The 2023 Alcan 200 snowmachine race was canceled Saturday after poor road conditions caused two government snowplows to get stuck on the highway the morning of the race. Race organizers are only permitted a limited amount of time to conduct the race, as the Haines Highway to Dezadeash is closed to public traffic during the event. Any postponements at the beginning of the race threaten the rest of the event.

“It got to the point where we didn’t have enough time to get our support people to Dezadeash and release the racers and for them to all come back within our permit time. It was blowing and snowing up there,” race organizer Kathi Lapp said. “It was a matter of safety. We didn’t want the racers racing after dark. We decided to call it.”

Yukon racer Matthew Wolsynuk said his trip to Haines had some of the worst road conditions he’d ever seen.

“When I came down here on Friday night it was in the top three of one of the gnarliest nights of my life driving my truck,” he said. “Two-foot drifts, savage. Wind blowing, it was crazy. I couldn’t see a thing. My buddies were 20 minutes ahead of me and I couldn’t even tell, I couldn’t see their tracks.”

Racing sleds used in the Alcan are modified with skis that sit closer to the ground to better race on bare asphalt. Roads must be plowed in order to race.

“They basically closed it because there was too much snow, which is ironic, because it’s a snowmobile race,” Yukon racer Joseph Chretien said. “It’s pretty disappointing to be from the Yukon and have the Yukon government just butcher it.”

Only eight people registered for the Alcan this year. It’s been three years without a race, due to border restrictions caused by the pandemic. Lapp said the race got a “late start” this year, and the team “didn’t have the time to prepare arrangements.”

The Fogcutter Bar, however, was still a lively place that night. Bartender Rebekah Waddell said the bell was rung at least four times that night, signaling four rounds of free drinks for the entire bar. One racer bought shots for everyone in the bar.

“We love Haines, Alaska. Let’s have a good night and have fun and then tomorrow we’ll go home,” Wolysnuk said Saturday night after the race was canceled. “Let’s not walk away totally defeated. Let’s have a good time and then go home.”

Lapp said race organizers have requested the government to postpone the race until Feb. 17, 2024.