'Can we have them?' Amputee donates frozen digits to Yukon bar for 'Sourtoe Cocktail'

If Nick Griffithsever returns to Yukon, somebody might want to buy him a drink. But maybe not the one with his toe in it.

The Britishadventurer had three of his toes amputated this week, two months after they were irreparably injured by severe frostbitein Yukon.

Griffithswas competing in the long-distancebackcountry Yukon Arctic Ultra race in February when hebecame one of several racers who ended up in hospital because ofthe severe cold.

• Another Yukon Arctic Ultra racer faces amputations due to frostbite

• Yukon Arctic Ultra race continues, despite -40 C weather

Now he's got his dismembereddigits in little jarsand he's promised them to Dawson City's Downtown Hotel, home of the infamous SourtoeCocktail.

Thecocktailmay be unusual but the recipe is simplea shot of whisky with a real humandigitbobbing in the glass.

"They basically said, 'Can we have them if you're not going to need them anymore?'" Griffithssaid Thursdayfrom his home in Bolton, England.

"It's sort ofrecycling taken to the extreme."

The Downtown Hotel likes to keep a few mummified toes in reserve. Last year, a drunken customer stole a toe (later mailing it back with apologies), and in 2013, apatron famously gulped one down before slapping $500 on the table (the posted fine for swallowing a toe).

The adventurerhad histoesamputated on Wednesday. His doctors originally intended to let the dead toes fall off on their own, but decided this week to just go ahead and remove them before infection set in.

"I've pretty much lost all of my big toe, and I've probably just over half of the next two.So I've got two little stumps there, they've managed to save," he said.

Griffithssaidhe spoke to the surgeon about keeping the detached digits.

"He kindly put them into three little jars, and they're in my bedside cabinet at the moment. So I just need to try and find a way of getting them to Canada," Griffithssaid.

Heads up, Canada Post.

Back home, with few regrets

Griffiths isn't alone in his struggles. Another racer in this year's Yukon Arctic Ultra ended up withextreme frostbite on both his feet and hands, and faced possibleamputations.

Despite his ordeal,Griffithsis in good spirits. He's recovering at home, and feeling grateful that he's not worse off. He's still got seven good toes.

Griffithsbelieves he just pushed himself too farin the race. Ultimately, he dropped out when he developed frostbite on his toes, fingers, nose and ears.

It was only when he got to hospital in Whitehorse that he realized how badly he was injured. He credits the Whitehorse hospital renowned for its treatment of frostbite for leaving him with any toes.

His life in recent weeks has been difficult at times, but he said he's been well cared for by hiswife and daughters.

"It's only when you get back and you realize how worrying and stressful it is for people back home when they get a phone call to say you're in hospital or you're in intensive care."

Amazingly, he has fewregrets, and doesn't blame the race organizers for anything.

If there's any consolation, it's knowing that there'll always be a piece or three of him in Yukon.

"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.'"