White Mountains 100

TIME: 8:00 AM Sunday to 11:59 PM Monday (40 hrs)

LOCATION: White Mountains National Recreation Area, Wickersham Dome Trailhead, Milepost 28 Elliott Highway (approx. 38 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska) -- Map available here.

PRERACE MEETING: The pre-race meeting is at Reichardt Auditorium at the University of Fairbanks on Saturday, March 22nd. Check-in for the meeting between 3:00-4:00PM. Attendance is mandatory, so don't miss it! 

The White Mountains 100 requires entrants to have winter backcountry experience equivalent to, at a minimum, finishing a winter event of over 25 miles and/or over 24 hours' duration in the last two years. See the registration section for more information.

See the overall course description and map as well as detailed information by race segment.

Racers are responsible for their own transportation to/from the race start. The race starts and finishes at the Wickersham Dome trailhead at milepost 28 Elliott Highway. To reach the trailhead from Fairbanks: take the Steese Highway north 10 miles to Fox, continue north (towards Livengood) another 28 miles. The Wickersham Dome trailhead is on the right and is well marked. The sign reads "White Mountains National Recreation Area." All racers, spectators, and volunteers MUST park in the large pullout across the highway from the trailhead parking lot. -- Map available here. 

Allow at least one hour to reach the race start from downtown Fairbanks. Cell phone service is usually available at the trailhead so racers should be able to call for a ride at the finish if necessary. If your cell phone does not work, racers will be allowed to make a phone call using a cell phone available at the race headquarters located at the trailhead.

Parking is NOT available at the Wickersham Dome trailhead. Racers, spectators, and volunteers MUST park in the large pullout across the highway from the trailhead. A race volunteer will be directing traffic into this pullout the morning of the race start. A second volunteer will ensure that vehicles are parked tightly and not blocking the pullout because it is frequently used by semi-trucks. Also, keep clear of the Alyeska Pipeline access road that spurs off from the pullout. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.

Before you register: The White Mountains 100 now requires entrants to have winter backcountry experience equivalent to, at a minimum, finishing a winter event of over 25 miles and/or over 24 hours' duration in the last two years.

On the registration form, please list any winter ultra races you’ve completed in the last two years. A list of popular races that meet this requirement can be found here. If you have not completed any such events, then please list and briefly describe any cold-weather human-powered long-distance experience that shows you are capable of safely finishing this winter 100-mile event. Decisions will be at the race director's discretion.

Registration fee is $285 - Registration is open from December 1st 12:01am - December 7th 11:59pm. The lottery takes place December 9th. The entrants in the White Mountains 100 lottery can be viewed December 10th.

Registration Procedure:

1. Online registration for the lottery is available here.  The link will open for registration on December 1st 12:01am and close December 7th 11:59pm. You must provide your credit card information - BUT - your card will ONLY be charged $285 if your name is drawn as one of the 85 participants during the lottery on November 9. Your card will NOT be charged if you are on the waitlist.

2. The lottery drawing will be automated and will occur on December 9th.  There will be no public lottery drawing this year. 

3. You will receive an email confirmation immediately following the December 9th lottery if your name is selected. Your credit card will only be charged $285 if your name is selected during the lottery and your registration is non-refundable and non-transferable. Waitlist racers will NOT be charged an entry fee. A waitlist racer will only be charged the $285 fee if they choose to fill a main roster withdrawal position. If a waitlist racer chooses to withdraw from the waitlist, no fees will be charged. The WM100 roster and waitlist will be available on the WM100 webpage within 24 hours after the lottery. 

4. Lottery "slots" will be reserved for:

• Last year's winners ( ~6 )

• Volunteer Slots ( ~10 )

• Sponsorship Slots ( ~5 x $1000 each )

• Lottery Slots (~65 + # of not filled slots from other categories)

On December 9th, regardless of subdivision (Ski, Bike, Run) the Lottery will be conducted using an automated Random Name Picker. The first ~65 selected names will be put on the roster. The remaining names will be placed on the wait-list. Note: There will be only one wait-list for all three divisions.

5.  Division 

• A division (bike, run, ski) must be confirmed March 21st, the Friday before the race.  

Refund policy:

Plans can change. The following refund policy is designed to provide flexibility. No race deferrals are available. Refunds will be issued as follows:

• 75% refund: Cancellations on or before January 31 will receive a 75% refund.

• 50% refund: Cancellations between February 1 and March 7 will receive a 50% refund.

• 25% refund: Cancellations on or after March 8 (less than two weeks before race day) will receive a 25% refund.

• All refunds will be based on the initial entry fee. Thank you for understanding this policy.

Race Entry Includes:

• White Mountains 100 swag

• A warm shelter approximately every 20 miles.

• Hot and cold water and other beverages at all four checkpoints and the trail shelter. The four checkpoints and finish line will have a warm serving of food and snacks available for each racer. The trail shelter (mile 91) will only have snacks. Checkpoints will be stocked with food such as meatball soup, baked potatoes with sour cream and bacon, homemade bread, brownies, cookies, coffee, hot chocolate, and soda.

• Exhilaration of traversing the White Mountains.

Everyone not selected in the lottery will be added to a waitlist. There is only one waitlist for all three divions.

Withdraws from Wait List

If you need to withdraw from the wait list, no charges will be applied to you. Please, however, let us know if you do decide to drop for the wait list.

Options if wait-listed and receive a racers slot

If you receive the opportunity to move from the wait list to the race roster, you will not be charged the entry fee until we have confirmation you still want the slot. If you choose not to accept the race slot and withdraw, no charges will be applied and your slot will be offered to the next individual on the wait-list. Prior to race week, you will have 48 hours to make your decision to withdraw or to be added to the race roster and be charged the entry fee. During race week, a decision is needed on the spot.  

Refund Policy:

• Entries are non-refundable and non-transferable.

• The race will only be canceled due to weather if severe conditions make travel extremely hazardous and/or impossible, as deemed by the race director(s). Other unforeseen or catastrophic circumstances may lead the race director to cancel the race.

Refusal of Entry:

• White Mountains 100 reserves the right to refuse entry to any racer.

See complete rules racers must follow.

Participants are not required to carry any specific equipment BUT each racer is expected to have an adequate amount of food, clothing, and outdoor gear for the duration of the race. Racers should also be prepared for unexpected encounters with ankle-deep open water, and should carry appropriate gear to deal with getting wet. A change of clothes and socks may save some of your appendages, perhaps your life. Race officials will do their best keep track of racers as they travel between checkpoints, but this my no means implies that they are prepared to take care of someone that packs recklessly light and is ill-prepared. Such behavior is unfair to other racers.

Strongly Recommended Gear (the necessary stuff):

• Please ensure that you have enough food to sustain yourself between all checkpoints and/or during a survival situation.

• Plenty of clothing for cold, windy, and/or wet conditions.

• Headlamp.

• Rear flashing light to be used at night (for safety).

• Insulated water container

• Enough water to keep hydrated between checkpoints

Recommended Gear:

• Winter sleeping bag (0 F or colder rating)

• Sleeping pad

• Bivy sack or tent

• Chemical hand/foot warmers

• Firestarter (matches or lighter)

• Stove/Fuel/small pot

• Overboots for keeping feet warm

• Cat tracks (ice creepers) for walking on angled glare ice

• Change of socks (synthetic or neoprene) in case of a dip into active overflow

• Extra mittens or gloves

• Face mask and/or neck gator

• Ski goggles if its windy

• Map, gps, and/or compass

• Knife or leatherman

• The appropriate tools to repair your equipment/gear

• Sunscreen

• Sunglasses

Skiers:

• Kick wax and cork are highly recommended for narrow or steep sections of trail.

• Scraper to remove kick wax and overflow ice from ski base

• De-icer to clear up frozen ski bindings

• Sharp ski pole tips will greatly increase your ability to double pole on overflow ice and may also help with balance when skiing across icy surfaces.

The Susitna 100 website has a good discussion about sleds vs. backpacks, and classic vs. skate skiing, etc.

The Susitna 100 has a bunch of pointers and tips for people traveling by foot.

Shoes - normal trail running shoes are sufficient. Choose a tread pattern with a lot of negative space, which helps with traction in loose snow. Avoid shoes with lots of ventilation near the toe box; they could lead to numb toes in extreme cold. If you're worried about cold feet, maybe get a 1/2-size larger and wear thick or two sets of socks. Gore-tex shoes are not necessary and can lead to sweaty; and therefore wet, feet. Interior snow conditions are usually fairly dry. In cases of fresh snow, very lightweight gaiters like Dirtygirl (made for summer sand and gravel conditions) can keep snow from getting under the tongue, melting, and leading to wet socks. www.dirtygirlgaiters.com

Socks - bring several extra pairs they are light. Fresh, dry socks can be very invigorating.

Cleats - Cleated shoes are unnecessary. Areas of ice are usually short and walking carefully over that section is often sufficient. However, overflow areas are sometimes uneven, and in those cases rubber slip-ons with cleats like Gripons and Stabilicers are light and quick to put on and take off. Yak Tracks can be a little too much and uncomfortable to use with running shoes.

Clothing - Layers with zippers or buttons for quick ventilation are nice to prevent sweating as your body cycles through warm/cool spells in cold conditions. Eating tends to first cause cool extremities as blood flow goes to the stomach, quickly followed by a resurgence of blood flow to fingers and toes and quick warming. Wool gloves and hat work better if they will get wet, but synthetic layers are lighter and easier to layer.

Light - the smallest LED headlight gives sufficient light for running. Snow is very reflective and you will not be traveling so fast that you need to see very far in front of you. On the other hand, many newer headlights have multiple settings, and a strong spotlight is convenient when you think something unexpected and unlit, like a moose, is ahead of you.

Sled or pack - sleds let you carry more gear with less weight on your back, but can be annoying if not well designed and tested for your running style and cadence. If you sled, practice with it on a variety of surfaces: hard pack and fresh snow, and terrain: flat, hills, and bumps. The bumpy surfaces snow machines often create can be particularly trying with a sled as it is constantly pushing and pulling on your waist over each bump. When designing your sled, remember that different materials shrink different amounts in the cold, and some become fairly brittle in extreme cold. Bring tools and quick-fix materials like duct tape, wire, and cord. If you pack, practice with it properly weighted and distributed. 10-15 lbs of gear on your back will probably chance your running form.

Overflow - the state of overflow can be deceptive; sometime solid and hard, and other times wet and slushy. The current temperature has no obvious bearing on its state and wet overflow is as common in -40F as +30F. Plastic bags over your feet are an option when in doubt or just to be safe. If you're wrong, this is a prime opportunity for using a pair of those extra dry socks you brought along.

The Susitna 100 website has a comprehensive list of tips for bikers.

Winter Biking in the White Mountains

Winter Biking Pointers

Does this info exist?

Race results are available here. The most recent year is viewable on the page. Scroll to the bottom to see prior years.

Contact the Race Director at wm100@endurancenorth.org to find out about volunteer opportunities and to sign up!