Event Overview
| Date | Jan 8-10, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Location | Island Park, Idaho, USA |
| Format | Fixed-Distance |
| Terrain | Trail |
| Region | North America |
| Distance / duration | 200 km; separate 60 km and 30 km |
| State / area | Idaho (ID) |
| Course model | Loop |
| Edition note | The 2027 200K is listed for January 8–10, 2027, and the 30K and 60K for Saturday, January 9. Registration is open on Athlete360: the 200K costs $375, or $325 with the early-bird discount through November 27, 2026. On October 20 the 200K roster showed 17 entrants, three of them on foot and two on skis. The organizer's race-details page still showed the 2026 schedule, prices and refund dates, so 2027 race-week times and cutoffs had not been confirmed. |
| Elevation gain | About 7,300 ft (2,225 m) on the organizer's 2026 200K route file. The organizer gives the course's low point as 6,300 ft and its high point as 8,300 ft. |
| Cutoff | No overall time limit is published. In 2026 the 200K cutoffs were 7:00 PM Friday at checkpoint 1 (mile 28, 12 hours) and 7:00 PM Saturday at checkpoint 2 (mile 77, 36 hours). Checkpoint 3 (mile 113) has no cutoff, but racers may not bivy or sleep after leaving it. The race director may pull anyone who seems unsafe or unprepared. In 2025 the last foot finisher took 61:04. |
| Start | 7:00 AM Friday in 2026, at Sawtelle Mountain Resort. The 2027 race-day schedule had not been posted on October 20, 2026. |
| Field size | In 2026, 49 racers started the 200K (42 on bikes, 5 on foot and 2 on skis) and 32 finished. One of the 5 foot starters finished. |
| Highlights | Unmarked 200 km Course, Iditarod Trail Invitational Qualifier |
Fat Pursuit 200K foot division results
First man and first woman on foot in the 200K at each edition from 2023 to 2026, with foot finishers and starters, from the official Webscorer results linked by the organizer.
| Year | Men | Women | Foot finishers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Herman Watson, 45:06:28 | No women started | 1 of 5 |
| 2025 | Gavin Woody, 50:26:33 | Ellen Humberston, 47:23:50 (record) | 5 of 7 |
| 2024 | Christof Teuscher, 53:55:47 | No finisher | 1 of 6 |
| 2023 | Herman Watson, 41:28:17 (record) | Martha Schoppe, 60:00:23 | 5 of 8 |
Times are rounded down to whole seconds. The 2025 results list one foot DNF under the women's category whose entry appears to be a man's; he is counted among the 7 starters.
Sources: Official results page with Webscorer links and course records; Webscorer 2026 results; Webscorer 2025 results; Webscorer 2024 results; Webscorer 2023 results.
Course & Terrain
A 200 km loop from Sawtelle Mountain Resort on groomed snowmobile trails, most of them Forest Service roads, in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest around Island Park, with about five miles of Montana trail in the Two Top area. The 200 km course is not marked, so racers navigate by GPS or map and compass; the 30 km and 60 km courses are marked. Racers choose bike, ski or foot, and men and women are ranked separately in each. The organizer's 2026 200K route file measures 191 km (118.8 mi). This record covers the 200 km foot division.
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- Two Top climb in the first 30 miles, reached in daylight
- About five miles of Montana snowmobile trail around Two Top
- Last Chance checkpoint at mile 77
- Harriman State Park, where bivying is not allowed
Groomed snowmobile trails as wide as the Forest Service roads they follow, part of a 500-plus-mile system groomed by Fremont County. Grooming has no set schedule, and snow and wind can slow the trail to a crawl within hours. The organizer owns a snow-blowing implement for clearing the course and offers what it calls an 'almost' trail guarantee.
The organizer says temperatures of 20 below are not uncommon. Average snowfall is over 200 inches at the course's 6,300 ft low point and over 300 inches at its 8,300 ft high point.
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Qualification | None. The organizer does not require a race resume for the 60K or 200K but strongly recommends past winter travel experience. 200K racers must sign in, pass the gear check and attend the racer meeting before the start. Fees on Athlete360 for 2027: 200K $375 ($325 early bird through November 27, 2026), 60K $140 ($120 early) and 30K $120 ($100 early). A Fat Pursuit Workshop runs January 4–6, 2027, for $1,000, or $1,200 with a 200K entry. Under the 2026 policy, refunds were allowed until a month before the race, deferrals to the next year until a week before, and transfers for a $10 fee. |
| Support model | Three checkpoints, each a heated tent camp with hot and cold water, hot chocolate, coffee, electrolyte mix and snacks plus one hot dish. Checkpoint 1, the 'Lunch Stop' at mile 28, is a 3.5-mile out-and-back off the main route and serves grilled peanut butter and jelly and soup. Checkpoint 2, the 'Breakfast Stop' at mile 77 in Last Chance, has bacon and pancakes. Checkpoint 3, the 'Self-Serve Snack Stop' at mile 113, may be unstaffed. Checkpoints are first in, first out and are not meant for sleeping. |
| Crew / pacers | No outside support. Racers may take help from other racers, race officials, checkpoints and commercial services they pass, but not from snowmobilers or other trail users. Family and friends may visit checkpoints but may not give their racer anything or meet them on the trail. |
| Drop bags | Food only, in two 2-gallon plastic bags issued at registration, sent to checkpoints 1 and 2 for the 200K. No batteries, hand warmers or clothing, and racers must finish with all the gear they started with. |
| Logistics note | Race headquarters, start and finish are at Sawtelle Mountain Resort, 4133 Quakie Lane, Island Park. In 2026, 200K sign-in and gear check were Thursday from 4:00 to 6:00 PM inside the resort, with the racer meeting at 6:30 PM and a short 6:45 AM meeting on race morning for veterans who could not arrive earlier. A Montana State Trail Pass ($35 non-resident, $20 resident) is mandatory for 200K bikers only, not for runners or skiers. Gear is hard to find in Island Park, so racers should arrive with everything. |
Why This Race Matters
The Fat Pursuit is a winter race in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, run by Jay Petervary (JayP) from Sawtelle Mountain Resort in Island Park, Idaho. Most entrants ride fat bikes, but runners and skiers race the same 200 km course in their own divisions. The organizer says the event was created to help people gain backcountry winter travel experience, so no qualifying race is required, and it runs a pre-race workshop. The 200 km course is unmarked, racers carry camping gear and must boil water on course, and the 200 km is a qualifier for the Iditarod Trail Invitational.
Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):
- 200K foot, men: Herman Watson, 41:28:17.39 (2023).
- 200K foot, women: Ellen Humberston, 47:23:50.6 (2025), the fastest foot time that year.
- 200K bike: Curtis Henry, 14:11:58.7, and Kaitlyn Boyle, 17:21:22.9, both in 2025.
- 200K ski: Patrik Sartz, 29:43:40.1, and Shalane Frost, 25:40:41.1, both in 2025.
Preparing for a Race Like Fat Pursuit
The fixed-distance race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:
- Walking strategy for ultramarathons: When and how to walk by terrain, effort and cutoffs.
- Crew and aid-station strategy: Crew tables, aid stops, drop bags and runner preferences.
- Hydration and sodium for ultramarathons: Fluid, sodium, thirst, sweat rate and hyponatremia risk.
- Tapering for ultramarathons: Plan the taper and race week around your own recovery.
Best Fit
- Runners new to multi-day winter racing who want a course with heated checkpoints and no qualifier
- Winter racers who can navigate an unmarked course by GPS
- Athletes looking for an Iditarod Trail Invitational qualifier
Planning Notes
- Prepare for sleep decisions, weather swings, and aid-station discipline. The distance is only one part of a multi-day fixed-distance race.
- Train for terrain-specific fatigue. Technical trails and mountain courses demand downhill durability, hiking efficiency, and reliable night lighting.
- The directory does not mark this as having simpler logistics. Confirm qualification, terrain, support, registration, medical, and withdrawal requirements before planning around it.
- 200K racers must bring 8 oz of water to a rolling boil at an undisclosed spot using only their own gear
- Being evacuated by the trail crew costs $250 in cash
- Trackleaders tracking is mandatory for the 200K and costs extra: $20 with your own SPOT or inReach, $55 to rent
- Front and rear safety lights must be on at all times, and 200K racers must show how they will power them
- When bivying, get off the trail and point your light toward it
Event FAQs
When is the Fat Pursuit in 2027?
The Fat Pursuit 200K is listed for January 8–10, 2027, and the 30K and 60K for Saturday, January 9, all from Sawtelle Mountain Resort in Island Park, Idaho. The optional Fat Pursuit Workshop runs January 4–6. In 2026 the 200K started at 7:00 AM Friday; the 2027 race-day schedule had not been posted by October 20, 2026.
Can you run the Fat Pursuit?
Yes. Despite the fat bike name, the Fat Pursuit has foot and ski divisions at every distance. Foot racers on the 200K follow the same unmarked course and carry the same gear as cyclists. The foot records are 41:28 by Herman Watson (2023) and 47:23 by Ellen Humberston (2025). Few runners take it on: five started the 2026 200K on foot and one finished.
Do you need a qualifier for the Fat Pursuit?
No. The organizer does not require a race resume for the 60K or 200K, though it strongly recommends past winter travel experience and runs a pre-race workshop. The Fat Pursuit 200K itself is a qualifier for the Iditarod Trail Invitational, and it appears on the qualifier list for the Tuscobia 160.
What gear is mandatory at the Fat Pursuit?
All distances need front and rear safety lights, a headlamp, water and an insulated jacket. The 200K adds a sleeping bag rated to 0°F or colder, an insulated sleeping pad, a bivy sack or tent, a stove, fuel and pot, a fire starter, the map provided and a tracker registered with Trackleaders. 200K racers must also pass a water-boil test on course.
Related Preparation
- Open the Fixed-Distance format guide
- Compare all race formats
- Use the timed-race pace calculator
- Plan checkpoint arrivals and cutoff buffers
- Build a crew and drop-bag plan
- Build a race-specific gear checklist
Verification & Sources
Verification scope: the listed edition's date, location, format, and available logistics were checked against the event-specific official sources below during the directory review dated October 20, 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.
- Official Fat Pursuit site with 2027 dates — https://www.fatpursuit.com/
- Official race details: rules, gear, checkpoints, drop bags, tracking and cutoffs (2026 edition) — https://www.fatpursuit.com/racedetails
- Official results and course records — https://www.fatpursuit.com/results
- Official 2027 registration on Athlete360, with mandatory gear list — https://fatpursuit.athlete360.com/
- Athlete360 2027 200K registration list — https://fatpursuit.athlete360.com/RegistrationList.aspx?PurchasableGuid=23e53b45-1b09-4bae-85ce-187fc69bced8
- Organizer's 2026 200K route on RideWithGPS — https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49308596
- Webscorer 2026 results — https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=417849
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: October 20, 2026.