ITI

[fatbikephil]

Stop press, Karl Booth is doing the ITI 1000! Go Karl!

https://bikepacking.com/bikes/2025-idit ... onal-rigs/

[Hyppy]

Spotted the frame bag then noticed the [faithful] companion dry bag … 

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[voodoo_simon]

Good luck

[Mart]

Some tiny chainrings on some of those bikes
Go Karl - were following, good luck

[Alpinum]

Some tiny chainrings on some of those bikes
Go Karl - were following, good luck

26t or 28t with a 10-50 or 10-52 cassette is the way to go when riding through a winter landscape. Even the (snow covered) flats, when not hardpacked or icy, feel like constant uphill riding. Add in a fatbike tyre (wide profile, deep tread), loaded bike and tyre pressures between just a tad more than ambient pressure (soft, unconsolidated snow) and 0.5 bar (consolitated snow).

IIRC Aidan Harding rode the ITI singlespeed. Can't remember the gear he used, but... some are built different

Thinking of Karl too. He'll be riding (hopefully) under the northern lights in 5 hours time...

[fatbikephil]

https://trackleaders.com/iti25
https://trackleaders.com/iti25i.php?name=Karl_Booth

Making steady progress. Looks like someone is about to finish the 350!

[Alpinum]

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I prompted the chatbot with specific questions regarding precipitation in that area, N of the Alaska Range, here's the answer:

Farewell Burn, located about 72 km north of Rohn, is often drier and has less snow than areas south of the Alaska Range due to a combination of geographical and meteorological factors:

Rain Shadow Effect from the Alaska Range
The Alaska Range acts as a significant barrier to moist air masses moving in from the Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific. In winter, the prevailing storm tracks usually come from the south and southeast. As these air masses ascend the mountains, they cool, causing precipitation (snow) to fall on the windward side (south of the range). By the time the air descends into the interior north of the range (where Farewell Burn is located), it has lost much of its moisture, resulting in a drier, snow-scarce environment.

Continental Interior Climate
Farewell Burn lies in the interior of Alaska, which has a more continental climate with generally drier conditions compared to the coastal and mountainous regions. The air masses reaching this area have often already deposited much of their moisture further south.

Low Elevation and Local Weather Patterns
Compared to the surrounding terrain, Farewell Burn is relatively low-lying. Localized katabatic winds (cold, dry air flowing down from the mountains) can further reduce snowfall accumulation. Additionally, the area has been historically affected by large wildfires (hence the name "Burn"), which may also influence snow retention due to changes in vegetation and surface albedo.

Wind Scouring and Redistribution of Snow
The region is known for strong winds that can blow away accumulated snow, leading to exposed ground even in midwinter. This contrasts with areas in more sheltered valleys or higher elevations, where snow can accumulate and persist.

Prevailing Winter Precipitation Directions

In winter, most precipitation in Alaska comes from the south and southeast, originating from the Gulf of Alaska and Pacific storms. These storms release most of their moisture upon hitting the Alaska Range. North of the range, including Farewell Burn, precipitation is much lower, often arriving from the west or northwest in the form of dry Arctic air masses with little snowfall.

Would you like a more detailed breakdown of the meteorology specific to this season?

The dog/musher race will start in Fairbanks due to the lack of snow. Not much of an issue for fatbikes I guess (or knee high overgrowth maybe?), but sking? Some are also pulling pulkas...

Also interesting to see the ski leader on pin bindings in alpine touring boots, yet on back country and XC skis. Two pairs, I guess one fast set with no steel edge, narrow, small grip zone and one with steel edge, wider and with a short skin or crown grip zone. Reminds me of the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Ski Classic (grassroot "race"), where back country skis with pin bindings were very popular (also with the help of the formidable Dynafit TLT boot of that time and see the benefits (being a rubbish skier myself, to control heel free pin is way easier than NNN bindings, no matter which type). I had the toe box of the shell of my Dynafit TLT's widened, thermo formed inner boot and insole, so they are very comfy, but it's still a completely stiff sole, that puts a lot of strain on the lower legs. To ski >500 km across predominantly flat terrain with alpine touring boots... wow.

Also, fastest biker for the short ITI to arrive at the finish line any time now. Not much off record pace set many years ago.

Edited thank to the funny filter "dog horse-drawn sledge"
Edited a 2nd time thanks to the filter

[voodoo_simon]

^^^
On one of my winter races, in the pre race meeting the organiser was explaining snow conditions, which sections were deep and which sections may lack snow (road section)

A skier puts his hand up and ask what he does he do if there’s no snow The organiser ripped into saying the runners and bikers haven’t complained about deep snow (and the possibility of long snow shoeing or pushing their bikes) so his option was to take his skis off and carry them. Zero sympathy given

[fatbikephil]

Also interesting to see the ski leader on pin bindings in alpine touring boots, yet on back country and XC skis. Two pairs, I guess one fast set with no steel edge, narrow, small grip zone and one with steel edge, wider and with a short skin or crown grip zone. Reminds me of the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Ski Classic (grassroot "race"), where back country skis with pin bindings were very popular (also with the help of the formidable Dynafit TLT boot of that time and see the benefits (being a rubbish skier myself, to control heel free pin is way easier than NNN bindings, no matter which type). I had the toe box of the shell of my Dynafit TLT's widened, thermo formed inner boot and insole, so they are very comfy, but it's still a completely stiff sole, that puts a lot of strain on the lower legs. To ski >500 km across predominantly flat terrain with alpine touring boots... wow.

From my position on the sofa, I'd have thought something like an Alpha Outback or polar would be the boot of choice for this. I can't imagine skiing long flats in an AT boot....

[Alpinum]

Completely unrelated. Sent to me by a good friend and thought of the ITI.

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Nome is at the sea. Polarbears don't hibernate. I mean it's dangerous!
Russia is close. I mean AK it once belonged to Russia ('till second half of the 19th century). They may want to get it back.
Got to be ready!
Also meteorites. Got to shoot them into small pieces and your way to Rome... err... Nome.

Yeehaw!

[Alpinum]

Good thing is you can get guns in Anchorage's Walmart. My photo from a trip in September 2015:

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USA! USA! USA!

Edit: photo showing about 1/4 of the offered toys. Just behind you could buy pets.

[Rapideye]

I'd imagine for those hunters out there, heading to Walmart to pickup a gun and then an animal to shoot from the store is win-win.

Even undertaking this event with polar bears out there is ballsy. Good luck, Karl.

[Alpinum]

I'd imagine for those hunters out there, heading to Walmart to pickup a gun and then an animal to shoot from the store is win-win.

For a little peek into Alaskan culture, look up "subsistence hunting". It's an important part, not just for the indigenous folks. We also learned, jokingly, about the term "Alaska vegetarian"; those who only eat hunted meat. My girlfriend and I came out of the Alaska Range packrafting down Maclaren River and met many hunters, those unsuccessful said they had been on a backpacking trip with guns.

Even undertaking this event with polar bears out there is ballsy. Good luck, Karl.

He'll be fine. No cows out there to run him over
Whilst I was joking about Nome and polar bears, there actually are rare sightings.

Karl now atop Rainy Pass, by far the highest point of both, the short and long version of the ITI at 1074 m.a.s.l. All downhill from here.

[whitestone]

Back to the ride...

Looks like Karl's in eighth place at the moment. About 70 miles behind the leader.

[fatbikephil]

I recall a talk at Forth Fat given by Carl Hutchings on his ITI exploits in the mid 2000's. The second time he made it to Nome, he was the only finisher . He noted that everyone said he'd won but felt this wasn't fair, being the only finisher. The audience pretty much all said "You won man...."

[Tractionman]

Good to see so many riders in the fifties, gives a little hope

[Rapideye]

Alpinum...yeah, my dig was aimed at those trophy hunters and those who shoot for the sake of it. Not those who kill to eat.

I fear a grizzly end...even from cows.

[Alpinum]

Alpinum...yeah, my dig was aimed at those trophy hunters and those who shoot for the sake of it. Not those who kill to eat. [...]

It's a funny thought and probably the main reason why I remember those details.
I was just going down memory lane from there on, triggered from your joke and not neccessarily directly related, which makes it seem odd I quoted. Ah, the intricacies of the neuron's action potential

I fear a grizzly end...even from cows.

Karl will be riding topless soon.
Daytime weather single digit freezing for the weekend in the area of McGrath.

[AndreR]

Completely unrelated. Sent to me by a good friend and thought of the ITI.
Screenshot_20250224_185031.jpg

Nome is at the sea. Polarbears don't hibernate. I mean it's dangerous!
Russia is close. I mean AK it once belonged to Russia ('till second half of the 19th century). They may want to get it back.
Got to be ready!
Also meteorites. Got to shoot them into small pieces and your way to Rome... err... Nome.

Yeehaw!

[Alpinum]

Karl arrived in Ruby last night (AK time), halfway point.
Time for a pint.


Edit: he just left Ruby

[redefined_cycles]

Karl arrived in Ruby last night (AK time), halfway point.
Time for a pint.


Edit: he just left Ruby

Thanks for that update Gian. Go Karl… May God keep you safe n sound…

[fatbikephil]

https://bikepacking.com/news/2025-idita ... 0-winners/

"Sketchy sea ice crossings"

Karl has less than 100 miles to go

[slarge]

Must be slow going! 90 miles left!

[whitestone]

Must be slow going! 90 miles left!

Remember the time difference Steve, it's currently only 0920 local time

[Alpinum]

Karl made it across the sea a couple of days ago
Average speed (from Strava) has been 4.4 km/h on the (big) sea crossing. Must have been tricky and tough out there.

Currently on another (bit smaller) sea crossing at 7 - 8 km/h and about 120 km to go
I guess he'll arrive at Nome tomorrow evening/night (AK time)

Fingers crossed all goes smothly.