1K Miles, gummy clusters, and a pair of Gnomes: Kari Gibbons, Wild Winter Women, and Minnesota's Ultra Spirit

What does it take to walk a thousand miles across Alaska in winter — and finish wishing you could keep going?

In this episode, we sit down with Kari Gibbons, a North Minneapolis artist, winter ultra athlete, and founder of Wild Winter Women. Kari made history in February 2025 as the fourth woman ever to complete the Iditarod Trail Invitational 1000 — 1,000 miles on foot from Knik Lake outside Anchorage to Nome — in 27 days, 6 hours, and 42 minutes. She pulled a sled with 55 pounds of gear the entire way.

But Kari's story is as much about community as it is about competition. She founded Wild Winter Women after six women gathered for a post-race dinner in Roseville to swap stories and gear tips. Today, it's a 500-person community dedicated to getting more women into winter ultra racing — through shared knowledge, mentorship, equipment lending, scholarships, and a free annual weekend she hosts at her house called Wild Winter Women University, where women sleep outside, talk gear, and build enough confidence to toe the starting line for the first time.

This episode covers the full arc: what called Kari to the Boundary Waters as a kid, how she found trail running in her 30s, what it actually looks and feels like to race across Alaska in February, and why she believes Minnesota's seasons — and Minnesota's culture — produce some of the world's great endurance athletes.

Connect with Kari and Wild Winter Women

• Facebook Group: Search "Wild Winter Women" (women-only group; join to access the full community conversations)
• Instagram: @wildwinterwomen
• YouTube: Wild Winter Women (race interviews, athlete stories, and resources for women getting into winter ultra racing)

Want to Try Winter Ultra Racing?

Kari recommends the Saint Croix 40 Winter Ultra at Saint Croix State Park as the best entry point for women curious about this style of racing. Search "St. Croix 40 Winter Ultra" to learn more.

Other key races mentioned in this episode:

• Arrowhead 135 — International Falls to Tower, MN (foot, ski, or bike)
• Tuscobia Winter Ultra — Rice Lake, WI (80- and 160-mile options)
• Iditarod Trail Invitational — Anchorage to McGrath (350 miles) or Nome (1,000 miles)

Credits: 
Producers: Randolph Briley & Cody Nelson 
Hosts: Sarah Strommen and Lauren Bennett McGinty
Original Music by Andrew Haaheim and Alsever Lake