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Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic

The Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic (sometimes called the Alaska Wilderness Classic) is an adventure challenge that espouses purity of style and zero impact. Started in 1982 as a wilderness traverse, the Classic has crossed various mountain ranges throughout Alaska with some routes covering nearly . According to Outside magazine, many consider it "the toughest wilderness challenge in the world."

The rules are simple: start to finish with no outside support, requiring that participants carry all food and equipment; human-powered; leave no trace; and rescue is up to the individual to resolve. The most common form of transportation is by foot and packraft, although bicycles, skis, and paragliders have been used by intrepid participants. Beginning in 2004, participants have been required to carry satellite phones or Satellite emergency notification device like the Garmin inReach to facilitate emergency rescues. Traditionally, the same route has been used for three years in a row, with each year being a different month (June, July, or August).

The organization of the challenge is grass-roots, having no affiliation to any organization or group, while generally fewer than 30 people enter in any one year. The Classic is often perceived as a race, but most certainly not a race. It has had an influence on American adventure racing, backcountry use of the packraft, and ultralight hiking is significant. In addition to the summer challenge, there is an even more low-key unaffiliated winter event, the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Ski Classic, which has taken place annually since 1987 with travel through the Chugach Mountains, Alaska Range, Brooks Range, and Wrangell-St. Elias.

During the 2014 classic, experienced participant Rob Kehrer died after his boat flipped while packrafting on the Tana River in Wrangell St. Elias National Park. His body was found on a gravel bar four miles downstream.

Routes

1982–1984

Hope to Homer (Kenai Peninsula),

  • Start
  • Finish

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1985–1987

Mentasta to Denali National Park (Alaska Range),

  • Start
  • Finish

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1988–1990

Nabesna to McCarthy (Wrangell – Saint Elias Wilderness),

  • Start
  • Finish

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  • 1988 – Roman Dial
  • 1989 – David Manzer, Adrian Crane and Tom Possert
  • 1990 – Brant McGee and Jeff Gedney

1991–1993

Gates of the Arctic Wilderness (Brooks Range),

  • Start
  • Checkpoint
  • Finish

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  • 1991 – Brant McGee and Adrian Crane (course record: 2 days 6 hours 18 minutes)
  • 1992 – Brant McGee and Dave Dixon
  • 1993 – Gordy Vernon

1994–1996

Donnelly to McKinley Village (Alaska Range),

  • Start
  • Finish

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  • 1994 – Frazier Miller
  • 1995 – Clark Saunders (course record: 2 days 12 hours 20 minutes)
  • 1996 – Steve Reifenstuhl and Rocky Reifenstuhl

1997–1999

Hope to Homer (Kenai Peninsula),

  • Start
  • Finish

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  • 1997 – Gordy Vernon and Thai Verzone
  • 1998 – Gordy Vernon
  • 1999 – Gabriel Lydic, Laona DeWilde Lydic and David Arvey

2000–2002

Nabesna to McCarthy (Wrangell – Saint Elias Wilderness),

  • Start
  • Finish

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  • 2000 – Steve Reifenstuhl and Rocky Reifenstuhl
  • 2001 – Steve Reifenstuhl and Rocky Reifenstuhl
  • 2002 – Roman Dial (course record: 2 days 4 hours 24 minutes)

2003–2005

Eureka to Talkeetna (Talkeetna Mountains),

  • 2003 – Hans Neidig, Chris Robertson and Paul Hanis
  • 2004 – Gordy Vernon and Thai Verzone
  • 2005 – Robert Schnell, Jason Geck, Tyler Johnson and Rory Stark (course record: 1 day 23 hours 29 minutes)

2006–2008

Chicken to Central (Tanana-Yukon Uplands),

2009–2011

Gerstle River/Donnelly to McKinley Village (Alaska Range),

  • 2009 – Robert Schnell, Chris Robertson and Andrew Skurka (course record: 3 days 17 hours 54 minutes)
  • 2010 – Robert Schnell, Chris Robertson, Todd Kasteler and Danny Powers
  • 2011 – Tyler Johnson, Todd Kasteler, Luc Mehl and John Sykes

2012–2014

Thompson Pass to Lakina River Bridge (Chugach Mountains, Wrangell – Saint Elias Wilderness), -

  • Start
  • Finish

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  • 2012 – Luc Mehl, Josh Mumm (3d 22.5h, Bremner Route)
  • 2013 – Lee Helzer, Steve Duby, Len Jenkins (Slowest first completion: 7 days, 8 hours, 44 minutes)
  • 2014 – Gerard Ganey, Todd Tumolo (course record: 3d 10h, Ice Route)

2015

Rob Kehrer Memorial Route, Peters Hills to Nancy Lakes via Rohn (Western Alaska Range, Susitna Valley),

  • Start
  • Checkpoint
  • Finish

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  • 2015 - Josh Mumm (course record: 5 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes)

2016–2018

Galbraith Lake to Wiseman (Brooks Range),

  • Start
  • Finish

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  • 2016 - Todd Tumolo and Luc Mehl (course & challenge record: 1 day, 10 hours)
  • 2017 - Tobias Schwoerer and Harlow Robinson
  • 2018 - Tom Moran and Jay Cable

2019–2021

Cantwell to Sheep Mountain (Talkeetna Mountains),

  • Start
  • Finish

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  • 2019 - Tobias Schwoerer and Jeremy Vandermeer
  • 2020 - Sam Hooper
  • 2021 - Nick Treinen (course record: 3 days, 10 hours)

2022–2024

Little Tok River to McCarthy, Alaska (Wrangell–St. Elias),

  • Start
  • Finish

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2025–2027

Kenai Lake to Hicks Creek, to

  • Start
  • Finish

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References

External links