6633 Arctic Ultra

6633 Arctic Ultra: An Extreme Race to the Arctic Ocean

One of the most extreme races in the world, the 6633 Arctic Ultra takes place in February in Canada's Far North. The race starts at Eagle Plains, in the Yukon, on the Dempster Highway. The full-distance event, at around 380 miles (more than 600 km), reaches Tuktoyaktuk, on the Arctic Ocean, along snow-covered roads and ice roads. A shorter format, at over 120 miles, finishes at Fort McPherson. Participants cross the Arctic Circle, Wright Pass and the dreaded Hurricane Alley, then pass through Inuvik. Running unsupported, they carry their own gear, bivouac in the wilderness and manage their rest time on their own, with checkpoints providing mainly hot water and shelter. Another great self-sufficient adventure, the Marathon des Sables is run in the desert.