(Our record for TOTAL elapsed time of 50 hours 50 minutes still holds for the 2017 race; the fastest time for 2017 was a TOTAL elapsed time of 52 hours 47 minutes.
Historical TOTAL elapsed times:
2016--56:14
2015--55:51
2014--55:30
2013--55:02
2012--51:15
2011--52:17
2010--52:48
2009--50:52
2008--49:32*
2007--51:15
2006--50:37*)
On
June 28, 2013 at 4:53 a.m., Colin Angus and I completed our quest to row the
Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson City in Canada. We had two primary goals: to set a human-powered speed record for this stretch of the
river and to demonstrate the unique capability of a rowboat
to maintain high speeds indefinitely in long-distance racing. Due to unexpected
conditions on Lake Laberge, we didn’t quite reach the first goal, but we
certainly met the second one.
The
only records for this 440-mile stretch of the river have been set in the course
of the Yukon River Quest, a paddle race that is held every year. However, our own effort was not in any
way connected to or recognized by the Yukon River Quest because (for reasons
that are unclear) they do not allow rowboats. Now that we’ve shown the
effectiveness of our system, perhaps their perspective will change!
Colin pushing off in Whitehorse, Yukon. Steve Price in resting position! |
1. Our time is the fastest posted in the
last 9 years.
2. Our time is the 4th fastest in history.
3. We have the second fastest time in
history for a two-person team.
4. Our time was faster than any that
has ever been posted by a two-person canoe.
5. More than 700 teams have raced down
the Yukon since 2001, putting us in the top 0.5%;
6. We made the fastest unsupported
journey from Whitehorse to Dawson City (meaning that, unlike the Yukon River
Quest contestants, we were provided with no food, shelter, or water along the
way).
7. And finally, we are the only
recorded team that has ever made the voyage between Whitehorse and Dawson City
without once stepping ashore.
We
missed breaking the overall human-powered record by 1 hour 18 minutes, but this
was primarily due to the fact that we lost more than an hour and a half on Lake
Laberge due to strong headwinds. At one point so much water was coming into the boat from
waves that we could only just keep up with the bailing. In addition,
water splashing over the bow soaked our sleeping bag and us, which, when coupled
with the wind, made for a cold transit for the guy not rowing. Had conditions been calm on Lake
Laberge, we would have comfortably achieved our goal of setting a human-powered
speed record.
Start of race in Whitehorse |
Colin Angus loading boat. Note resting/sleeping area forward of rowing position. |
Typical Yukon River view |
Steve facing forward with Colin rowing backwards! |
The
main disadvantage of being in a rowboat is the rear vantage point. This
was a huge challenge for us on the Yukon, as it is a “braided” river with many
islands and channels. The continuous
forward visibility afforded by canoes and kayaks is a significant asset in
interpreting the subtle clues offered by the river. To overcome the challenge of facing backwards, we had to use
a combination of a rear-view mirror mounted on sunglasses, continuous body/head
turning, and assistance from the “resting” person (mostly Colin advising me on
where to go!).
Typical view of braided and confusing channels on Yukon River |
Five Fingers Rapids (photo taken from Klondike Hwy on drive back to Whitehorse from Dawson City) |
The
infamous Five Finger Rapids posed no problem for our boat. I woke Colin
up for the rapids—he yawned, sat down on the rowing seat, and expertly
navigated the rapids in about three strokes. We passed through these turbulent
waters at about five a.m., and while Colin wasn’t worried about capsizing, he was
concerned about getting soaked and further chilled. Fortunately, due to
the stability of the boat and Colin’s skill, no more than four drops of water
landed inside the boat. (Nine
years ago Colin passed through these same rapids in a canoe and was thoroughly
drenched by the standing waves.) Fortunately, oars offer infinitely more
control and power than a paddle, and we were able to delicately thread the boat
through the rapids, thus avoiding the larger waves and staying dry. Our
sleeping bag had been previously soaked by rain showers and wave trains, but it
had dried in the sun, and we really appreciated the fact that it was still dry
downstream of Five Finger rapids.
And
so we finally arrived in Dawson City at 4:53 a.m. on June 28. We were feeling a bit tired but in good
physical shape, and we were sure we would have had no problem maintaining our
two-hours-on two-hours-off routine for another month. The boat performed
flawlessly—tracking well through the turbulent waters and providing ample
stability. No repairs or
adjustments were required for the duration of our quest. While we didn’t break the overall
human-powered record, we were thrilled to have set the records mentioned above,
as well as to have demonstrated the speed and power of the two-person rowboat
design that allows for non-stop progress with one rower and a resting partner.
The worst part of the entire trip was unpacking the boat in Dawson City and strapping it to the top of car |
Finally,
a huge thanks to a number of people who made this adventure possible: to Colin’s wife Julie for all her
support and help; to my wife Ann for driving our car 330 miles from Whitehorse
to Dawson City shortly after being released from the hospital with strict
instructions not to drive for at least 24 hours; and to Sylvain Turcotte (of
Boreale Biking in Whitehorse), Tara McCauley (Dawson City), and John Ewing
(also of Dawson City) who graciously agreed to serve as witnesses to our
departure and arrival in the middle of the night, even though they had never
met us before.
A few words on the Yukon
River conditions:
The distance between
Whitehorse and Dawson City was 433 miles according to our Garmin GPS. This is at variance with a reported
distance of 440 miles in several souces.
As it turned out, we found
the current just out of Whitehorse to be among the swiftest—allowing us to move
at about 9.5 to 10 mph. The
current had slowed down considerably by the time we reached Lake Laberge,
where there was almost no current. We were greeted by a stiff north wind that caused waves about
a foot high, and by the time we completed our 33-mile transit of the lake, we
had dropped down to an overall speed of 5.1 mph.
Steve and Colin on bluff overlooking Dawson City with Yukon River in background |
Except for the confluence
with the White River, we never experienced an increase in current flow at any
of the intersections with other rivers.
In fact, due to the breadth of the Yukon River, it was never clear that
we were ever passing through a confluence.
The Five Fingers rapids were
very easy, staying to the righthand side and just to the left of the easternmost
standing wave. We approached
the standing wave nearly broadside, and then with 2-3 strokes, we moved to the
left and shot right past it, with no water or spray in the boat.
For information regarding Colin Angus' various adventures, see Angus Adventures
For information regarding Colin's innovative boat designs, prices, and availability see Angus Rowboats
For information regarding Colin Angus' various adventures, see Angus Adventures
For information regarding Colin's innovative boat designs, prices, and availability see Angus Rowboats