British man pledges amputated toes to Yukon's famous drink

Saturday, April 7, 2018, 11:32 AM - After suffering severe frostbite in February's Yukon Arctic Ultra Race, one British man is taking 'making the best of a bad situation' to new heights.

Nick Griffiths and about 50 other competitors faced off against temperatures in the -40s in early February, on what's billed as the coldest, toughest race in the world. Only one athlete made it to the end of the race this year, after the 300 mile trek was halted early amid brutally cold conditions.

(Related: Yukon Arctic Ultra athlete likely to lose toes to frostbite)

Griffiths was one of several athletes who was hospitalized for frostbite and hypothermia. Italian racer Roberto Zanda also suffered injuries that resulted in amputation from this year's race, losing both feet, one hand, and several fingers from the other.

Griffiths underwent an operation to remove the three irreparably damaged toes this week, and has already found a strangely appropriate home for the severed digits. In fact, they're headed back to the Yukon - to Dawson City's Downtown Hotel, and its infamous Sourtoe Cocktail.

"They basically said, 'Can we have them if you're not going to need them anymore?'" Griffiths told CBC News, calling it "recycling taken to the extreme."

The drink, which consists of a shot of whiskey garnished with a mummified toe, has been a house specialty at the Dawson City Downtown Hotel since the early 70s. Legend has it, the original toe belonged to 1920s rum-runner Louie Linken, who lost the digit to frostbite and preserved it in alcohol as a memento (memen-toe?). In 1973, the mummified relic was supposedly discovered in their remote cabin, and added to a cocktail by Captain Dick Stevenson as a way of hazing new members for an exclusive club (aptly named 'The Sourtoe Cocktail Club').

Costly condiment: 'This little piggy' was worth $80,000

(Related: 'Drunken fool' returns stolen toe)

Griffiths is philosophical about his donation, apparently bearing no ill will toward Canada, the race, or its organizers. "Out on the trail you are responsible for yourself," he told CBC in February "Even though I'm probably going to lose three toes... I would say it was a well organized, and professional run event."

"Maybe one day my grandkids will be doing a bit of travelling, and they can say, 'that's Granddad's big toe in that drink.'"

Sources: CBC | CBC Short Docs |