Winter Camping Schools and Winter Fatbiking

     Learn to enjoy the extremes of winter backcountry travel and camping. From the first time winter camper to the more experienced winter traveler ready to shed gear in favor of speed without compromising safety our camps are for cyclists, runners, and skiers looking to expand their horizons.

     For those contemplating entering one of the human-powered winter ultra races our camps are a great place to start. We often have other race veterans from Alaska Ultra Sport's Iditarod Trail race come to the camps and share their knowledge and experience giving the students a wider view of gear and techniques.

    After spending a lifetime playing and racing in the winter wilderness the last thing I want to be is cold.   So! I learned not to be! The purpose of the camp is to pass on the skills, acquired after thousands of miles of trial and error on the trail, necessary to stay comfortable and enjoy human powered winter travel.

     Having all the right gear is nice but knowing the little tricks to make it all work is priceless.

     These camps are taught by Bill and Kathi Merchant. Bill is a seven time finisher of the Alaska Ultra Sport 350 mile race on the Iditarod Trail. Kathi is a two time finisher and current women's record holder. Their passion is multi day winter cycling expeditions and races.

      The camps can also be part of a snowmachine supported bike/ski/snowshoe trip on various sections of the Iditarod Trail or ride to and on a glacier.

      Our winter training camp is for future racers or anyone who would like to learn about winter camping and human powered winter travel.

       The 5 day school will be spent in the Alaskan wilderness in a base camp with equipment testing, gear selection and biking, skiing and snowshoeing on the Iditarod Trail.

 Dates:  TBA

Cost: $750.00

includes transportation from and back to Anchorage , 4 evening meals prepared by your instructors, professional instruction by Bill Merchant race director and seven time finisher of the 350 mile Iditarod Trail Invitational

 

Winter Adventures
	For those looking for the ultimate challenge check out our guided winter adventures on the Iditarod Trail and our Fatbike Mountain Biking Expeditions on Alaska's glaciers, frozen rivers, lakes, snowmobile routes and remote beaches of the Alaska coast or join us for a day snowshoeing or skiing in the Talkeetna Mountains or Expedition to the Knik Glacier.

 

For those looking for the ultimate challenge check out our guided winter adventures on the Iditarod Trail and our Fatbike Mountain Biking Expeditions on Alaska's glaciers, frozen rivers, lakes, snowmobile routes and remote beaches of the Alaska coast or join us for a day snowshoeing or skiing in the Talkeetna Mountains or Expedition to the Knik Glacier.

Iditarod Trail Human Powered

Wintertime is an incredible time in Alaska. Frozen trails, Sleddogs, Northern Lights. Alaska is a Winter Wonderland. We will have a chance to see the Iditarod dogteams on the trail. Tour the famous Iditarod Trail on Snowshoes, Cross country skis or Winterbiking, our specialty. Depending on the weather and condition of the trail, we will determine what means of travel will work best.We will be staying in cozy lodges and roadhouses along the way. We can carry all of our gear with us or we can do snowmachine supported expeditions and carry very little. The snowmachine will carry our gear from lodge to lodge.

Travel the Iditarod Trail from Knik to one of the Lodges Skwentna (90miles), Finger Lake Lodge (130 miles) or Puntilla (Rainy Pass Lodge 160 miles) or even to the village to McGrath ( 350 miles) or any part of the 1100 mile long famous sled dog trail just before or after the Iditarod Sled Dog Race by ski, snowshoes or by bike for experienced cyclists. This is possibly the best winter trip we offer for athletic types with little or no experience with arctic travel and those with a strict schedule. There are numerous departure points and communication possible. This could be done in a manner where it would be as much a cultural experience as a great wilderness adventure.  It could almost be done completely as a cabin to cabin kind of trip with snowmachine support and pre-set camps with heated tents. These luxury trips are more expensive but cozy, comfortable option to a winter camping expedition.   

 The base price for these trips is:

$ 150.00 per day per person (two person minimum) plus airfare, food, ground transportation and lodging for guests, myself and my assistant. Ski equipment, snowshoes, bikes and snowmachine support with base camps can be provided at an additional cost. These trips are limited to four guests to allow everyone a more personal experience

 

All trips can start and finish in Anchorage or Palmer/Wasilla.

 

 

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Alaska Ultra Sport PO BOX 1125, Alaska 99674 ( 907) 745 6680

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