Bernadette Benson posted this (9/16/2016):
This one could go in Canada, as well, because the trail is a 1,000 mile winter route that goes between Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada and Fairbanks, Alaska, USA. It is used every February in the Yukon Quest sled dog race and the eastern/Canadian side is used every February in the Yukon Arctic Ultra foot (and ski or bike) race. It is a winter trail put in each year, with occasional sectional reroutes/diversions due to safety, dependent on weather conditions that year (e.g., jumble ice, open water on rivers).
I'll be attempting a traverse in Jan-Feb 2017 that might offer an FKT opportunity. As far as I know, two people have completed it before.
Joachim Rintsch (GER) was the first (2010). Based on info I could find in blog posts, his novel (Vom Stammtisch zum Yukon), e-correspondence, and media articles, he started at least 45 miles east of Fairbanks on Feb 4, 2016 (rather than in Fairbanks at the YQ start/finish line) He also chose a road section over the YQ route between Central and Circle, AK, removing about 40 miles there. He appears to be the modern pioneer of the trail by foot, but did not complete a traditional full YQ, given the two alterations. He finished March 11, for a total of 34d 23h.
Mark Hines (UK), started Feb 1, 2016 from Fairbanks, completed in 39 days. Mark could not get all the way to Whitehorse in early March 2016, due to dangerous/open water conditions on the last two rivers (last ~40km). He DID complete the YQ2016 official route, however, as the mushing race/YQ trail for 2016 was also rerouted to the alternate Takhini Hot Springs finish, which is where Mark finished. Mark thus appears to have an FKT for the YQ trail, having followed the established route from start to finish for that year. He has shared with me a lot of evidence of his completion, people who saw him enroute, etc.
If anyone is aware of other completions of this route that might be faster, and any of women, please have them post.
Michal Kielbasinski - Poland (49years old. 31st January -4th March 2017 [2018?]. Have made YQ Trail in 33days, Direction Whitehorse-Fairbanks. www.facebook.com/rundogpl/
Bernadette Benson responded: I was on the trail at the same time as you and met you. I followed your tracker and posts on Facebook. I think your efforts were incredible and your charity efforts are laudable, but it's disrespectful to Joachim Rintsch and Mark Hines to state that you have done the whole Yukon Quest trail (and faster than them). I noted that after you left Circle, AK, you attempted to stay on the Quest trail, which went along creeks. You reported that you fell through into water and also it wasn't being maintained anymore (the dog race had finished). At the first highway crossing, you got on the highway to Central, AK. You then attempted Eagle summit and found it too difficult with blown in snow, so you went back to the highway. You followed highways right to Fairbanks. That is not the Yukon Quest.
