24 Hours of Light: Whitehorse, Yukon

If you’ve ever done a 24-hour mountain bike race you know the toughest part is strapping on lights and heading out into darkness at night. That’s not a problem when racing in Whitehorse over the summer solstice weekend. The 24 Hours of Light marks its tenth year June 26-27 at Mt. Mac in Whitehorse, Yukon. It’s a more laid-back atmosphere than some 24-hour marathons with those looking to have some fun outnumbering the serious racer-types. Nearly half the field comes from outside of the Yukon. “Over the past years we’ve seen a definite increase in participation. The reputation of the event keeps spreading, mostly through word of mouth,” said organizer Marsha Cameron.

This might be the only 24 hour race in the world where lights are specifically not permitted.

“In Whitehorse the sun does set around 2 a.m. and is back up around 4 a.m.,” said Cameron. “But during that time it’s just like an extended sunset. It isn’t dark and the sky is blue. It’s a great feeling.”

The course is typically around 14 km of singletrack and doubletrack meant to be enjoyable for beginners and more advanced riders. Registration for this year’s race opens March 21 at 24hoursoflight.ca