The Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic (sometimes called the Alaska Wilderness Classic) is an adventure challenge that espouses purity of style and zero impact. Started in 1982 as a wilderness traverse, the Classic has crossed various mountain ranges throughout Alaska with some routes covering nearly . According to Outside magazine, many consider it "the toughest wilderness challenge in the world."
The rules are simple: start to finish with no outside support, requiring that participants carry all food and equipment; human-powered; leave no trace; and rescue is up to the individual to resolve. The most common form of transportation is by foot and packraft, although bicycles, skis, and paragliders have been used by intrepid participants. Beginning in 2004, participants have been required to carry satellite phones or Satellite emergency notification device like the Garmin inReach to facilitate emergency rescues. Traditionally, the same route has been used for three years in a row, with each year being a different month (June, July, or August).
The organization of the challenge is grass-roots, having no affiliation to any organization or group, while generally fewer than 30 people enter in any one year. The Classic is often perceived as a race, but most certainly not a race. It has had an influence on American adventure racing, backcountry use of the packraft, and ultralight hiking is significant. In addition to the summer challenge, there is an even more low-key unaffiliated winter event, the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Ski Classic, which has taken place annually since 1987 with travel through the Chugach Mountains, Alaska Range, Brooks Range, and Wrangell-St. Elias.
During the 2014 classic, experienced participant Rob Kehrer died after his boat flipped while packrafting on the Tana River in Wrangell St. Elias National Park. His body was found on a gravel bar four miles downstream.
Routes 1982–1984 Hope to Homer (Kenai Peninsula), Start Finish { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [
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] } +YearMonthFastest Finisher(s)TimeCourse Record?No. StartersNo. ScratchesFinisher Percent1982AugustRoman Dial6 d, 10 hrs, 15m10640%1983SeptemberRoman Dial and Jim Lokken4 d, 20 hrs221045%1984AugustDave Manzer3 d, 12 hrsYes351749%
1985–1987 Mentasta to Denali National Park (Alaska Range), Start Finish { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [
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] } +YearMonthFastest Finisher(s)TimeCourse Record?No. StartersNo. ScratchesFinisher Percent1985AugustHank Timm7d, 22hrs, 12m141214%1986?August?Hank Timm5d, 23hrs11645%1987AugustHank Timm and Randy Pitney4d, 18hrs, 27mYes14843%
1988–1990 Nabesna to McCarthy (Wrangell – Saint Elias Wilderness), Start Finish { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [
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"type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "Finish", "marker-symbol": "f", "marker-color": "B20000" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -142.92330, 61.43284 ]
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1988 – Roman Dial 1989 – David Manzer, Adrian Crane and Tom Possert 1990 – Brant McGee and Jeff Gedney
1991–1993 Gates of the Arctic Wilderness (Brooks Range), Start Checkpoint Finish
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1991 – Brant McGee and Adrian Crane (course record: 2 days 6 hours 18 minutes) 1992 – Brant McGee and Dave Dixon 1993 – Gordy Vernon
1994–1996 Donnelly to McKinley Village (Alaska Range),
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1994 – Frazier Miller 1995 – Clark Saunders (course record: 2 days 12 hours 20 minutes) 1996 – Steve Reifenstuhl and Rocky Reifenstuhl
1997–1999 Hope to Homer (Kenai Peninsula), Start Finish { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [
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"type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "Finish", "marker-symbol": "f", "marker-color": "B20000" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -151.40925, 59.60058 ]
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] } 1997 – Gordy Vernon and Thai Verzone 1998 – Gordy Vernon 1999 – Gabriel Lydic, Laona DeWilde Lydic and David Arvey
2000–2002 Nabesna to McCarthy (Wrangell – Saint Elias Wilderness), Start Finish { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [
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2000 – Steve Reifenstuhl and Rocky Reifenstuhl 2001 – Steve Reifenstuhl and Rocky Reifenstuhl 2002 – Roman Dial (course record: 2 days 4 hours 24 minutes)
2003–2005 Eureka to Talkeetna (Talkeetna Mountains), 2003 – Hans Neidig, Chris Robertson and Paul Hanis 2004 – Gordy Vernon and Thai Verzone 2005 – Robert Schnell, Jason Geck, Tyler Johnson and Rory Stark (course record: 1 day 23 hours 29 minutes)
2006–2008 Chicken to Central (Tanana-Yukon Uplands),
+YearMonthFastest Finisher(s)TimeCourse Record?No. StartersNo. ScratchesFinisher Percent2006monthRobert Schnell and Chris Robertson4d, 10hrs, 42minYes2007monthRobert Schnell and Chris Robertson2008JuneButch Allen, Jim McDonough, Tyler Johnson and Craig "Chunk" Barnard16756%
2009–2011 Gerstle River/Donnelly to McKinley Village (Alaska Range), 2009 – Robert Schnell, Chris Robertson and Andrew Skurka (course record: 3 days 17 hours 54 minutes) 2010 – Robert Schnell, Chris Robertson, Todd Kasteler and Danny Powers 2011 – Tyler Johnson, Todd Kasteler, Luc Mehl and John Sykes
2012–2014 Thompson Pass to Lakina River Bridge (Chugach Mountains, Wrangell – Saint Elias Wilderness), - Start Finish { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [
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2012 – Luc Mehl, Josh Mumm (3d 22.5h, Bremner Route) 2013 – Lee Helzer, Steve Duby, Len Jenkins (Slowest first completion: 7 days, 8 hours, 44 minutes) 2014 – Gerard Ganey, Todd Tumolo (course record: 3d 10h, Ice Route)
2015 Rob Kehrer Memorial Route, Peters Hills to Nancy Lakes via Rohn (Western Alaska Range, Susitna Valley), Start Checkpoint Finish { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [
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2015 - Josh Mumm (course record: 5 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes)
2016–2018 Galbraith Lake to Wiseman (Brooks Range), Start Finish { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [
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] } 2016 - Todd Tumolo and Luc Mehl (course & challenge record: 1 day, 10 hours) 2017 - Tobias Schwoerer and Harlow Robinson 2018 - Tom Moran and Jay Cable
2019–2021 Cantwell to Sheep Mountain (Talkeetna Mountains), Start Finish {