Adventure News of the Week: Ice Age Trail Record, Youngest Iditarod Finishers, and More

From the inspiring to the tragic, ‘Adventure News of the Week’ presents a wrap-up of top news in the world of exploration and adventure.

BIKE: 16-Year-Old Iditarod Trail Racer Takes Top Finish. Jacob Hora, 16, biked 350 miles in the Iditarod Trail Invitational, becoming the youngest finisher ever. He finished third/fourth place alongside Jay Petervary.

According to Petervary, a bikepacker and Hora’s race mentor, some have dubbed Hora “the Idita-Teen.” The duo completed the race together. Fifteen out of 51 racers made it to the finish line this year.

And in last weekend’s Jr. Iditarod Sled Dog race, 14-year-old Morgan Martens won to become that race’s youngest finisher ever.

RECORD: Duluth Woman Sets Winter Thru-Hike Record on Ice Age Trail. Emily Ford from Duluth, Minn., has set a record as the first woman, the first person of color, and just the second person ever to thru-hike the entire 1,200-mile Ice Age Trail in winter. Mike Summers was the first to complete the trail in winter in 2017.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Emily Ford (@emilyontrail)

Boston Marathon Announces 'Virtual' Option, Opens to 70,000 Runners

The Boston Athletic Association has made a controversial decision to allow runners to run the Boston Marathon from anywhere. Read more…

WINTER: Polar Guides Create Polar Expeditions Classification Scheme. The Polar Expeditions Classification Scheme, or PECS, aims to solve the lack of clear, uniform standards for polar expeditions. The goal of PECS is to “harmonize the language of polar adventure.” Polar guide Eric Phillips and other members of the community are spearheading the project.

HIKE: After Wildfire Closure, Hanging Lake to Reopen May 1. A popular, iconic, and protected hiking trail in Colorado, Hanging Lake, will finally reopen this May after closing down in August 2020 due to the Grizzly Creek Fire.

The designated National Natural Landmark “is considered a rare geological wonder because of its rare and fragile shoreline composed of travertine deposits,” explained the Glenwood Springs Tourism Office.

Some trail rehabilitation and trail stabilization efforts will still be in place, as well as a permit system for visitors.

SCHOLARSHIP: Spyder Announces Partnership With National Brotherhood of Skiers Nonprofit. Spyder has launched a scholarship with The National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS), a nonprofit that helps develop athletes of color to compete in the U.S. Winter Olympics and in snowsports overall. The scholarship program will include general funding, coaching, gear, training expenses, and more.

“We are honored to partner with Spyder,” said Henri Rivers, president of the NBS. “They are stepping up and helping to nurture the next generation of Black skiers through this scholarship program. Together, we can do so much more to advance the Black community.”

Making History on Horseback: A Pacific Crest Trail Triumph

Gillian Larson's short film 'The Thru Rider' is finally here. Watch one woman and her horse ride victorious over the entire Pacific Crest Trail. Read more…