They crossed the finish line nearly an hour ahead of the rest of the field, but that doesn't mean it was easy.

In this week's newsletter, we're sharing a conversation with Kat to Koot winner Erik Stevens, who says the crust on this year's snow was "one of the worst" he's ever skied. He and partner Mark Mencel were among a field of 27 people who raced up and over Geisán/Ripinsky during the annual alpine adventure race.

From running down the Haines highway in ski boots to bulldozing breakable crust off the summit, Stevens walks us through what it takes to get through the race.