White Mountains 100

april 4, 2027 * 100 MILES

The White Mountains 100 is a formidable journey through Alaska's rugged backcountry, traversing a variety of terrain from gentle ridges to steep descents, sweeping meadows, and frozen waterways. Participants can travel by foot, ski, or bike, and have 40 hours to finish the race. Wind, blowing and drifting snow, Arctic temperatures, water crossings, and wildlife encounters are not uncommon along the remote race route, which mostly consists of partially maintained snowmachine trails. Aid stations approximately every 20 miles offer shelter, food, water, and limited options for sleeping and for medical and emergency support. Participants must be experienced in their chosen mode of winter endurance travel and fully self-sufficient.

Racers begin their adventure at the Wickersham Dome trailhead at Milepost 28 of the Elliot Highway, about an hour's drive from Fairbanks. They follow a 100-mile counterclockwise loop through the BLM White Mountains National Recreation Area, for a total of more than 8,000 feet of elevation gain. The landscape features rolling hills, black spruce forests, frozen lowlands, scenic ridgelines, challenging climbs, and wide-open vistas of the surrounding ranges. Highlights include a climb above treeline to the Cache Mountain Divide; breathtaking views of limestone jags; and the "ice lakes," a beautiful and treacherous mile-long stretch of frozen overflow. The challenges are great and the rewards are even greater in this unforgiving test of endurance and self-reliance across the Last Frontier.

registration will open late 2026

interested in volunteering?

From race prep to cleaning up after the afterparty, we couldn’t put on the White Mountains 100 without volunteers. As we start gearing up for 2027, we’re looking for a couple of volunteers to fill significant leadership positions:

The Volunteer Coordinator recruits volunteers to procure food, manage race equipment, serve as race medics, arrange for firewood, and manage trail breaking and course marking. This is a management position so most of the job will be confirming volunteers and delegating tasks to them. The Volunteer Coordinator would be able to participate in the race.

The Race Marshal leads operations on race day. This includes directing volunteers, communicating with checkpoints, managing tracking devices, and tracking timing and results. As with the volunteer coordinator position, much of the responsibility will be delegating duties and managing other race volunteers. The Race Marshal would not be eligible to participate in the race.

Email Race Director Nick Janssen if you’re interested in these positions or any other volunteer roles.

DATE: April 4, 2027
TIME: 8:00 AM Sunday to 11:59 PM Monday (40 hours)
LOCATION: White Mountains National Recreation Area, Wickersham Dome Trailhead, Milepost 28 Elliott Highway (approx. 38 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska) -- Map available here.
PRE-RACE MEETING: The pre-race meeting will be held at Reichardt Auditorium at the University of Fairbanks on the day prior to the race start. Check-in for the meeting between 3:00-4:00PM. Attendance is mandatory, so don't miss it!
The White Mountains 100 requires entrants to have winter backcountry experience equivalent to, at a minimum, finishing a winter event of over 25 miles and/or over 24 hours' duration in the last two years. See the registration section for more information.
See the overall course description and map as well as detailed information on each race segment.
Racers are responsible for their own transportation to/from the race start. The race starts and finishes at the Wickersham Dome trailhead at milepost 28 Elliott Highway. To reach the trailhead from Fairbanks: take the Steese Highway north 10 miles to Fox, continue north (towards Livengood) another 28 miles. The Wickersham Dome trailhead is on the right and is well-marked. The sign reads "White Mountains National Recreation Area." Allow at least one hour to reach the race start from downtown Fairbanks.
Parking is NOT available at the Wickersham Dome trailhead. Racers, spectators, and volunteers MUST park in the large pullout across the highway from the trailhead. (Map available here.) A race volunteer will direct traffic into this pullout the morning of the race start. A second volunteer will ensure that vehicles are parked tightly and not blocking the pullout, which is frequently used by semi-trucks. Also, keep clear of the Alyeska Pipeline access road that spurs off from the pullout. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
Cell phone service is usually available at the trailhead so racers should be able to call for a ride at the finish if necessary. If your cell phone does not work, racers will be allowed to make a phone call using a cell phone available at the race headquarters located at the trailhead.
Before you register: The White Mountains 100 requires entrants to have winter backcountry experience equivalent to, at a minimum, finishing a winter event of over 25 miles and/or over 24 hours' duration in the last two years.
On the registration form, please list any winter ultra races you’ve completed in the last two years. A list of popular races that meet this requirement can be found here. If you have not completed any such events, then please list and briefly describe any cold-weather human-powered long-distance experience that shows you are capable of safely finishing this winter 100-mile event. Decisions will be at the race director's discretion.
Registration fee is $285. Registration will open in late 2026, followed by a lottery (date TBD), the winners of which will be notified immediately. A waitlist will then be posted on the WM100 website within 24 hours.
Registration Procedure:
1. Check back here for an online registration link for the lottery. You must provide your credit card information but your card will ONLY be charged $285 if your name is drawn as one of the 85 participants. A waitlist racer will only be charged the $285 fee if and when they later choose to fill a main roster withdrawal position. If a waitlist racer chooses to withdraw from the waitlist or declines an offer of race entry, no fees will be charged.
2. The lottery drawing will be conducted on an evening TBD using an automated Random Name Picker. The first ~65 selected names will be put on the roster and the remainder on the waitlist. There will be only one wait-list for all three divisions.
You will receive an email confirmation immediately following the lottery if your name is selected.
3. Lottery slots will be apportioned as follows:
- Last year's winners (~6 )
- Selected Volunteers (~10 )
- Sponsored racers (~5 x $1000 each )
- Lottery Racers (~65, plus any slots not filled from other categories)
4. Racers must confirm their division (bike, run, or ski) by the Friday before the race.
Refund policy:
We have a tiered cancellation policy that entitles individuals to 100%, 75%, 50%, or 25% refunds depending on how close they cancel to race day.
- Entrants who cancel on or before (date TBD) will receive a full refund.
- Entrants who cancel on or before (date TBD) will receive a 75% refund.
- Entrants who cancel on or before (date TBD) will receive a 50% refund.
- Entrants who cancel on or before (Date TBD; the Friday before the race) will receive a 25% refund.
No race deferrals are available.
Race Entry Includes:
- White Mountains 100 swag.
- A warm shelter approximately every 20 miles.
- Hot and cold water and other beverages at all four checkpoints and the trail shelter. The four checkpoints and finish line will have warm food and snacks available for each racer. The trail shelter (mile 91) will only have snacks. Checkpoints will be stocked with food such as meatball soup, baked potatoes with sour cream and bacon, homemade bread, brownies, cookies, coffee, hot chocolate, and soda.
- The exhilaration of traversing the White Mountains.
Everyone not selected in the lottery will be added to a waitlist. There is only one waitlist for all three divisions.
Withdrawals
Please notify us if you intend to withdraw from the waitlist. No charges will be applied to anyone who withdraws.
Options for individuals on the waitlist who are invited to participate
If you receive the opportunity to move from the wait list to the race roster, you will not be charged the entry fee until you confirm that you still want the slot. If you decline the invitation, no charges will be applied and your slot will be offered to the next individual on the wait-list. Prior to race week, you will have 48 hours to make your decision. During race week, a decision is required on the spot.
Refund Policy:
- Entries are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- The race will only be canceled if severe weather make travel extremely hazardous and/or impossible, as deemed by the race director(s). Other unforeseen or catastrophic circumstances may lead the race director to cancel the race.
Refusal of Entry:
- White Mountains 100 reserves the right to refuse entry to any racer.
See complete rules racers must follow.
Participants are not required to carry any specific equipment BUT each racer is expected to have an adequate amount of food, clothing, and outdoor gear for the duration of the race. Racers should also be prepared for unexpected encounters with ankle-deep open water, and should carry appropriate gear to deal with getting wet. A change of clothes and socks may save some of your appendages, perhaps your life. Race officials will do their best keep track of racers as they travel between checkpoints, but this by no means implies that they are prepared to take care of someone who packs recklessly or is otherwise ill-prepared. Such behavior is unfair to other racers.
Strongly Recommended Gear (the necessary stuff):
- Enough food and water to sustain yourself between all checkpoints and/or during a survival situation
- Plenty of clothing for cold, windy, and/or wet conditions
- Headlamp
- Rear flashing light to be used at night (for safety)
- Insulated water container
Recommended Gear:
- Winter sleeping bag (0 F or colder rating)
- Sleeping pad
- Bivy sack or tent
- Chemical hand/foot warmers
- Firestarter (matches or lighter)
- Stove/Fuel/small pot
- Overboots for keeping feet warm
- Cat tracks (ice creepers) for walking on angled glare ice
- Change of socks (synthetic or neoprene) in case of a dip into active overflow
- Extra mittens or gloves
- Face mask and/or neck gaiter
- Ski goggles if it’s windy
- Map, GPS, and/or compass
- Knife or Leatherman
- Appropriate tools to repair your equipment/gear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
Recommended for skiers:
- Kick wax and cork for narrow or steep sections of trail
- Scraper to remove kick wax and overflow ice from ski base
- De-icer to clear up frozen ski bindings
- Sharp ski pole tips, which will greatly increase your ability to double-pole on overflow ice and may help with balance when skiing across icy surfaces
The Susitna 100 website has a good discussion about sleds vs. backpacks, and classic vs. skate skiing, etc.
The Susitna 100 has numerous pointers for people traveling by foot.
Shoes: normal trail running shoes are sufficient. Choose a tread pattern with a lot of negative space, which helps with traction in loose snow. Avoid shoes with lots of ventilation near the toe box; they could lead to numb toes in extreme cold. If you're worried about cold feet, maybe size shoes up half a size and/or wear thick or two sets of socks. Gore-tex shoes are not necessary and can lead to sweaty, wet feet. Interior snow conditions are usually fairly dry. In cases of fresh snow, very lightweight gaiters like Dirtygirl can keep snow from getting under the tongue, melting, and leading to wet socks.
Socks: bring several extra pairs. Fresh, dry socks can be very invigorating.
Cleats: Cleated shoes are unnecessary. Areas of ice are usually short and walking carefully over those sections is often sufficient. However, overflow areas are sometimes uneven, and in those cases rubber slip-ons with cleats like Gripons and Stabilicers are light and quick to put on and take off. Yaktrax can be a little too much and uncomfortable to use with running shoes.
Clothing: Layers with zippers or buttons for quick ventilation help prevent sweating as your body cycles through warm/cool spells in cold conditions. Eating tends to first cool extremities as blood flow goes to the stomach, quickly followed by a resurgence of blood flow to fingers and toes and quick warming. Wool gloves and hat work better if they will get wet, but synthetic layers are lighter and easier to layer.
Light: The smallest LED headlight gives sufficient light for running. Snow is very reflective and you will not be traveling so fast that you need to see very far in front of you. On the other hand, many newer headlights have multiple settings, and a strong spotlight is convenient when you think something unexpected and unlit, like a moose, is ahead of you.
Sled or pack: sleds let you carry more gear with less weight on your back, but can be annoying if not well-designed and tested for your running style and cadence. If you sled, practice with it on a variety of surfaces, such as hardpack and fresh snow, and terrain, including flats, hills, and bumps. The bumpy surfaces snowmachines often create can be particularly trying with a sled as it constantly pushes and pulls on your waist over each bump. When designing your sled, remember that different materials shrink different amounts in the cold, and some become fairly brittle in extreme cold. Bring tools and quick-fix materials like duct tape, wire, and cord. If you pack, practice with it properly weighted and distributed. 10-15 pounds of gear on your back will probably impact your running form.
Overflow: The state of overflow can be deceptive; sometime solid and hard, and other times wet and slushy. The current temperature has no obvious bearing on its state, and wet overflow is as common in -40F as +30F. Plastic bags over your feet are an option when in doubt or just to be safe. If you're wrong, this is a prime opportunity for using a pair of those extra dry socks you brought along.
The Susitna 100 website has a comprehensive list of tips for bikers.
Winter Biking in the White Mountains
Winter Biking Pointers
Race results are available here. The most recent year is viewable on the page. Scroll to the bottom to see prior years.
Below are the all-time fastest times for both men and women in each race category.
Bike: Josh Chelf 7:54 (2014)
Megan Chelf 9:22 (2017)
Ski: Rob Whitney 11:12 (2011)
Shalane Frost 11:43 (2025)
Foot: Joe Grant 17:06 (2014)
Meg Inokuma 22:01 (2024)
We couldn’t put on the White Mountains 100 without the generosity of our volunteers. Email Race Director Nick Janssen‍ ‍if you’re interested in helping out with a future race.