A 60km, 200km or 200 mile human powered winter race on a network of groomed snowmobile trails. Groomed is relative. This is a backcountry event that will require some experience and winter survival skills. You will be challenged, humbled and rewarded in many different ways. The 200 distance race course will not be marked and you will need to navigate by GPS or map and compass. The 60km will be well marked. If you can read a map you will have no problem following the route. You will need to be self sufficient and carry all your own gear, food and water, although there will be check points and aid stations.
This event was created to help people gain experience and learn about backcountry winter travel. We feel everyone needs that chance and we do not require a resume of experience to do the 60km or 200km distance but we do require past winter travel experience to participate in the 200 mile distance.
Please understand that temperatures of 20 below are not uncommon. The snow fall average at 6300′, your low point, is over 200″ and over 300″ at your high point of 8300′. Snow is guaranteed!
Do not take the 60km distance lightly! There is no short cuts or bail out spots. It is 20 miles
January 11, 2020
9:00am start
January 10-12, 2020
200 mile Jan 10, 2020 12:00 noon start
200km Jan 11, 2020 7:00am start
The Pond’s Lodge in Island Park, Idaho, is the event headquarters. Registration, gear check and the racer meeting will all take place at the Pond’s. The lodge is a restaurant, pizzeria and bar with cabins available.
The race start will take place across the street from the Pond’s next to the Forest Service building (you will see signs).
The race will start from the Ponds Lodge parking lot.
The race start will take place across the street from the Pond’s next to the Forest Service building (you will see signs).
The route takes place in and around the area – The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. You will be riding just outside Yellowstone National Park. The 200(s) take you up to the gateway town, to the park, of West Yellowstone before turning around and heading back towards the lodge.
Pre Race Meeting / Dinner Feed
This is a mandatory meeting at the Pond’s Lodge for all 200km/mile racers that will address trail conditions, rules, safety etc and last minute info that I need to pass along.
Thursday, Jan 9, 6:30pm – 200 mile racers dinner is served and included. Racer meeting will follow.
Friday, Jan 10, 10:00am – Meant for prepared veterans that can not make the meeting the evening before due to travel logistics. This will be very brief. I will only be passing along information that is not found here on the website and any last minute changes. I will also answer any questions you may have.
*It is mandatory to make one meeting or the other.
*I highly encourage and recommend to you to be at the event site on Thursday. Thursday’s meeting will be much more informative.
*Friday’s meeting will be very brief and only for veterans.
*We have included the last minute Friday morning, race day, gear check and meeting with respect to peoples time away from home, travel and veterans of the event. If you fall into this category don’t come unprepared , be late, or cause stress to yourself or the event management. We will not cut you slack if you come up short on a piece of equipment, are late, or do not make the meeting. We will not let you start and you will not get a refund.
Friday Jan 10, 6:30pm – 200km racers dinner is served and included. Mandatory racer meeting will follow.
Saturday Jan 11, 8am – Brief racer meeting for all disciplines. Registration/Sign-in closes at 8am!
Thursday, Jan 9, 3:00pm – 6:00pm and until 9pm after the 200 mile meeting.
Friday, Jan 10, 8:00am – 10:00am, 2:00pm – 6:00pm and until 9pm after the 200km meeting.
Saturday, Jan 11, 6:30am – 8:00am – For 60km ONLY!
*200 mile racers MUST be through gear check by 9:30am, Friday.
*200km racers must be through gear check by 9pm Friday.
*Don’t make it difficult and arrive last minute thinking you are the only one.
*Make sure you show up prepared with all your gear! Don’t expect to be able to get last minute gear in Island Park. Food, yes. Gear, not really.
(must be carried from start to finish of race)
Bikers- Fat tire bikes only. Minimum of a 3.7 tire width. Don’t ask and don’t show up with a traditional sized tire bike or plus size tires (3.0).
Foot- Your choice on footwear and if you want to bring snowshoes or not.
Skiers- Your choice on ski type (skate, traditional, randonee).
– Front (white) and rear (red) safety lights and/or reflective tape/clothing. Don’t show up with single LED key chain lights…bring real riding safety lights!
Bikes – Both lights mounted on the bike, turned on at all times and visible to others.
Foot – Rear light mounted to sled or backpack. Headlamp on facing forward and/or ample reflective material or tape on body/equipment facing forward.
Ski – Rear light mounted to sled or backpack. Headlamp on facing forward and/or ample reflective material or tape on body/equipment facing forward.
– Ability to carry 48oz of water with out freezing (Insulated bottles of sorts or hydration system next to body)
– In addition to the on the bike safety lights you will need to carry a headlamp or another light that is adequate to ride in the dark with. Yes, people will finish in the dark.
– Insulated, puffy, jacket.
– Emergency space blanket or bag.
– **This is a very minimal list and I hope to see much more being carried. Think of it as day in the mountains, like FULL day. Many people have finished in the dark and it has been -20*F in the morning and snowed 12″ in the afternoon, all in the same day, during this pursuit before.
– Fat tire bikes only. Minimum of a 3.7 tire width. Don’t ask and don’t show up with a traditional sized tire bike or plus size tires (3.0).
– Front and rear safety lights. White front, red back. Both mounted on the bike, turned on at all times and visible to others. Don’t show up with single LED key chain lights…bring real riding safety lights!
– In addition to the on the bike safety lights you will need to carry a headlamp or another light that is adequate to ride in the dark with. Yes, to make the cut off times you will need to ride in the dark.
– Ability to carry 48oz of water with out freezing (Insulated bottles of sorts or hydration system next to body)
– 0*F sleeping bag or colder (It can easily be 20 below, just sayin’)
– Insulated sleeping pad – minimum size 20″x 48″
– Bivy sac or tent
– Insulated jacket (puffy)
– Stove, fuel, 16 oz. pot (Ability to boil water several times and if the gear checker doesn’t think you can he may just ask you to do so at the gear check. Don’t forget to bring extra fuel for your water boil test!)
– Fire starter, lighter and / or matches
– Extra batteries for both your safety lights and headlamp
– Map (provided)
– SPOT locator beacon that is registered with Tracklearders.com. for live online following and safety (available through registration).
– Helmet…highly recommended!!
– 60km folks should give serious thought to a stove. Reason being it is ~20 miles between aid and can possibly take you 6-8 hours. Think it through!
– Additional Gore Tex jacket and pants
– Spare gloves, hat, socks, neck gaiter…like your fingers and toes!
– Ability to carry 100 oz’s water…don’t get dehydrated!
– Calories; candy bar, sandwich, Kate’s Bar…don’t bonk!
– Thermos…nice treat!
– Goggles…it’s snowy and windy on the ridge!
– GPS, compass, watch, computer…you want to get lost?
All competitors must check in with a checkpoint volunteer at each distances affiliated checkpoints.
Checkpoint 1 – Trail Side Tent (aprox. mile 7) – Hot/cold water, GU Brew, GU Chomps and gels, snacks, pop, cup of soup, hot coco, salt and sweet snacks, warm PB&J…
Checkpoint 2 – Trail Side Tent (aprox. mile 27, same as above, you hit the same one twice)
Checkpoint 1 – Trail Side Tent (aprox. mile 30) – Hot /cold water, GU Brew, GU Chomps and gels, snacks, and cup of soup.
Checkpoint 2 – West Yellowstone House (aprox. half way point) – Drop bag pick up. Hot soup / stew, grilled cheese, snacks, soda pop, hot drink, water etc. provided. A well stocked aid station, be careful to not get sucked in… Full services available in West Yellowstone.
Checkpoint 3 – ‘Man Cave’ – Last warm up before finishing up the last 21 miles. Pancakes and toppings, hot soup / stew, snacks, soda pop, hot drink, water etc. provided.
Checkpoint 1 – Trail Side Tent (aprox. mile 78 miles) – Drop Bag Pick up. Hot /cold water, GU Brew, GU Chomps and gels, sweet and salty snacks, and soup.
Checkpoint 2 – West Yellowstone Cabin (aprox. 120 miles) – Drop bag pick up. Hot soup / stew, grilled cheese, snacks, soda pop, hot drink, water etc. provided. A well stocked aid station, be careful to not get sucked in… Full services available in West Yellowstone.
Checkpoint 3 – ‘Man Cave’ – Last warm up before finishing up the last 28 miles. Pancakes and toppings, hot soup, snacks, soda pop, hot drink, water etc. provided.
Water Boil
Both the 200km and 200 mile participants must stop and bring 8 ounces of water to a rolling boil at Checkpoint 1 before continuing on.
– You are only allowed to use the equipment and supplies you are carrying.
– You can use the snow.
– You can not use the Checkpoint supplies.
– You can aid from the checkpoint before, during and after your water boil.
– The water boil area will be directly across from the checkpoint.
The Trail Side Tent and the Man Cave Checkpoints are on route and you can not miss them.
Sponsored by Rocky Mountain Truck Center. Located here. It is slightly off course and NOT on the GPS track. As you roll into West Yellowstone off of South Plateau Trail you will be on Electric St. Take Electric St to the other end of town and make a left onto D Parkway. The checkpoint address is 507 Parkway D. If you’re using a GPS, use 324 Geyser Street, ride past the house going west and you’ll see the rental back behind. Look for signs, lathe, banners and glow sticks.
Remember Checkpoints are meant to be exactly that and act as an aid station / resupply. Race management did not organize these for you to sleep in but certainly rest if you need to. First come, first serve with the available space. Same goes with first one in is the first one out when it gets too crowded. You are carrying sleeping gear and can sleep outside, of course OFF trail. With that being said there is room to take time to dry out, eat and rest.
For 200’s only. 60km race does not allow drop bags.
Drop bags will be transported to both the “Trail Side Tent” and the “West Yellowstone Cabin”. The West Yellowstone Checkpoint bags will be stored indoors and the Trail Side Tent Checkpoint bags will be outdoors. Drop bags should include food only. No additional gear such as batteries, hand warmers and clothing are permitted in the drop bag. You must start with all the equipment you need as well as finish with the equipment you start with. No dropping of equipment. Drop bags should be packed in a garbage bag. We do not guarantee drop bags will be returned. When the checkpoint volunteers close the checkpoint and return to the Ponds Lodge they will bring back whatever drop bags were remaining.
Participants must reach and leave these points by the specified time to continue. Race management will have the final call for someone to continue or not beyond the specified time. We must be considerate of our permit and the team of people it takes to make this event possible.
Checkpoint 1, Trail Side Tent – No cut-off in place. At this point you will have a good idea of what you are getting into and I will let you make your own decision about carrying on. Of course you need to pass the water boil test first. 🙂
Checkpoint 2, West Yellowstone – Sunday, January 12, 6:00am
Checkpoint 3, Man Cave – Sunday, January 12, 6:00pm
Finish – No cut-off. With that being said please respect the volunteers and organization by not bivvying all night after the Man Cave Checkpoint. With all your power do what you can to push through to the finish. It is ~25 miles to the finish for the 200 mile and ~17 miles for the 200 km. Thank you!
The goal is to see everyone finish but to incorporate cut-off times that keep the participant moving and strategizing to there own beat. I am somewhat lenient and it may be a case by case situation at times but so far these times have been sufficient.
NO cut off times but no bivvying allowed either!!
(this does NOT apply to the 60km distance event)
Tracking is mandatory. We work with Trackleaders.com for this service.
The cost of this is on top of the registration cost and must be done at registration checkout.
Reserved SPOT devices will be available for pick-up at racer registration. If you signed up for tracking and have your own device Trackleaders will email participants asking for your ESN number and shared page link.
The devices we supply are SPOT ‘Trace’ units (smaller and lighter) and operate on 4 AAA lithium batteries that you need to supply.
Go here to register for all distances- https://fatpursuit.athlete360.com
If you think of the words “ethics, respect and safety” in regards to your fellow competitor, other trail users, the land you are on, the event management and other establishments you come across we don’t feel we need many rules but here are a bunch anyway.
Any racer who fails to not meet any requirements and / or fails to comply to the following rules will be disqualified from the event. There will be no refund and you will not be accepted to come back.
Absolutely!
1st, 2nd and 3rd will receive a custom made award along with prizes from sponsors. If you ever been to a JayP’s Backyard Series race you already know we do a heck of a raffle as well!
Men and women awarded separately in all distances.
Our sponsors give us lots of great stuff and it goes directly to you. Some of it will get given away to the overall winners and the rest will be raffled. Did I say we get a lot of great stuff for you.
Raffle – I have always said we don’t clap for raffles and I would hate to put you through an hour of calling names. So, we do a silent raffle while you are out on the trail. When you get back to the lodge check the table to see if your name is on any of the prizes. Everyone gets 1 raffle ticket and you can buy additional tickets.
Please visit our Sponsor page to see who is supporting this event and making it possible. These are brands and business we believe in so please consider supporting them.
*The person who wins the opportunity to register for the Iditarod Trail Invitational will have to be approved by me, JayP. I will be responsible for giving the Iditarod Trail Invitational organizers the OK on your ability and that you are capable of competing on that trail. As I have a full understanding and great respect of what the Iditarod Trail Invitational has to offer I will only give my honest opinion to both you and the organizers. In short, just don’t do anything that will put you or anybody else at risk. Thanks for understanding.
The Fat Pursuit 200km and 200 miler are both qualifier’s for the Iditarod Trail Invitational.
12:00pm, Sunday, January 12th we will have a toast. This is an effort to celebrate all the riders, present or not, and a THANK YOU for being part of this event. Everybody is welcome, it is a celebration. I understand some might be on course and some may go home but I hope it encourages more to stick around and no matter where you are at – raise your water bottle or your glass and give a healthy shout out to the Fat Pursuit!
Email – [email protected]
Turning your pedals just a stones throw away from Yellowstone National Park, you will be riding in tall lodge pole conifers, the historic Yellowstone fire burns and along the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River. The Fat Pursuit provides a fantastic excuse to not only achieve an outstanding accomplishment but venture besides Yellowstone National Park during the quietest time of the year.
Island Park, Idaho
“Longest Main Street in America” – The Pond’s Lodge.
US National Forest Service Headquarters / Ponds Lodge, located approximately 75 miles north of Victor, ID, my home town.
See Travel / Lodging for more details to get to the start line in Island Park.
Start / Finish – US National Forest Service Headquarters / Ponds Lodge
Checkpoints – Trail Tent
Start / Finish – US National Forest Service Headquarters / Ponds Lodge / Ponds Lodge
Checkpoints – Trail Tent, West Yellowstone, Man Cave
Start / Finish – Ponds Lodge
Checkpoints – Trail Tent, West Yellowstone, Man Cave
View the 200km Map
View the 60km Map
39.38 miles
2186′ elevation gain
Without the incredible State run snowmobile grooming program these trails would not exist. There are several Pisten Bully groomers that go out every single night to keep up with the snow fall and maintenance of this trail network – the most in all of the state.
Freemont County Snowmobile Report
West Yellowstone Snowmobile Report
West Yellowstone Ski Report