Freak June blizzard shuts down bike relay

First time in the race’s history.

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For the first time in its 25-year history, the Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay was officially shut down by a freak June blizzard. The blizzard left the road covered in black ice and several inches of snow.

Many cyclists who had camped near Haines Junction, Yukon, on Friday night woke up to near-freezing temperatures and heavy snow. Some tents collapsed under the weight of the snow.

“This was totally shocking,” said Jason LaChappelle of the Wayward Salamanders, who had camped out for the night.

Four men on unicycles were the only team – out of more than 1,300 participants – to complete the route.

Even for the Yukon, a snowstorm in mid-June is unusual.

The race stretches some 148 miles (238 km) from Haines Junction, Yukon, to Haines, Alaska, with an elevation gain of more than 1,300 feet (400 m).

See several photos:
http://ift.tt/2rRRvJa

Thanks to Glenn Cuthbert for this link

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June 20, 2017 at 02:26PM