“Do you really want to do this?”

That is what it says on the official site of the Yukon 1000 Canoe and Kayak Race. And it’s a really suitable question for those who are even just remotely interested in this extraordinary race, also identified as the longest canoe and kayak race in the world so far. Think about yourself paddling 1,000 miles in the Yukon River for seven to eight continuous days. Not only is the Yukon River a actually long river, but it is also a wide one, earning it the fourth spot as North America’s largest river by flow volume typical. That’s a lot of river to paddle in.

A lot more about the Yukon 1000

The Yukon 1000 was initial organized by Peter Coates, former organizer and competitor of the Yukon River Quest, which is a 460-mile canoe and kayak race from Whitehorse down to Dawson City. The Yukon 1000 is clearly a longer and tougher race. It starts from Whitehorse and ends at the Alaska Pipeline Bridge on Dalton Highway.

The race is open to voyageur canoes, tandem canoes or kayaks, and pairs of solo kayaks and solo canoes. Solo boats are necessary to travel together and camp together at night. Racers are also required to carry a Spot device which is a GPS receiver and satellite messenger so they can check in from time to time and also send an alarm in case they need to have to be rescued. Racers are also needed to make a stop for at least six hours every single night.

Difficulties and challenges in the Yukon 1000

As mentioned, the Yukon River is a single of the greatest rivers in North America. The reality that Yukon means “excellent river” already says one thing and racing in this river is undoubtedly not easy. Peter Coates, the organizer, is very frank and honest about the difficulty of the race since he wants to make certain the participants know specifically what they are up against.

Racers of the Yukon 1000 have to be ready to face the big water by themselves or with their teams. Paddling for several hours in massive open water can have its demands on a person’s physical and mental state. Racers also have to be ready to face obstacles such as poorly mapped channels, fallen trees in the river, and stretches of whitewater. And of course the racers have to watch out for the forest wildlife, which means the black and grizzly bears that live in the country surrounding the river.

Like several races, on water or otherwise, the Yukon 1000 is genuinely about physical and mental endurance and personal triumph. The victory is in the sense of achievement when the race is completed. Coates just says that right after the race you just send in your time, congratulate oneself, get your gear and head on residence.

Here’s a link to a video about the Yukon 1000: http://youtu.be/zhZi0ccrlBE