Brave the lake in winter at day

New for 2025, the Mishkumi, is one of the longest events in the CRYO Races. The only one of its kind, the Mishkumi allows those ready for the challenge to run in winter, on the magnificent Lac St-Jean. The Mishkumi adventure begins in the middle of the day, giving athletes more time and clarity to cover the proposed distance.

Athletes will set off from Mashteuiatsh on a groomed and marked trail, interspersed with refreshment points, which will lead them to a grand finale at the marvellous Chalets et Spa Lac St-Jean site in Chambord. In the middle of lac Saint-Jean, on the endless whiteness. It’s a truly exotic experience. The Mishkumi is designed for athletes who want to get the most out of the CRYO Races experience, but are in less of a hurry, thanks to less restrictive time limits than the Starlit, which takes place in the evening. In concrete terms, athletes have a maximum of 5 hours to complete the race.

No selection criteria are required, but it is strongly recommended to have participated in winter races (Micro-CRYO or similar winter races) or long-distance races beforehand. Running on a frozen lake in the middle of winter represents a major challenge that really shouldn’t be overlooked, and is nothing like a trail or road race in terms of the effort required and the mental strength required.

Each athlete is commited to raising $750 for the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation, which helps young cancer patients regain their well-being by offering them the chance to take part in a therapeutic adventure expedition. Please note that fundraising is mandatory. Only athletes who have completed 100% of their fundraising will be able to set off on February 22.

Are you ready to brave the cold and the expanse of the lake?

LOGISTICS

SUMMARY SCHEDULE

2:00 p.m. Shuttle bus departure (please note that shuttle buses are mandatory).

3:00 p.m. Departure of the Mishkumi.

MANDATORY EQUIPMENT

IMPORTANT: THE MANDATORY EQUIPMENT LIST IS THE SAME FOR ATHLETES PARTICIPATING IN THE STARLIT, THE MISHKUMI, OR THE EXPRESS. WEATHER CONDITIONS ON LAC ST-JEAN CAN CHANGE RAPIDLY, SO THIS EQUIPMENT COULD BE USEFUL AT ANY TIME!

We strongly recommend layering your clothing to help you adapt to varying weather conditions. To increase your visibility on the lake and make it easier for the CRYO race team to spot you, we encourage you to wear brightly colored clothing.

In addition to the clothing you’ll be wearing at the start, here is the list of mandatory equipment you must carry with you throughout the race:

• Cold-weather running shoes (trail or winter shoes) – No road or casual shoes are allowed;
• Long running pants;
• Running pack containing all mandatory equipment (see list below).

IN YOUR RUNNING PACK, WHICH YOU MUST KEEP WITH YOU THROUGHOUT THE RACE, YOU MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL CLOTHING:

JACKETS:

• GORE-TEX jacket (providing windproof and waterproof protection; a simple windbreaker is insufficient);
• Insulated jacket that you will not wear at the start (down jackets are acceptable since you should not wear this while physically active), examples:✅ Thorium Hoody
  ✅ Cerium Hoody
  ⛔ Atom Hoody (this model does not provide sufficient protection)

SPARE CLOTHING:

• Extra gloves or mittens;
• Spare neck gaiter or tubular scarf;
• Spare hat;
• Spare socks.

EQUIPEMENT:

• Eye protection, alpine ski goggles recommended (the only option that doesn’t fog up);
• Fully charged cell phone (keep it as warm as possible with hand warmers);
• Survival blanket;
• Hand and foot warmers;
• Whistle;
• Reflective strips on your clothing;
• Reusable cup (to reduce waste, no cups are available at aid stations; you must bring your own bottles, cups, or container of choice);
• Headlamp with at least 100 lumens, fully charged (bring spare batteries or a second lamp);
• 2 lights (such as bike lights) in flashing mode (one on your pack and one on the front);
• Necessary medications (asthma inhaler, EpiPen, etc.);
• Health insurance card.

SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT

• Gaiters;
• Insulated liquid container;
• Running snowshoes (depending on trail conditions) – Athletes in the Traversée may leave a pair in their drop bag;
• Crampons (depending on trail conditions);
• Energy supplements;
• Full-face hood.