Ice Bridge, Shell Lake Photo courtesy of Elliot McAllister

Editor's Note: Author Elliot McAllister recently competed in the 2005 Alaska Ultra, which follows the famed Iditarod route from Anchorage to McGrath (short course) and Nome (long course). Check his dispatches at: AlaskaUltra.

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I recently had the chance to talk with Kathi Merchant. She and her husband Bill, the Alaska Ultra's race directors completed the course to McGrath at a blistering pace this year and set the women's Alaska Ultra Sport record as well. The following is not verbatim, but reflects the conversation we had:

EM: How was the ride you and Bill just completed? (Another long haul of nearly 450 miles up an ice road to Anuvik and back.)

KM:The ride was harder than the race just because we had more checkpoints in the race, you know every 50 miles or so. In the ride to Anuvik, there were no checkpoints and we had to go around 230 miles before we had shelter. And we crossed the Continental Divide three times. It took us six days.

Also, we were in the mountains nearly the whole time, not like in the race where we have pretty nice terrain.

But the people on the trail were great. Everyone took care of us, and were worried about us.

EM:Wondering what these bikers were doing out there?

KM:Yeah, I've done a lot of research on ice roads in Canada. They build a lot of them up in the Artic during the winter. I think it would be fun to do them sometime. We were supposed to go to Tok, but it was a bit far, and the spring break-up was starting to happen.

EM: So, the race. Did you and Bill have a plan? I know that you guys went straight through to Skwentna with out sleep and that you had been trying for that. How much did you sleep during the whole race?

KM: Probably about ten hours. We wanted to get to Skwentna in one haul. So we stopped at Luce's for around 50 minutes, and left just as Jeff and Chloe came in. We were just trying to get to good positions, and hold it there. You know it's easier to stay in front when you start there.

EM: So what was the plan after Skwentna?

KM: Well, we pushed hard to Shell Lake and ate there before trying to get to Finger Lake. I think we got into Finger Lake at 2 AM. We stayed about six hours, packing, sleeping a bit and eating...and went on again to Puntilla.

EM: So did you just push on through every checkpoint from there? Did you and Bill bivvy out at all?

KM: No we didn't really bivvy at all...(checks with Bill)...we stayed at Rohn camp maybe six hours. And then Bison for four and then onto Nikolai.

You know it was really beautiful out and so we just wanted to be outside all the time. Every time we came into the checkpoint, I couldn't wait to get started again. You know? I mean you were there; the trail was incredible. I had heard these horror stories about pushing for 200 meters...so I had mentally prepared for that. But the Northern Lights every night were so beautiful. That gave us a huge boost. It would've been a lot different if the trail wasn't as nice.

This was my first race ever. First mountain bike race, first winter race, first endurance or 24-hour race. I loved it! It was so much fun!

EM: Yeah, I remember a few times when I thought we were going to get snow, so I didn't want to stop either.

KM: At Puntilla we thought we were going to get snow so we just kept going.

EM: Any tips on training? What really worked for you? I usually strap all the gear to the bike no later than January.

KM: Well I think practicing the sleep deprivation is really necessary. We had been riding all fall and winter, and with most of the gear for 2-3 months. It's important to be able to train and practice handling a heavy bike, and to play with tire pressure on the trail.

EM: Yeah, I don't get that luxury here in Philly...I get 40 degrees and rain.

KM: Well it's a lot easier to stay warm at 20 and dry than 40 and wet.

EM: That's for sure. So any plans for next year? I know you were talking about Nome.

KM: Yes I really want to do it next year. Next year is the Northern Route. I don't want to do the Southern Route. It's really hard. It is only used by the Iditarod, and that only happens every other year. On the Northern Route, there is a lot more traffic from village to village, there aren't as many mountains and there's an old mining road for a portion of it. The Iron Dog guys use it every year, so it's much better.

EM: So it's more built up?

KM: Yeah, I'd never want to take a bike on the Southern Route. It takes the dogs longer too.

EM: Gotcha. So are you and Bill doing more rides this year, or just prep work for next year's race?

KM: Well, were doing the Continental Divide trail in September.

EM: Is that with Mike and the rest of the crew?

KM: No, we wanted to but they are doing it in the summer; we can't get down there then.

EM: Well, thanks so much for taking the time with me.

KM: Not a problem.

EM: I'll see you guys next winter!

KM: OK talk to you later.

Well, check back in soon for another one with Carl Hutchings...where we'll find out just how bad the Southern Route was...

by Elliot McAllister

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