Spencer Glacier Dash

Come celebrate the beauty of the Spencer Glacier Area and the history of the Alaska Railroad History by racing the Spencer Glacier Overlook Trail which retraces the glacier recession over the last 100 years.  

COST: 

Early Bird Pricing Through April 26th

• $104 ($44 discounted train ticket plus $60 race registration fee)
  No refunds will be given.

Pricing April 27th - May 4th

• $114 ($44 discounted train ticket plus $70 race registration fee)
  No refunds will be given.

Pricing May 5th - May 10th

• $124 ($44 discounted train ticket plus $80 race registration fee)
  No refunds will be given.

Registration closes at midnight on May 10th before the race due to requirements on when we must submit a final manifest to the Alaska Railroad. This race is capped at 100 people.

FAMILY & FRIENDS:

• Your family and friends are invited to join you at the race, but they will need to purchase tickets at the regular price, which is $88 for adults (12+) and $44 for youth (2-11), and free for all infants (under 2 years old). KMTA will handle all ticket purchases for racers. You can also purchase your family and friends tickets through us to make the process easier on yourself. Otherwise, you are welcome to direct your family and friends to purchase their own tickets directly through the railroad. 

LOCATION:

• Take the Alaska Railroad to the starting line of the race!   The cost of your ticket is included in your race registration fee. All participants must depart from the Portage Train Depot (Mile 80.3 of the Seward Highway - Look for the small red-roofed building adjacent to the Seward Highway with a large parking lot; the railroad tracks are visible on the opposite, north side of the parking lot.) 

DEPARTURE OPTIONS:

• Saturday, June 8th - Train departs the Portage Railroad Depot at 1:25 PM. Be at the train station at 1:15 PM. Participants that choose to go the day before will receive their tickets at the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop the day of the race. These participants will camp the night before at Spencer. 
• Sunday, June 9th - Train departs the Portage Railroad Depot at 1:25 PM. Be at the train station by 12:45 PM to give yourself enough time to check in and receive your ticket and bib from a race greeter.

GEAR/BAG DROP

• Gear that you don’t want to carry during the race can be dropped in the Chugach Adventures Blue Van, or you can leave gear at the Whistlestop, or you may also leave gear on the train as your seat will remain the same on your train ride back.
• All gear that you are unable to carry on your person (e.g. jogging stroller) can go on the cargo train car . Please follow the signs which will direct you to the cargo area.

WATER/SNACKS

• Please bring your own water source to minimize waste. You can refill your container using the jug of water we’ll have on site. After the race, snacks will be provided.

THE RACE COURSE:

• The start of the race is only accessible by riding on the Alaska Railroad. The course will begin at the Spencer Whistle Stop of the Alaska Railroad and follow the Spencer Glacier Trail to Spencer Lake. From Spencer Lake participants will run the Spencer Glacier Overlook to the end of the trail and then turnaround and race back to the Chugach Adventures Base Camp located at the boat launch for a total of 5 Miles.

• To return to the Whistle Spot participants may walk back to the Whistle Stop or wait for a shuttle provided by Chugach Adventures.

RACE FORMAT

• All Participants will arrive at the Spencer Whistle Stop courtesy of the Alaska Railroad's Glacier Discovery Train between 1:50 PM to 2 PM.
• 2:25 PM - Mass State (One Wave with all participants)
• NOTE: Wave start time will be determined by the arrival time of the Glacier Discovery Train to the Spencer Whistle Train Stop. Race will commence approximately 25 minutes after arrival of the train to allow all Ranger led hikers, public hikers/campers to clear the area.

AGE LIMITS

• The Spencer Glacier Dash is open to all participants over the age of 16. Kids younger than 16 are welcome to participate as well provided they have an accompanying adult. If you have a youth that would also like to participate and is under 16, please contact us.

SAFETY

• This race does take place in bear country so please bring some bear spray!

OVERNIGHT CAMPING

• Train departs the Portage Railroad Depot at 1:25 PM on June 8th. Be at the train station at 1:15 PM. All gear that you are unable to carry on your person can go on the cargo train car. Please follow the signs which will direct you to the cargo area.
• For your return to Portage all camping gear needs to be back to the Spencer Whistle Stop at 1:45 pm on June 9th, to be staged next to the offload area / where the sign is at.

SWAG

• Want a Spencer Glacier Dash t-shirt? Check out our Bonfire store to get your swag in time for the race! All racers will also receive custom race swag (different than a t-shirt) included with the price of registration.

This race is under permit with the U.S. Forest Service.