant warming during the day.
In temperatures like this, especially on a multi-day endeavor with little to no ability to dry out layers and sleep systems, the margin for error is razor-thin. It is a true testament to each individual that they all arrived at Ruby unscathed. This is a reflection of years of work, followed by incredible discipline on the trail. If this was not impressive enough, they have all now left Ruby and are enjoying some flat and faster miles on the Mighty Yukon! It must have been quite a feeling riding a sled or bike down the long, downhill road out of Ruby that kicks out onto the river, each person knowing they will be on this stretch for the next 135 miles.
The bikers' speeds seem to indicate a quick trail, and it has to feel good to ride rather than push their bikes for miles and miles. For the first time since McGrath, the bikers have now taken the lead from Gavan, our lone foot division. This can be an opportunity for all to get in some ‘’active recovery” while making up time. They will now have access to some of the villages that dot the river, first and foremost, Galena! Soon, they will be enjoying the hospitality of Larry, the owner of the B&B in town. Larry has a way to heal the weary traveler, often times driving out to greet racers as they come in, showering them with good food (in abundance) and offering gentle but enthusiastic encouragement. They will also have access to their food boxes, which were mailed out weeks in advance. I imagine the “raiding of boxes” from those who have dropped will be fairly epic.
Everything seems to be epic on the Yukon River, which flows 2,300 miles and discharges into the Bering Sea in Alaska. They will travel a seemingly small portion of this mighty river, where cliffs showcase their stark beauty, a bend can take hours to walk or bike around, and the cold wind cuts through layers, with no trees to slow it.
It’s impossible to avoid being a part of the history of this region, as they pass through. They will hit three villages as they wind down the river, and the (approximate) region between Ruby and the final village on the Yukon, Kaltag, is primarily inhabited by Athabascan speakers in the upper, forested sections near Ruby, and Yup'ik speakers in the lower reaches toward the Bering Sea. The Holikachuk people historically lived in this transition zone, trading with both the Gwich'in and the Yup'ik.
Historically and still today, the mighty Yukon River supports communities along its shores with salmon fishing, trapping, and hunting. It has seen travelers, trade, and the gold rush. It is a vibrant conduit that spans hundreds of miles and thousands of years.
Ryan, Troy, Gavan, Kendall, Mayella, and Erick will hopefully only be on it for a few short days. They’ll have just a little bit of a headwind, and the temperature should be just cold enough to keep the trail firm. It’s hard to express how impressive their journey has been so far; one can only hope they are feeling good enough to celebrate the Mighty Wins.
Written by Kari Anne Gibbons
Thanks to Wild Winter Women - Allison Carolan, Amanda Harvey, Faye Norby, Jan Redmond Walker, Jessica Roschlan, Laura Wiesmann Hrubes, Lynn K Hall, Madeline Harms, Rashelle Hintz, Rebecca McVay-Brodersen, and Sarah Bergstrom and Leah Gruhn
Photo credit: Kendall Park