Avalanches, white-out weather conditions and blocked roads were all par for the course at this year’s 6633 Artic Ultra Classic. The race is a self-sufficient, non-stop 380-mile foot race that starts at Eagle Plains Hotel in northern Canada, approximately 225 miles from the Dawson junction on the Klondike Highway. The race traverses the Yukon via Dempster Highway and Ice Road, finishing at the banks of the Arctic Ocean.
The rugged race has three options: 120 miles with a limit of 71 hours, the 120+ for those who wish to have the option to go the whole journey and 380 miles with a limit of 215 hours, for those who seek the ultimate challenge. Runners pass through check points every 30–70 miles throughout the course. The 2023 start line included a few racers going for 120 and 120+ mile options, and 20 runners from various countries, including Australia, Italy, Romania and the United Kingdom, attempting to conquer 380 miles (actual distance is 383 miles/617 km).
According to race director and creator, Martin Like, 6633 Artic Ultra traverses beautiful landscapes as participants navigate the coldest and windiest conditions in North America. The course travels through the Canadian Arctic, an extreme environment where temperatures range from -5 degrees to -50 degrees Fahrenheit, with the 120-mile race finishing at First Nations Hamlet of Fort McPherson. The 380-mile race finishes on the banks of the Arctic Ocean at Tuktoyaktuk. Like puts on the race with co-race directors, his wife, Sue, and Stuart Thornhill.
Racer pulks. Photo: Evan Davies
The race provides experienced crew members plus medical professionals who monitor the course to ensure the participants stay safe. Beyond crew support, it’s a self-sufficient race in which runners move, eat and sleep—mostly camping along the route—when they choose, with a few checkpoints located at buildings along the course where runners can get shelter from the cold. To tackle the elements, there’s a substantial list of mandatory gear, including face masks, goggles, varieties of gloves, bivvy and/or tent, sleeping bag, food and stove with fuel, in addition to a compass, and a pulk (sled) to pull supplies.
American Nate Dirvin signed up for 6633 Arctic Ultra because he was curious if he could complete 380 miles, which would be the farthest distance he had ever attempted. While his sights were set on the 380-mile race, he signed up for the 120+ option, which enabled him to determine during the event if he was going to keep going once he hit the 120-mile mark.
Dirvin is driven and likes to challenge himself. In preparing for the race, he opted to rest, spend time with family and friends, and gain a few pounds as he thought that would be helpful in the extreme elements. His preparation worked, as he went on to place third—one of six to finish the full 380+ mile journey and the only American.
A school counselor, ocean lifeguard and Coast Guard Reservist, Dirvin is no stranger to pushing through tough challenges. He completed the Triple Crown of 200s in 2021 and 2022, in addition to completing the grueling Badwater 135 in 2021 and 2022, as well as Cocodona 250, consisting of 250 miles through Arizona in 2022. He earned UltraSignup’s “Most Hours Spent Racing on Road and Trail” for 2022, clocking in 598 hours spent racing.
Nate with sled. Photo: Evan Davies
Dirvin was careful to break the race down into small chunks so as not to be overwhelmed by the massive mileage. The first of many challenges came on day two, when adverse weather conditions prompted a road closure, and runners had to do about 100k of an out-and-back on an open road, as they waited for further directions from the RDs.
The next challenge occurred when he hit the 120-mile mark where he could end his race and finish. He had knee issues by then, a knot in his upper back, and along the way, had been diagnosed with trench foot by medics, which led to stops whenever necessary to pop blisters and to keep his feet as dry as possible. He practiced gratitude to overcome his pain by acknowledging the beauty of the snow-covered landscape. “Never give in,” was his mantra and those were his parting words to the RD as he made his way back out to the course at Fort McPherson.
Photo: Evan Davies
Dirvin tried not to track himself too closely in terms of mileage and time as he wanted to focus his energy on forward motion. Once he surpassed the 250-mile mark, which up until then was the farthest he had ever gone on foot, he stayed calm and knew that he could pull it off if he kept moving and rested when he needed to, regardless of how uncomfortable the extreme cold was when he stopped. He didn’t worry about time until only two or three days remained, when he realized he needed a plan to ensure finishing before the cutoff. At mile 280, he began to use his Garmin watch to track the last 100 miles.
When he reached 300 miles he was committed to finishing the last stretch of the race, and with 30k left, he was sure he was going to make the cutoffs. At 3 a.m. local time on March 4, he was the third runner to cross the finish line. “I didn’t realize what I was capable of.”
Nate at the finish. Photo: Evan Davies
380-mile finishers for the 2023 Classic Edition:
- First: Natalie Taylor (UK) and Tom Hunt (UK) with new course record of 149 hours and 47 mins
- Third: Nate Dirvin (USA)
- Fourth: Tim Hamlin (Australia)
- Fifth: Paolo Bosco (Italy)
- Sixth: Chris J (UK)
120-mile finishers:
- First: Patrick O’Toole (Ireland)
- Second: Ed Sadler (USA)