Lost Lake Run canceled over worries about wildfire smoke

Saturday’s scheduled 16-mile Lost Lake Run near Seward has been canceled due to worries about wildfire smoke and other factors.

Smoke from wildfires on the Kenai Peninsula and in the Susitna Valley has degraded air quality across Southcentral Alaska this week. The mountain run’s board of directors voted unanimously Wednesday night to call it off.

The board decided that “conducting the race on Saturday was too risky to the health and well being of our participants and volunteers,” according to the popular event’s Facebook page.

On Wednesday, the Alaska Department of Conservation issued an air quality advisory for Southcentral Alaska.

The Lost Lake Run is a fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which focuses on finding a cure for the lung disease.

“It would be counter to our mission to place mountain race participants into an environment that could negatively impact their lung health,” the post said.

Recent road closures on the Sterling Highway and a flood advisory for Kenai Lake and the Kenai River from Cooper Landing to Skilak Lake were also factors in the board’s decision.

“This potentially places the starting line for the Lost Lake Run under water,” the post said. “Fires and floods. What’s next? Locusts?"

The board will meet next week to determine what its next steps will be.