Runaway Jim 180 Race Rules, 2018 Race Secretary Melinda Shore PO Box 16271 Two Rivers, Alaska 99716 This race is put on with the intent of producing a challenging and fun event for dogs, mushers, handlers, volunteers, and mushing fans. It is run within the stipulations set by a Special Recreation Permit issued by the Fairbanks District OfPice/Eastern Interior Field OfPice of the United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management. All involved will be expected to keep a dogs Pirst attitude at all times. What s best for the dogs is what s best for any mushing event. It is the intent to have all Pinish placings decided upon by the merit of the dogs and mushers within the rules. Poor dog care, poor sportsmanship, or littering will be cause for disqualipication. If you question your ability/qualipication to run 180 miles through difpicult terrain and extreme weather, this is not the race for you. Mushers and their teams shall remain self- sufpicient except where aid is available to all teams from race staff, the resupply point, or when aided by another musher. Dogs First. Fairplay. Respect. Common Sense. FUN! 1. Race Start: The race will have a Sourdough start on Monday January 8, 2018 at 2pm at the US Creek trailhead at milepost 57 on the Steese Highway. That will be preceded by a Drivers Meeting (most likely at a breakfast buffet at the Chatanika Lodge at mile- 28 Steese Highway at 10am, plans yet to be Pinalized) This start area is a cold trailhead/parking lot, there are no services available. Sourdough start will mean mushers are in their sleeping bags at their sleds with un- bootied dogs at their
truck, at 2pm. The clock starts at 2pm and mushers may leave when they are prepared to go. Unlimited handler assistance will be allowed to safely move teams from the truck to start of the trail across the parking lot, but mushers will be responsible for putting on booties and harnesses, hooking up their team, and control of their team, as well as keeping the way clear for other teams. 2. Application Fee and Procedure: $200 entry fee, payable upon conpirmed entry. 20 team limit. All entries will name a driver. Application forms will be accepted by the Race Secretary and will be available online. We will begin accepting applications October 20, 2017 and will announce the initial musher list on November 6, 2017. Mushers will then need to mail payment to race secretary to conpirm their spot. Any spots not paid for by November 20 will not be held if we have a waiting list. The race committee reserves the right to accept or decline entry and no entry will be Pinal until payment is received in full. The race will have a December 26, 2017 decision date. If the entire race course is not safely passable by this date the race will be cancelled and all teams will receive a $150 refund. No other refunds will be given. Do not sign- up if you do not intend to race. 3. Course, Checkpoints, Dogdrop, and Resupply Our goal is to follow this plan as closely as possible. Trail conditions, weather, or unforeseen circumstances may force changes, but we will adhere to the spirit of this course:
Racemile 0 - US Creek trailhead at 57- Mile Steese Highway. Teams leave with mandatory gear and enough fuel/food/supplies for a minimum of 108 miles to Wickersham trailhead/resupply point. Racemile 69 Wolf Run cabin, warm cabin hospitality stop. Any portion of Mandatory rest may be taken here, all teams must sign in and out regardless of length of stay. Teams will be parked at checkpoint staff direction. Straw may be used if you carried it in. Racemile 108 Wickersham trailhead at 28- Mile Elliott Highway Resupply and dogdrop. Teams will be checked- in and may have unlimited help turning their team around and holding team while repacking sled with gear/food/straw/fuel provided by your handlers. (A chance for your handlers to shine as resupply is unlimited, but you have to re- pack and go...) Race organization is NOT transporting bags and gear or providing straw. Any dog in need of being dropped will be examined by a race Vet and then transferred directly to the team s designated handler. The race is not holding dropped dogs. No camping, snacking, or feeding of teams is allowed at this location: consider it blowing through checkpoint practice. On the short section of common trail in and out of Wickersham, the outgoing teams shall have the right of way. *In addition, this year we will add a No- resupply/shortcut Option Any team wishing to travel the entire loop without going to Wickersham for re- supply, will be allowed to cut the corner at Lee s Cabin and proceed to Crowberry. This option will mean you need to carry all your gear/food/supplies for the entire race from the start. It will cut off the common trail of ~6 miles from Lee s to Wickersham and return, shortening the entire race route by roughly 12 miles. It also means you will not have a access to a dogdrop. Mushers may make the decision at the time they get to the
intersection and both options will be clearly marked. Handlers for all teams will still need to go to Wickersham, as the race is not holding dropped dogs and handlers won t know for sure what their musher is doing until they get there. Racemile 135 Crowberry cabin, warm cabin hospitality stop. All remaining Mandatory rest to reach a minimum of 10 hours must be taken here, and teams must sign in and sign out. Mushers are responsible for fulpilling 10 full hours of cumulative rest at Wolf Run and Crowberry before they leave. Teams will be parked at the direction of checkpoint staff. Straw may be used if you carried it in. Racemile 179 Finish back at US Creek trailhead. 4. Dogs Teams may start with 8-12 dogs and must Pinish with at least 6 dogs. All dogs entered must be healthy and Pit. No drugs may be used to enhance performance or mask pain. All dogs will be up to date on rabies, parvo, and distemper vaccinations, paperwork subject to check at start or Pinish, have it in your dogtruck. All dogs/teams are subject to Vet check at any time(s) from start to Pinish. Dogs may ONLY be dropped at the Wickersham resupply/ dogdrop. They will be checked/treated by Vet staff and turned over to handler for care and transport. No substitution of dogs or switching of dogs between teams is allowed. 5. Handlers Every team must have a handler, although teams may share a handler. Handlers will be considered part of a team s entry and will be held to the same standards as mushers for dog care and
sportsmanship. Mushers are responsible for their handlers actions. Handlers will be responsible for clean- up of their team s area after the start, getting their resupply to Wickersham trailhead, caring for any dropped dogs at Wickersham, and assisting/cleaning at the Pinish. Litter at trailheads will be considered the same as litter on the trail and will be cause for disqualipication. Clean up after yourselves and your team. 1. Sled, Mandatory Gear, and Other Gear/Devices: One sled will be used, unless a musher destroys their sled, in which case a replacement may be made at Wickersham with Race Marshall or Judge approval. Mushers will carry what they need to travel the distance and properly care for themselves and their teammates. In addition, they will have enough food to adequately feed themselves and their team in case of delay or emergency. All gear will be functional and appropriate to Interior Alaska in mid- winter. A capable ax or saw, snowshoes, sleeping bag, functional cooker and fuel, two headlamps, human food, dog food, dog coats, and adequate dog booties are a minimum requirement in the sled at all times. Mushers may carry and/or use any GPS or communication device they wish. 2. Other Rules No planned help is allowed during the race except for the umlimited resupply at Wickersham and the assistance given by race staff to all teams at the cabin checkpoints.
In case of a loose team, any and all means to regain control may and should be used. Harnesses will be in good order and adequately padded. Any dog(s) hauled in the sled will be done so in a secure and protective fashion. No dogs shall run loose at any time. Neckline use is not mandatory, but respect for other teams is. Your team must be under control and able to clear the way during passes with other teams and other trail users, if they are wearing necklines or not. Even when not in use, teams must have necklines for all dogs with them at all times. Public trail users have the right of way over racers. Standard race courtesy at all interactions with other teams will prevail. Passing is at the request of the overtaking team or mutual consent. A caught team must clear the way and may not demand re- pass for 5 minutes. It is the responsibility of both teams to facilitate passes to the best of their ability. Cabins not designated as checkpoints may not be used, except in case of emergency, which would require withdrawl from the race. Snacking, feeding, or resting teams will clear the trail so that any other trail user may easily pass. Any team(s) substantially behind by the time they reach Wickersham may need to be withdrawn from the race. Race Marshall/Judge/Vet staff will make this decision if needed, and it will be Pinal.
8. BLM Rules As per our Special Recreation Permit and the standing rules within the White Mountains NRA, we are subject to the following: - Access to the wayside facilities such as the outhouse, loading ramp, trails and other cabins will remain open and unimpeded to the public. - No camping is allowed within 1 4 mile of the White Mountain Recreation public use cabins. Obvious exception of Wolf Run and Crowberry, our two checkpoints for which we have special permission. - Straw for dog bedding is a major issue for BLM and we are responsible for cleaning all our straw at the checkpoints. Importantly, we are limited to only using straw at our two checkpoints. If mushers use straw on the trail, they must clean it up and carry it with them. Please bring dogcoats and/or dog blankets. If you bring straw to use at Wolf Run and or Crowberry, please bring weed free straw and consider the amount you use, knowing it must all get cleaned up. - Fires are prohibited in the winter public use trails. - Tethering dog teams to trees is prohibited. 9. Race OfPicials and Staff Race Marshall and Judges will have Pinal say in all aspects of the race. No whining will be tolerated. Race Vets in conjunction with judges will have authority to remove any dog(s) or team for medical or dog care issues. 10. Purse There will be NO purse. Finish places and times will be noted. Awards may be given.
11. Respect your dog!!!