Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic
The Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic is an adventure challenge that espouses purity of style and zero impact. Started in 1982 as a wilderness traverse, the Classic has crossed various mountain ranges throughout Alaska with some routes covering nearly. According to Outside magazine, many consider it "the toughest wilderness challenge in the world."
The rules are simple: start to finish with no outside support, requiring that participants carry all food and equipment; human-powered; leave no trace; and rescue is up to the individual to resolve. The most common form of transportation is by foot and packraft, although bicycles, skis, and paragliders have been used by intrepid participants. Beginning in 2004, participants have been required to carry satellite phones or Satellite emergency notification device like the Garmin inReach to facilitate emergency rescues. Traditionally, the same route has been used for three years in a row, with each year being a different month.
The organization of the challenge is grass-roots, having no affiliation to any organization or group, while generally fewer than 30 people enter in any one year. The Classic is often perceived as a race, but most certainly not a race. It has had an influence on American adventure racing, backcountry use of the packraft, and ultralight hiking is significant. In addition to the summer challenge, there is an even more low-key unaffiliated winter event, the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Ski Classic, which has taken place annually since 1987 with travel through the Chugach Mountains, Alaska Range, Brooks Range, and Wrangell-St. Elias.
During the 2014 classic, experienced participant Rob Kehrer died after his boat flipped while packrafting on the Tana River in Wrangell St. Elias National Park. His body was found on a gravel bar four miles downstream.
Routes
1982–1984
Hope to Homer,- Start
- Finish
| Year | Month | Fastest Finisher | Time | Course Record? | No. Starters | No. Scratches | Finisher Percent |
| 1982 | August | Roman Dial | 6 d, 10 hrs, 15m | 10 | 6 | 40% | |
| 1983 | September | Roman Dial and Jim Lokken | 4 d, 20 hrs | 22 | 10 | 45% | |
| 1984 | August | Dave Manzer | 3 d, 12 hrs | Yes | 35 | 17 | 49% |
1985–1987
Mentasta to Denali National Park,- Start
- Finish
| Year | Month | Fastest Finisher | Time | Course Record? | No. Starters | No. Scratches | Finisher Percent |
| 1985 | August | Hank Timm | 7d, 22hrs, 12m | 14 | 12 | 14% | |
| 1986 | ?August? | Hank Timm | 5d, 23hrs | 11 | 6 | 45% | |
| 1987 | August | Hank Timm and Randy Pitney | 4d, 18hrs, 27m | Yes | 14 | 8 | 43% |
1988–1990
Nabesna to McCarthy,- Start
- Finish
- 1988 – Roman Dial
- 1989 – David Manzer, Adrian Crane and Tom Possert
- 1990 – Brant McGee and Jeff Gedney
1991–1993
Gates of the Arctic Wilderness,- Start
- Checkpoint
- Finish
- 1991 – Brant McGee and Adrian Crane
- 1992 – Brant McGee and Dave Dixon
- 1993 – Gordy Vernon
1994–1996
Donnelly to McKinley Village,- Start
- Finish
- 1994 – Frazier Miller
- 1995 – Clark Saunders
- 1996 – Steve Reifenstuhl and Rocky Reifenstuhl
1997–1999
Hope to Homer,- Start
- Finish
- 1997 – Gordy Vernon and Thai Verzone
- 1998 – Gordy Vernon
- 1999 – Gabriel Lydic, Laona DeWilde Lydic and David Arvey
2000–2002
Nabesna to McCarthy,- Start
- Finish
- 2000 – Steve Reifenstuhl and Rocky Reifenstuhl
- 2001 – Steve Reifenstuhl and Rocky Reifenstuhl
- 2002 – Roman Dial
2003–2005
Eureka to Talkeetna,- 2003 – Hans Neidig, Chris Robertson and Paul Hanis
- 2004 – Gordy Vernon and Thai Verzone
- 2005 – Robert Schnell, Jason Geck, Tyler Johnson and Rory Stark
2006–2008
Chicken to Central,| Year | Month | Fastest Finisher | Time | Course Record? | No. Starters | No. Scratches | Finisher Percent |
| 2006 | month | Robert Schnell and Chris Robertson | 4d, 10hrs, 42min | Yes | |||
| 2007 | month | Robert Schnell and Chris Robertson | |||||
| 2008 | June | Butch Allen, Jim McDonough, Tyler Johnson and Craig "Chunk" Barnard | 16 | 7 | 56% |
2009–2011
Gerstle River/Donnelly to McKinley Village,- 2009 – Robert Schnell, Chris Robertson and Andrew Skurka
- 2010 – Robert Schnell, Chris Robertson, Todd Kasteler and Danny Powers
- 2011 – Tyler Johnson, Todd Kasteler, Luc Mehl and John Sykes
2012–2014
Thompson Pass to Lakina River Bridge, -- Start
- Finish
- 2012 – Luc Mehl, Josh Mumm
- 2013 – Lee Helzer, Steve Duby, Len Jenkins
- 2014 – Gerard Ganey, Todd Tumolo
2015
Rob Kehrer Memorial Route, Peters Hills to Nancy Lakes via Rohn,- Start
- Checkpoint
- Finish
- 2015 - Josh Mumm
2016–2018
Galbraith Lake to Wiseman,- Start
- Finish
- 2016 - Todd Tumolo and Luc Mehl
- 2017 - Tobias Schwoerer and Harlow Robinson
- 2018 - Tom Moran and Jay Cable
2019–2021
Cantwell to Sheep Mountain,- Start
- Finish
- 2019 - Tobias Schwoerer and Jeremy Vandermeer
- 2020 - Sam Hooper
- 2021 - Nick Treinen
2022–2024
Little Tok River to McCarthy, Alaska,- Start
- Finish
2025–2027
Kenai Lake to Hicks Creek, to- Start
- Finish
| Year | Month | Fastest Finisher | Time | Course Record? | No. Starters | No. Scratches | Finisher Percent |
| 2025 | June | Nick Roman | 5d 17h 2min | Yes | 23 | 16 | 30% |
| 2026 | July | ||||||
| 2027 | August |