Honoring Percy DeWolfe

The Legacy of the Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Race

Founded in 1977, the Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Race honors "The Iron Man of the North," who loyally carried the mail between Dawson City, Forty Mile, and Eagle Village for over 40 years.

What began as a small local gathering has grown into a premier winter event with multiple race categories. Historically, the main race covered a grueling 200-mile round trip between Dawson City, Yukon, and Eagle, Alaska. However, following pandemic-related border regulation changes and shifting river freezing conditions, the organizers adapted as much as they could to keep the spirit of the race alive.

Now, the event is returning to Percy’s roots. Toward the end of his career, Percy focused on connecting Dawson City and Forty Mile. To honor both Percy and his son, the 100-mile route—historically known as the "Percy Junior"—is officially stepping into the spotlight as the main Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Race.

The Percy

The Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Race is a 100-mile (160 km) dog sled race featuring teams of 6 to 9 dogs. The course follows the historic Yukon River mail route once traveled by the legendary mail carrier Percy DeWolfe, running between Dawson City and the Forty Mile townsite.

In keeping with tradition, the first musher out carries a special bag of letters and postcards—just as Percy did over a century ago to connect these remote communities. The mail travels down the frozen Yukon River by dogsled and returns to Dawson City before being processed on to its final destinations.

Race conditions test both human and canine endurance, with temperatures ranging from -40°C to +10°C. Depending on trail conditions, top teams complete the course in 8 to 12 hours (excluding mandatory layovers).

The event begins at 10:00 a.m. with mushers departing at staggered two-minute intervals. Out of respect for history, the initial 10:00 a.m. slot is left empty to honor the memory of Percy DeWolfe, with the first competitor officially taking the trail at 10:02 a.m. All staggered start times are adjusted during mandatory layovers to maintain an even competition.

The Percy Skijor 100

The Percy Skijor is a 100-mile (160 km) race following the historic Yukon River route from Dawson City to Forty Mile and back. Powered by teams of 2 to 4 dogs, this two-day event challenges skijorers along a stunning and rugged course through the Yukon wilderness.

To ensure proper rest for both athletes and their dogs, teams take a mandatory 8-hour layover at Forty Mile before making the return journey to Dawson City the following day.

The race starts at 11:30 a.m. from the Yukon River ice bridge, with competitors departing at staggered two-minute intervals.

The Percy Open 40

The Percy Open 40 is a 40-mile (68 km) race along a scenic course from Dawson City to the Chandindu River and back. Open to teams of 2 to 4 dogs, this event welcomes your favorite dog-powered sport—whether that’s skijoring, bikejoring, kicksledding, or even canicross!

Competitors will test their endurance on a challenging trail while taking in the stunning beauty of the Yukon wilderness. A warm-up tent is set up at the turnaround point, offering an optional stop for participants and their teams to rest or regroup.

The race kicks off at 12:00 p.m. with staggered two-minute departure intervals between participants.

Come out and cheer on these amazing human and canine teams as they hit the trail on a thrilling adventure!