After making it 350 miles to McGrath, where he finished Iditarod Trail Invitational in 2021, Rob Youngren made a critical decision about his next steps in the great Alaska race.
Stay and continue on foot in his 1,000-mile quest to the end of the famed and brutal trail? After all, a third of the route would be completed. Just 650 more miles to the finish line in Nome. Or, relish the good effort that saw a tough start, rough weather conditions and some other issues. Another 350-mile finish isn’t anything to sneeze at, for sure. And there’s always next year, or another year, to try for the 1,000-mile finish.
Even before reaching McGrath late at night March 7 after 10 days in the ice, snow and brutal weather conditions, Youngren had his decision. A second, epic, incredible 350-mile finish would be enough.
“He is going to take a 350-mile finish and be happy with it this year,” his wife, Kathy, told Tennessee Valley Outsider. “He has had some extreme conditions and learned a lot about what to do and what did not work. So, he will take them and either use them for next time or use them to confirm there will not be a next time.
“He is content and happy with his decision,” she added.
Cascade of Events
She said the first night temperatures were -20 to -40 below, and while climbing Rainy Pass temps were about -20 with winds to 70 mph. Some of his gear was lost to the wind. Other issues, including possible frostbite and a crisis of confidence, were in play. He had to stop and reassess, but made it over the pass and on to the Rohn check-in.
“He tackled the first section with 4-5 others, but they all got food poisoning, so he was left doing the last section alone,” Kathy said. “There were some scary times for him, but he had to trust himself enough to keep moving. Eric Fritz was helpful in giving him data, mileage, and encouragement throughout, too.”
TVO will have more soon on Youngren’s trek.
Youngren’s Quest
Iditarod Trail Invitational competitors are tracked by Spot Event Tracking satellite trackers, which provide updates every five minutes. This is done for safety, obviously, but also so loved ones and friends can monitor progress. Youngren’s wife, Kathy, also an accomplished ultrarunner, communicated with him periodically thanks to a satellite phone.
Whether on foot, bike or skis, competitors must navigate through the Alaskan wilderness during its harshest time of the year. It follows the Iditarod Trail from Knik Lake to McGrath in the state’s interior and then to Nome. The trail was an important travel lifeline heavily utilized between 1880-1920 during the Alaska Gold Rush.
Race officials describe it as “One of the most challenging experiences on the planet, participants brave extreme physical, environmental and mental challenges as they travel along the historic Iditarod Trail on bicycle, foot or skis. Requiring self-sufficiency and the considerable resilience to make it through up to 30 frozen days and nights, the Iditarod Trail Invitational has built its reputation on notoriously inhospitable conditions and minimal outside support.”
PHOTO: The GPS tracking route shows Rob Youngren’s progress approximately 23 miles from McGrath, the terminus of the 350-mile trail for some Iditarod Trail Invitational competitors. This is Youngren’s second 350-mile finish.
