Snowmobile Trails Minnesota North Shore Snowmobile Trails Minnesota North Shore Snowmobile Trails Minnesota North Shore Snowmobile Trails Minnesota North Shore

snowmobiletrails.com
Arctic Man Ski and Sno-Go Classic
Hoo-Doo Mountains - Summit Lake - Paxson, Alaska

Every April at the foot of the Hoo-Doo Mountains near Summit Lake - Paxson, Alaska

Arctic Man Alaska
Photo by ERIC ENGMAN / Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

We usually spend 4 or 5 nights at the annual event, 3-4 hours south of Fairbanks down the Richardson Highway. We go for the incredible powder riding, and wandering around the nightly raucous of bonfires. We don't make a huge attempt to view the racing, if we're in the right spot at the right time, we see some of the racers go by. The race consists of teams of skier & snowmachine or snowboarder & snowmachine, some as far a way as Minnesota. Julie Thul from Side Lake, Minnesota; the World PowerSports Association Pro Women's class champ from 2003. Was on a snowmachine in the race with Alaskan Candice Drouin, who finished 1st in the women's ski division.

Arctic Man Alaska
Photo by ERIC ENGMAN / Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

The skier or boarder starts at "The Tit," a 5,800 ft. (1,768 m.) tip of the Hoo-Doo Mountains and then within two miles (3.2 km) drops 1700 ft. (518 m.) into a canyon and meets up with their snowmachine partner. The skier / boarder grabs a towrope and the pair continues back uphill for upwards of two miles going anywhere from 70-90 mph (113-145 km/h).

At the top of the second mountain, the pair separates and the skier / boarder plummets down another 1200 ft. (366 m.) to the finish line. This race tests not only the skill and endurance of the skier / snowboarder but also snowmachine and driver. The race is grueling. The partying is grueling. With over 10,000 spectators and thousands of snowmachines, yes, thousands... I'm betting it is the largest snowmachine party on earth. There is; a bar, jail, thousands of RVs and campers, dancing, huge bonfires, snowmachines going by and folks having a good time after a long dark winter. Helicopters are flying day and at night with medivac emergencies, search and rescue and trooper patrols.

Did I mention parties, all night long.. ? and very little sleep.

Arctic Man Race Competitors
Snowboarder Sunny Prather, right, carries her teammate Moanna Bradshaw
Photo by ERIC ENGMAN / Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via The Associated Press

It's also amazing how many women attend this event. Alaskan women are really into outdoor activities and many could take on any man from Minnesota riding a snowmachine in these conditions. We were fortunate enough to know a team that was racing this year and shared their designated spot on racer row. Our friends from Homer, Alaska; Jake Wise [ snowmachiner ] and Dave Evans [ skier ] finished 5th in the Men's ski division.

Jumping Snowmachine Arctic Man
Jumping "The Tit" at the 2007 Arctic Man

Arctic Man 2008 - Hoo Doo Mountains Summit Lake, Alaska © snowmobiletrails.com
A placed called "The Tit" where the racers start.

Arctic Man Hoo Doo Mountains Alaska
The little specks in the upper right corner are people on sleds

Arctic Man Hoo Doo Mountains Alaska
This bowl was a great place to hill climb and carve powder with little avalanche danger

Arctic Man Hoo Doo Mountains Alaska
Hill climbing and jumping over the cornice.

Arctic Man Hoo Doo Mountains Alaska
Watching the snocross race with thousands of other sledders

Arctic Man Hoo Doo Mountains Alaska
Carving along the side of a powder hill at Arctic Man Event

Arctic Man Hoo Doo Mountains Alaska
Ready to hit the untracked powder at Arctic Man

Arctic Man Hoo Doo Mountains Alaska
The Arctic Cat M1000 162 was a great sled to have at Arctic Man

Arctic Man Hoo Doo Mountains Alaska
Skier going by with snowmachine pulling at 80 plus miles an hour going up hill

Once you've been to Arctic Man, you'll be back every year...or at least wish you were.

This year is the 24th year the event has taken place and is April 9th - 12th, 2009, see you there...

www.arcticman.com

 

Alaska Outdoors Supersite has a good story of Arctic Man by Katie Johnson

s n o w m o b i l e t r a i l s . c o m
Snowmobiling Destinations and Trail Information

Home | Snowmobile Trails | Snowmobile Trail Maps | Snowmobile Rentals
Groomer Schedule | Lodging | Add Your Business or Trail | Emergency Contacts
Code of Ethics | Snowmobile Clubs | North Shore Real Estate | Contact Us

More Minnesota North Shore Winter Activities


All Original Content
Copyright © 2000-2020 All Rights Reserved

By using our service you're agreeing
to our
terms of service and disclaimer.

 

Published from the Minnesota North Shore by Chad Jones

BWCA/Boundary Waters Canoe Area | North Shore Visitor Guide | Quetico Provincial Park | North Shore Snowmobiling Guide | North Shore State Park Guide | North Shore Fall Color Tours| Canoe Country Blogs | North Shore Hiking Guide| Gunflint Trail Canoe Trips and Lodging

Updated Jan 22, 2020