Wyoming Outback Challenge Gone …

For the last three years Jerry Nyre from Canoe Colorado organized and sponsored (including cash prizes!) this great marathon race on the North Platte River during Memorial Day weekends. The race started at Hot Springs in Saratoga and run 44 miles down the river across a quite remote area to Fort Steele (I-80 boat ramp). It was usually high and fast water and, typically, some headwind closer to the finish.

Thank you Jerry! I had a good racing and spent together with Connie and our dogs three wonderful weekends in Saratoga.

Unfortunately, the Wyoming Outback Challenge will not by organized any more. The organizers were obviously disappointed by a poor participation. Here is what Eric Nyre wrote at Canoe Colorado forum this year as an explanation:

Last year was the last year of the race.
Local racers weren’t interested.
Racers from other parts of the country wanted free loaner boats/ transportation.
We gave it 3 years, and the crowd kept getting smaller. So no mas, we’re paddling the White instead.

I don’t think that Eric is the best person to comment on that event since during these three years he never showed up at the race neither as an organizer nor as a racer.

I tried to promote the Wyoming race in this blog. You can see the list of related posts with race pictures, reports and results below. Other racers also offered their help in promoting the event.

Last year, I dared to criticize the organizers for a lack of promotion, but also provided some suggestions. I wrote it on the Canoe Colorado forum. What happened?. Eric responded first with some strange and unpleasant comments, then, he erased my posts and banned me from the forum, and, finally, he “nominated” me to an unwelcome person in the Canoe Colorado events.

Well, the river is flowing. Water looks great. I hope to do some paddling on the North Platte River again. If anybody is interested it would be not so difficult to run any informal race on the North Platte similar to what I am trying do on the South Platte. I realize it is much more challenging to setup a more formal race, especially, if you like to offer cash prizes. It was a reason the Canoe Colorado avoided any river access points under BLM jurisdiction

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I would like to see a longer race course. So this year, together with Rob Bean, we are planning to cover 100+ miles of the North Platte from the Bennett Peak campground (above Treasure Island) to Seminoe Reservoir. It will be just a fast training run: two days of paddling, WaterTribe expedition style, probably May 22/23.

Some related posts:
Bennett Peak to Pick Bridge on the North Platte River, Wyoming
North Platte River Kayak Racing – 2009 Wyoming Outback Challenge
44 Miles of the North Platte River in 2 Minutes
44 Miles on Big Water – 2008 Wyoming Outback Challenge Results
7 Landmarks and Highlights of the 2008 Wyoming Outback Challenge
2007 Wyoming Outback Challenge on North Platte River- Results and Pictures
3 Days on the North Platte River in Wyoming: from Treasure Island to Fort Steele
Wyoming Outback Challenge on the North Platte River – Strong Current and Head Wind
North Platte River in Wyoming – Eagle Nest Rapid

Other resources:
The Floater’s Guide to Wyoming Rivers: Paddle and Portage
Wyoming Atlas & Gazettee
map of public access areas by Wyoming Game and Fish Department
North Platte River flow: Northgate, CO | Ft Steele/Dugway
Wyoming Introduces Fee for Paddling and Boating