History  During the winter of 2004 the “Iditarod National Millennium Trail Freight Sled Expedition (IMTFSE)” traveled 900 miles by snowmobile from Nenana , Alaska to Nome , Alaska .  Initially, the mission was to celebrate the trail with the communities along the way by talking to people and gathering interviews from elders about the trail and its integral historic and present-day importance as an arterial access to their communities. 

As expedition participants learned of the many snowmobile deaths and accidents along the trail, it became apparent that the message of trail safety should become a primary focus of their overall mission.  Most of these accidents could have been prevented with a basic understanding of backcountry safety, equipment and skills.  In response to an obvious need, the group provided over 25 presentations in 17 schools along the trail.  Presentations (focusing primarily on school age children) expanded from the originally intended Iditarod Trail information to include more safety oriented topics such as clothing, helmets, survival gear, mechanical advantage rescue systems, GPS units, and satellite phones.  Two native expedition team members also spoke about the devastation alcohol abuse in the outdoors has wreaked upon their families and their village.  One member’s mother perished in the cold on her own front porch while another member spoke of searching for a man between villages who was found frozen on his snowmobile wearing only a light jacket.  Sharing stories and backcountry knowledge inspired both team members and community members alike.

The Future  The overwhelming positive response to the IMTFSE’s safety presentations has motivated IMTFSE’s lead guide Mike Buck along with Lisa Wax and Kyle Rennie to organize another more extensive program for 2006, the Northwestern Alaska Circumnavigation Expedition (N.A.C.E.).  N.A.C.E. will promote backcountry safety in 23 villages across 2000 miles.

Mike's 25 years of classroom teaching experience combined with Mike, Lisa and Kyle's extensive backcountry experience will enable this year’s snowmobile expedition to become a village-wide educational event. With the support of the Alaska State Trac Grant program, the Valdez Snowmachine Club and other sponsors Team N.A.C.E. hopes to reduce primarily, but not necessarily only, snowmobile related injuries and deaths in Alaska. In one season, 2000, Alaska (a sparsely populated state to begin with) lost 23 lives to snowmobile accidents; during another season 238 riders suffered injuries severe enough to require hospitalization. These statistics indicate a substantial need for more educational programs for Alaskan riders. N.A.C.E.’s educational focus will target the most prevalent causal factors from these past accidents and deaths. 

Public Need and Project Benefits A January, 1999 Public Health Report  (By Michael G. Landen, John Middaugh, and Andrew l. Dannenberg) study entitled “Injuries Associated with Snowmobiles, Alaska, 1993-1994” concluded by recommending “...that more resources be directed to the control of snowmobile injuries...”. The studies discussion indicates “ in Alaska , snowmobiles are used for basic transportation, recreation, and work. In 1993-1994, annual injury deaths and hospitalization rates per 100,000 vehicles were greater for snowmobiles than for on-road motor vehicles.  In absolute numbers, snowmobile injury deaths and hospitalizations were more common than on-road vehicle injury deaths and hospitalizations in northern Alaska .  Alaska Natives were at greater risk of snowmobile injury death than non-Alaska Natives. Alcohol intoxication, lack of helmet use, and natural obstacles contributed to the risk of death and hospitalization associated with snowmobile use in Alaska .” During the study 238 riders suffered injuries severe enough to require hospitalization. In 2000 Alaska lost 23 lives to snowmobile accidents. According to an Anchorage Daily News special report:

• The snowmobile death rate here was more than seven times higher than Wisconsin or Minnesota , the states with the second and third highest rates for the years studied.
• Based on miles driven, travelling by snowmachine in Alaska was 8 1/2 times more deadly than traveling by car or truck.
• The chances of a snowmobiler being hospitalized because of injuries from an accident were more than 2 1/2 times greater than from people using on-road vehicles.

These statistics, and many more staggering statewide statistics that are referred to in Appendix A, indicate a substantial need for more educational programs for Alaskan riders.  

Team N.A.C.E. members are a dedicated team of avid safety oriented outdoorsman who hope to facilitate the establishment of a trend toward safer snowmobile travel. The northwest region of Alaska is the least accessible and most severely affected by snowmobile injuries and deaths. Team N.A.C.E has the commitment, dedication, experience, and skills to positively impact the overwhelmingly negative statistics associated with snowmobile operation in northwest Alaska . Hands-on presentations and discussions will target the most prevalent casual factors as indicated by past statistics.  Last years Iditarod National Millenium Trail Freight Sled Expedition reached out with its safety message to about 100 youth per community. N.A.C.E. hopes to share its safety message with well over 4,000 people, young and old alike, by the completion of the 24 village three week expedition.