Organizers canceled the Chilkat Challenge Triathlon, citing transportation challenges for participants.

Organizer Gershon Cohen said this year around 30 people registered for the event, scheduled for July 2, and 40 locals signed up to volunteer. Normally, around half of the participants come from Juneau, with the rest hailing from Whitehorse or Haines.

“This year, the ferry schedule was up in the air for so long,” said Cohen. “Anyone who came in from the ferry wasn’t going to make it back on time.”

The race features a boating segment across Mosquito Lake and down the Chilkat River, a 22-mile cycling segment down the Haines Highway, and a 6-mile running segment to the finish line at the Fort Seward Parade Grounds. It’s organized by Alaska Clean Water Advocacy.

The event website cites late changes to the ferry schedule, increases in air fare, and reduced registration as reasons for the cancellation. But Cohen said “it’s really about timing.”

There are currently two ferries that run between Haines and Juneau, M/V Columbia and M/V Hubbard. M/V Columbia docks once a week in Haines, and M/V Hubbard docks six times a week.

During the last week of June, M/V Columbia will be in the Ketchikan yard, and will not service Haines until July 4, according to a ferry system employee.

Cohen said that organizers “spent weeks going backwards” after the cancellation.

“We had sponsorships and prizes to give away. We had to return those and refund everyone’s money,” said Cohen.

He said he expects the race to take place next year.