After the Copper Basin 300, our focus turned to Allen’s 1000-mile Yukon Quest and Aliy and I’s Quest 300 races. Dogs were trained. Drop bags were packed. And logistics were worked out. For all those unfamiliar with sled dog races, the Yukon Quest is the lesser-known of the two thousand mile races- the Quest and the Iditarod. Like the Iditarod, the Yukon Quest trail alternates routes depending on the year, but this year the race began in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and ends in Fairbanks, Alaska…40 miles past our backdoor. Knowing that the dogs would be inclined to stop at the kennel rather than continuing on 40 miles down the Chena River to downtown Fairbanks, Allen and I prepared the dogs by running the 75-miles from the last checkpoint, all the way past the kennel to downtown and ending with staw, food, and lots of atta-boys to ensure they understood that Fairbanks is the end (in just a couple days we’ll see if our training paid off). Those 75 to 80 mile runs were also essential in preparing Allen’s team for his first Quest appearance.
In addition to those runs, I was training a range of slower/older/younger/less experienced dogs, some of whom would run on Aliy and my Quest teams. Among them were a few of my favorite dogs at the kennel- the Fab Four Yearlings (Spoog, Schmoe, Sissy, and Scooter). These four had never before camped out or rested while in harness, so we had a couple trial runs hoping that the overly excited pups would get the idea to lay down and rest on the straw rather than keep barking obnoxiously and lunging into harness. Luckily, they quickly learned the basics of camping after only two short campouts, and come race time, I decided to bring along Scooter and Sissy on their first big race. Exciting!
In between training runs, we were packing food drop bags to be sent out to the different checkpoints and to resupply us along the trail. The Quest is unique in that the checkpoints are few and far between. For comparison, the Iditarod has around twenty checkpoints, and the Quest has only nine! Allen had sections of trail without a checkpoint for over 200 miles! For the Quest 300, we had 70-100 miles between checkpoints, so I planned on camping between each one and packed accordingly. In the drop bags were food for the dogs (fish snacks, horse snacks, beef snacks, fat snacks, fat crumbs, MVP dog food, soaked dog food, cooked fish, and tripe), gear for the dogs (booties, blankets, any vet gear like wrist wraps or Algyval massage oil), gear and food for me (chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate with perhaps a granola bar thrown in or a Mountain House dehydrated meal), and whatever else we might need. We sealed those up then dropped them off in Fairbanks to be shipped to the various checkpoints along the trail.
On February 1st Allen, Aliy, Ray (Aliy’s brother-in-law), 38 dogs, and I loaded into the two dog trucks and began the 12+ hour drive to Whitehorse. Luckily the roads were relatively clear, and we arrived later that evening. Even though the race wouldn’t start until Saturday the 5th, Allen had numerous meetings, his vet check, and banquets to attend before the start of the race. In between all the hubbub, Aliy and I wanted to stretch out the dog teams since they were basically living on a dog truck for a week prior to the start. With the race beginning in downtown Whitehorse and continuing down the Yukon River, it seemed easiest to just hop right on the race trail and go for a couple hours. However, Whitehorse was currently melting in uncommonly warm temperatures (which we struggled to convert to Fahrenheit every time the weather was shown on TV), so our nice stretch-out run became a mushy, chaotic swim. At one point Aliy’s dogs were swimming in overflow! I had strategically chosen the second team, so Aliy’s dogs tested the waters and let me know where to steer clear. An hour later, wet and worried, we returned to Ray and the dog truck and began to ponder the upcoming race only two days away. Would the trail be ready? The trail markers had lead right through the worst of the puddles. How would we prepare the dogs? How would we prepare ourselves? Should we buy waders?
Luckily, the next two days brought colder temperatures and solidified the trail for our Saturday starts. The AMAZING handlers Ray, Dave (a friend of Aliy and Allen), and Doug (Aliy’s dad) helped Allen leave at 11 in the morning and then Aliy and I around five that evening. The trail was fast and perfect for the entire race!
I was very excited about my dog team with the yearlings Sissy and Scooter, trail-hardened veterans Bullet, Teddy, and ChaCha (all 8-9), and my bedmate Stormy. Other superstars Hank, Lester, Newt, Pepper, Moonpie, and Tug rounded out the team for a nice mix of young and old, experienced and novices.
Throughout the race, we camped twice when the distances between checkpoints were too far to make in one run (Whitehorse to Braeburn and Braeburn to Carmacks). We saw nights full of vibrant, green Northern lights and beautiful scenery along the frozen lakes and Yukon River.
The dogs were incredible, and motored along all the way to the finish line on Tuesday. Even when I thought we’d taken the wrong trail and backtracked to Stepping Stone Hospitality Stop, only to find out it was the correct trail, the dogs trotted on at an even brisk pace. I’m so thankful for the all the help from Dave, Doug, and Ray as well as the strength and happy attitude of my dog team. The Yukon Quest 300 could not have gone better.
At some of the checkpoints, we were running with the “Big Dogs” (the 1000-mile Quest mushers), making me excited to someday tackle the real thing!
Immediately after I finished my race, Doug drove the dogs and me to Dawson City where the rest of the SP Kennel crew was awaiting Allen’s arrival for his 36-hour mandatory layover. Each team is assigned a camping spot, and the handlers are allowed to turn their area into a little doggie day spa so that Allen’s team would be comfortable, warm, and pampered during their 36-hour break in the middle of the race. That evening, Allen arrived with a very strong dog team. Allen went back to the hotel to get some much deserved sleep while Aliy, Ray, Dave, and I settled the dogs into their new home for the next couple of evenings. Over the next 36 hours, we messaged, fed, walked, and pampered all the dogs. Allen organized his sled and prepared himself for the road ahead.
At 11:16 AM, Allen and his team took off from Dawson on their way home. Currently he’s between Mile 101 and Two Rivers. Since Dawson, the dog teams have experienced more bad weather, overflow, slow trail, and challenges than thought possible. Dog teams have faltered, at least 10 teams have scratched, fingers have been frostbitten, sleds and mushers submerged in overflow, and sadly two dogs have expired. But even with all the adversities, teams are pushing through. Allen’s tenacity and sheer determination to get his team off the Yukon, through the overflow and -50 temps on Birch Creek, and over Eagle Summit dog by dog is unbelievable. I’ve learned so much just by watching him and the other mushers persevere through all Mother Nature throws at them, and hope that when my turn comes, I’ll have the strength to do the same.
The race is almost over, so be sure to check out www.spkdoglog.com for faster updates.
ALSO:
My brother Nick is keeping a blog (http://www.guayusagoodtome.blogspot.com/)
about his experiences working for Runa in a remote town in Ecuador. SP kennel is represented in Ecuador!
