Unalaska, AK – A local wilderness adventure-seeker spent part of March making sure other adventurers made it through safely. Dan Young recently volunteered as a medic at the first-ever 100-mile long, human-powered winter race through the White Mountains Wilderness Area near Fairbanks. Participants skied, biked, and ran the course that took them through mountain passes, over ice covered lakes, and through water that overflowed from partially frozen rivers. They carried their own food, water, and equipment, though they could get warm drinks at checkpoint cabins along the route.

Young is an emergency trauma technician and has wilderness rescue training. He and just one other medic were responsible for helping keep 50 racers and 20 volunteers safe in the sub-zero temperatures of the more than 30-hour long race.

"We kind of had this running list of where people were. Not necessarily who they were but where they were on the course. And then we would just position ourselves between them, sometimes running forward to catch people who needed help, sometimes running behind to catch people who needed help."

Young helped treat people for hypothermia, frostbite, foot injuries, and sheer exhaustion. Some fainted at the doorways to the checkpoints.

"A lot of times racers, it was so cold, temperatures getting down to negative 30, they don't want to stop to eat. Their body needs the energy, needs the water, the hydration, the nourishment," Young said. "But as soon as they stop its just bitter cold. So a lot of participants would just skip eating and would run into those troubles. So we would get them to check points, get them in an environment where they could take off their wet clothes, could sit down, could warm up. And then we would force feed them lots of liquids and some food."

Young said he had his outdoor winter gear and traveled along the race trail on a snow machine. He only slept three hours during the entire event. Though he had trouble with the extreme cold, he warmed up if he kept moving. He said the experience was amazing and educational.

"I got a new appreciation for being healthy. I'm a little heavy now but certainly I still like to get out and do things and watching these athletes just go nonstop for 30 plus hours for a fun race was just absolutely amazing. Their attitude and their camaraderie with one another and the way they treat themselves and treat their equipment and their amazing respect for the outdoors was just really impressive."

Ann Farris and Ed Plumb organized the race in just 6 months. They designed and developed the course, got the necessary permits, recruited volunteers, gathered equipment, and registered 50 participants. They limited the number to help protect the wilderness area. Farris said the support from the adventure racers and volunteers made it possible.

"I felt from the beginning that there was going to be a lot of interest, but the race filled up within just a few weeks of being announced, even before we had our permit, which was a little scary. And then the offers from people to volunteer. It was really overwhelming. It was just fantastic to see."

The White Mountains 100 took place north of Fairbanks on March 21-22. The dates are not set yet for next year's race.