Editorial note: We received this from Klim USA and thought our reader's might find it interesting.
Imagine
You have been clinging to your sled at break-neck speeds for the last week and almost 1900 miles have become lost in your snow dust since you left Big Lake Alaska. The joints in your hands have swollen, stiffening your fingers around the bars, you're fighting off snow blindness and exhaustion. You have already braved -57 degree temperatures near Galena and blinding snow storms through Tanana, now only 40 miles of a smooth, frozen river separate you and the victor's reception in Fairbanks. Just then you notice another sled approaching from your flank. It is another competitor eyeing your lead.
Braaap, you throttle up as you approach near triple digit speeds, your opponent in turn matches your speed. As you return your attention to the trail you notice an ice swell in the river, now far too close to avoid. In unison you both tumble through the air. All you can do is hope your 500 pound machine chooses to land somewhere-anywhere but on top of you.
You're still in one piece, but is your sled? You look down the stream bed to find your sled some 30 yards away, lying on its side. You immediately begin calculating in your mind the necessary force to bend the handle bars back up enough to steer and continue on. The other sled sits very near in a similar condition.
Now it is a foot race, whoever can get their sled on its skis first will likely collect the purse in Fairbanks.
Actually, no imagination is required...this is the 2009 Iron Dog, and such was the final minutes of this - the world's most challenging snow machine race.
Results
Congratulations to Todd Minnick and Nick Olstad (team 16) for pulling off the victory this year! Both Todd and Nick are veterans to the race, despite being one of the youngest teams in the pack.
The recreational class victory went to Klim sponsored riders Fred and Louis Smith, from Anchorage and Noorvik Alaska, respectively.
Countless victories over one's own limitations were doubtlessly celebrated by every rider. Many riders have reported to me that the psychological training that goes into the Iron Dog is nearly as important as the physical. As one racer told me, "It can be a lonely place out there; sometimes you can let yourself talk you out of it all together, even when things are going well. Often you rely on your team-mate to keep you sane."
Thirty Five teams began the race and by the end half of them had succumbed to injury, mechanical failure, or the elements. There were no more than 40 minutes difference between the top three teams and all of them shaved three to four hours off of last year's finish, making 2009 one of the closest Iron Dog finishes as well as one of the fastest in history.
All four major manufacturers were represented (the win went to Polaris) though there was a slight majority among those choosing to race with Arctic Cat.
Conditions/Strategy
The weather has always played a major role in choosing winners and losers in any Iron Dog, but this year's race seemed to be dominated by old man winter from the start. Many riders reported temperatures nearing -60 degrees Fahrenheit and wind-chill far into the triple digits. A blinding snow storm with tumultuous winds disoriented and slowed riders as they broke trail most of the way through the second leg.
There seemed to be two major technical competing strategies at play.
1- Pin it and go like hell!
2- Wait for the "pin it and go like hell" guys to kill themselves, then take the lead.
Historically the more conservative approach favored by the older riders has fared better. "It takes a whole lot of going fast to make up for one good wreck" as it was explained to me by a veteran racer. However, this year the more aggressive approach certainly seemed to work.
Just to give you an idea of the speeds these guys run at, the trip computer on Shane Barbers 7th place sled recorded a top speed of 107mph with an average cruising speed of 97 mph and an over-all speed of 47mph.
"Silly things"
"I decided to let my partner break the trail for a while..." said Micah Huss, Klim sponsored racer, "...but I was too close to the back of his sled and the snow dust obscured an approaching bridge. I barely missed it (at 70 mph) and plunged - completely submerged - into a stream. After some time of trying to pull the sled back up a 10 foot bank, another racer came by to help".
That racer was Stewart Pitka. "I came across Micah submerged in a creek at -55 degrees", he said. "Obviously he was experiencing hypothermia because he was saying silly things like "get into the water and help me get my sled out"".
I have always been impressed with the character of the racers in the Iron Dog. No matter how competitive they may be, they are willing to help another racer in need. It is probable that such "boy scoutiness" is driven by the recognition that you are always one mistake away from being the one in need. Stewart did help out, but went on to have much trouble of his own, breaking two spindles, one just outside of Nome and one further into the race.
The "Alder Option"
It has been reported that one team was seen limping into a check point with a wooden shock. No, don't rush out and ask your local dealer for the new wooden shock. It was a trail repair, not a new performance part.
Having blown a shock beyond any chance of repair, the team mechanic (Kenny "MacGyver" Johnson) whittled a wooden "dummy" shock out of an Alder tree in order to continue the race. Kenny will be racing in 2010, and thus leaving the whittling to someone else.
The Determination Factor
Two teams wrecked within two miles of the starting line. The "unsinkable" Mark Brown was one of them. It was a devastating "rag doll" crash at speed that tore both Mark's boots and helmet off. Even after breaking his hip in two places and bruising a kidney he initially refused help "for fear that he'd be disqualified from the race." The biggest shame was that the scissor-happy medics cut through his Klim bibs. Fortunately, his Valdez Parka survived.
All kidding aside, we are grateful that the iron Dog rules require the use of body protection like the Tek-Vest Mark was wearing. That vest has been credited with saving his life.
Other injuries during the race included a broken back, a shattered collar bone and a frostbitten eye!
I checked on Mark this week and he is recovering at home with high spirits. He plans on skipping the next Iron Dog, but plans to race in 2011. Now that's determination more stout than an Alder shock!
Rock Grease
Severe cold does weird things, especially to such complex machines as a snowmobile. Once the racers had reached the Alaskan interior on the second and third day of the event, the weirdness began.
The Iceland team and many others began noticing that it was becoming harder and harder to steer. "Eventually I could grab the toes of my skis and drag the whole machine from side to side without the bars moving at all!" noted Wil Smith.
An inspection at the next check points revealed that the grease in the steering components had become rock hard. Some mechanics chipped out the grease and replaced it with a better, lower temperature rated formula while others removed it completely.
As it turned out removing it completely solved the problem while the "better" grease continued to freeze.
Another cold related problem plagued riders like Wally Smith, "Our shocks failed completely on my machine by losing all pressure, it looked like a "low rider" with the skid plate only two inches off the ground. All the other machines were in the process of losing pressure also."
While the "float" style shocks were weakening all the others wear stiffening. So take your choice; it appears no shock succeeds after about -50 F.
Shane Barber made mention of another cold induced problem on his sled. "I stopped to refill the oil reservoir. As I lifted the hood strap, instead of pulling up the whole hood, it just broke off a section of the hood. When I went to the other side, it did the same thing, the cold had made everything very fragile."
We were honored to see that the vast majority of the rugged Iron Dog racers chose to run with Klim technical riding gear.
I can't finish without sharing some of the comments the Iron Dog racers gave us after the race no matter how painfully sugary and self-aggrandizing they might be.
It's the longest, most challenging and most difficult winter race in the world. But do you really know what it involves? We thought we did until we interviewed some of the ‘old dogs' of the Iron Dog.
Q: What is the most frequently asked question?
A: It is without a doubt, "who grooms the trail?". This shows a common lack of understanding. Only the entrance to the race is groomed. Sometimes there is no trail. Sometimes the course has been changed to avoid open water on some of the warmer races.
Q: How many people have died during the Iron Dog?
A: Although the extreme conditions, terrain, and speed, by nature can be life threatening, no death has been directly contributed to the race to date. However injuries such as sprained or broken ribs, ankles and wrists, as well as frostbite and dehydration, are common. The cold makes them all the more painful.
Q: What are the most common "break downs"?
A: By far the most common are Suspension problems. The extreme cold makes everything brittle. Combine such excessive abuse with additional gear weight over an extended period and parts begin to fail. Next to that may be good old-fashioned running out of fuel. Most riders carry an additional 3 to 6 gallons beyond the OEM fuel load.
Q: How long is the distance between checkpoints?
A: Usually check points are less than 100 miles apart, though the longest is a 120-mile spread.
Q: What services are available at the checkpoints?
A: Fuel, everything else varies. Some checkpoints have been no more than a tent.
Q: What type of racing fuel is used?
A: Racing fuel is not used. It is automotive fuel that is flown in and air dropped at several locations. Often, the fuel sits for months before being used. It frequently is water contaminated and at a minimum has lost most of its octane. Sometimes it is even ‘summer' fuel, fuel that was originally formulated for use during the summer, and can cause havoc in the winter due to lower vapor points. The fuel is provided to the racers by Iron Dog but at a great expense, often times around $6.00 a gallon.
Q: What are the common mistakes that new racers make?
A: Novice racers most often over pack and under drink. No we are not talking about alcohol. Dehydration is the most common ailment. The body loses a tremendous amount of water when your active, no matter the temperature, and the Iron Dog racers are more active than you can imagine.
Q: What are the funny boots most Iron Dog racers wear?
A: They are called ‘Bunny Boots' due to the fact that they are big and white, similar to the hind legs of a snowshoe rabbit. Think of two pairs of rubber boots, sealed one inside of the other. Between the two layers is insulation. They can be easily recognized by the valve (similar to Schrader valve) used to equalize pressure.
They are not comfortable, compact, stylish, supportive, or even durable. The only thing they have going for them is that the insulation is sealed and cannot get wet, even from water pouring down the inside of the boot. Dry insulation means warm feet. So it is really more of a safety factor. It also keeps the racer from packing multiple sets of boots or liners. However, they don't breathe so your foot itself will always be wet. The boots often get stuck in the snowmobile foot wells because they are so bulky. They don't stand up to long-term use either. Racers have been known to coat their boots in petroleum jelly to prevent them from binding in the foot wells!
Q: What do racers pack?
A: Racers are required to pack a Tent or a Bivy sack, 5lbs of tools and a First Aid kit. You must also have studded tracks and an extreme cold rated sleeping bag. It has become popular for racers to vacuum package their sleeping bags into bricks to save space.
Q: How do racers keep drinking water from freezing?
A: Water is carried on the racers back underneath the insulating layer. Many racers use an electrolyte drink. Besides warding off dehydration, the freezing point is slightly below that of water. Some riders have their sleds outfitted with a small water tank that relies on the heat from the sled exhaust to keep it in liquid form.
Q: What is the coldest temperature racers face?
A: Some racers have recorded temps as low as -57 degrees Fahrenheit. Although most racers claim it can get much colder in the river basins and valleys. The wind-chill at the speeds the racers travel is often in the subzero triple-digit range, and can quite literally be off the charts. Snowmobile seats can even become brittle at these temperatures.
Q: How does a racer dress to prepare against such extreme temperatures?
A: Klim has to toot our own horn here. A good percentage of racers rely on Klim's technical riding gear. It is this kind of extreme use that our layering system (base layers, mid layers and Gore-Tex outer layers) was built for. The human body really produces a tremendous amount of heat, especially during high activity levels. Iron Dog riders worry about getting too hot as much as getting too cold. Having pit zips and back vents, and being able to remove layers, makes the Klim Layering system superior to any insulated parka and bib. Riders also wear Tec-Vests, as well as kidney belts and other protective gear. As mentioned before, some sort of a hydration system is worn as well. It seems each racer has their own little tweak or technique in the way they layer or prepare that will potentially make the winning difference. Klim gear is a big part of this.
Q: What are the more challenging parts of the trail?
A: Again this is an area where most people have misconceptions. Racers encounter very diverse geographies and topographies. There are large open plains with little or no snow. A racer must be careful to not overheat the snowmobile and melt the hifax, regardless of the temperature. There is a 5-mile stretch known as the "Tunnel" where the trees are so close that a racer might only be able to see 10 feet ahead at any given time. The trick is to keep both skis on the same side of every tree. It sounds simple enough, but countless A-arms have been broken here. Some riders narrow their sleds just to more easily make it through this 5-mile section of the 2000-mile course. In other places there are ice slides that must be climbed. Without studded tracks it would be impossible. With studs it is still challenging. There are plenty of places were some good side-hilling skills are required. Try side-hilling an ice sheet. It often must be done.
Q: What are some of the unknown facts about the Iron Dog?
A: At night, you cannot get out of your bivy sack to use the restroom. You will risk lowering your core body temperature to a dangerous point. Holding your bladder can actually make you colder. What is the answer? A military invented chemical that makes urine gel. That is probably all you want to know there.
Q: How much of a factor is inclement weather?
A: Huge! Racers have reported that storms hit you like a wall without warning, giving you no chance to find shelter, and completely removing any visibility. It has been reported that 8 men have failed to be able to set up one two man tent in such storms, this why bivy sacks are so often used. Sleds can be so packed with snow and ice by strong winds during the night that it will fill every cavity under the hood. When the hood is opened in the morning the snow will have taken on the shape of the underside of the hood. The ice has to be chipped out of the engine compartment to be able to steer or even to get air to the engine. One racer reported it taking 27 pulls to start a fuel injected Arctic Cat. No disrespect to AC. This is just par for the course under these conditions.
Q: Is that tape on your face?
A: Yes, It is strategically placed Duct tape or surgical tape. It is there to protect the skin from any gap between the goggle and the Helmet. Frostbite will damage any unprotected skin almost instantly.
Q: I have noticed four-strokes in the race; will they be a continuing trend?
A: Four-strokes have yet to be very competitive (I believe they have never finished over 7th place) due to their greater weight and resulting suspension issues. Still, some teams are committed to using them and may soon see real success. Riders of these machines base the decision to go to four-strokes on reliability and on more consistent fuel economy. However two-strokes currently dominate the Iron Dog.
Q: Is there intense rivalry between racers?
A: While it is a very competitive race, and some elements and strategies are very guarded and secretive, Iron Dog racers realize they are competing against the elements as much as they are competing against each other. The veteran racers are actually very supportive and open to new teams. Perhaps more so than any other race.