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The Yukon Quest
Toughest Sled Dog Race in the World
Click on the photos to enlarge them
In a world with values that stray ever-further from those recognized as worthy of respect by our forebears, the Yukon Quest provides an example for our kids.
Even qualifying for this 1,000-mile race takes enormous resolve - winning it takes passion, strength, sensitivity to other's discomfort while ignoring your own, endurance,
a deep love of animals, and an extremely high comfort level with both the wilderness and with being alone.
On Saturday, February 10, 2007 at 11:00 a.m., 28 teams left Whitehorse, headed for Fairbanks. There is an upper limit of 50 teams, but the number is usually close to 30 - one team for each 33 miles of trail!
The Iditarod this year has 86 teams (a team on each 13 miles of the 1150-mile trail).
The record time for completing the race was set in 1995 by Frank Turner of Whitehorse, who crossed the finish line in Fairbanks 10 days, 16 hours and 20 minutes
after leaving Whitehorse. The slowest time yet for a winner was in 1986, when Bruce Johnson took 14 days, 9 hours and 17 minutes to complete the race.
In December 1999 I wrote that:
In Alaska, you can buy T-shirts that say "Alaska - where Men are Men and Women Win the Iditarod!". The Yukon Quest has yet to have a female winner, although
many compete. In 1999, Aliy Zirkle was less than 11 hours behind the winner (and was far closer than that the previous day), so that day may not be far off, however.
Well, Aliy went on to become the Yukon Quest's first female winner, with a time of 10 Days, 22 Hours, 57 Minutes.
There are 2 main factors that make the Yukon Quest the race it is - the small number of checkpoints (9, as compared to 26 in the Iditarod), and the summits
climbed and descended. King Solomon's Dome is 3,800 feet high, Eagle Summit forces teams to climb 3,650 feet into notoriously bad snow and weather conditions, and American
Summit, at 3,420 feet.
Distance Between Checkpoints
Whitehorse to Carmacks
Carmacks to Pelly Crossing
Pelly Crossing to Dawson City
Dawson City to Eagle
Eagle to Circle City
Circle City to Witt's End Central
Witt's End Central to Angel Creek Lodge
Angel Creek Lodge to Fairbanks |
280 km
128 km
368 km
176 km
288 km
136 km
112 km
120 km
|
175 mi
80 mi
230 mi
110 mi
180 mi
85 mi
70 mi
75 mi |
More Race Trivia
the proper term is "a sled dog race", not "a dog sled race"
The first woman to cross the finish line was Lorrina Mitchell, in 1986
the first Canadian to win the race was Bruce Johnson, in 1986
the youngest musher to enter was Jennine Cathers, who entered in 1989 when she was 18. That also made her and her dad Ned Cathers the
first father and daughter to run the race at the same time.
the first husband and wife to run in the same year were Will and Linda Forsberg, in 1990
the first mother and daughter to run in the same year were Connie and Terri Frerichs, also in 1990
the closest finish was in 1991, when the first and second teams came in 5 minutes apart
15 veterinarians closely monitor the dogs - mushers are on their own!
about 500 volunteers, including 30-40 trailbreakers on snowmachines, make the race possible.
although not nearly as well known as the Iditarod, over 190 million people watched the race on European television in 1999. Canada's National Post
newspaper also reported that their Quest series attracted the largest readership of any feature series they ran in 1999, so the word is getting out.
after 10 years of watching the Yukon Quest, the most common comment I've heard from mushers about their hopes for the race is some version of "I'll be happy
to just cross the finish line with a full team of healthy, happy dogs."
No matter how sore or tired he is, every musher's first duty is to the dogs - to their feet, to their tummies, and then to every other part of their bodies.
That's not a race rule, it's part of the bond between dog and dog driver. I've yet to see someone viewing their first sled dog race up close that isn't amazed at the care the dogs get, and
at the connection that can develop between different species. Once the dogs are comfortable,
the musher may get to have a couple of hours' rest.
One of the biggest challenges for Yukon Quest directors has always been finding enough sponsors.
An event that was begun as a fund-raiser for the Yukon Quest, the Yukon River Quest, has taken on a life of
its own, and continues as the longest canoe race in the world.
A full moon rises over the distant mountains: the light is welcome. You could appreciate the beauty, were it not for the fierce ground blizzard you've
been bucking. Old snow, blown sand-hard as it courses downriver, assaults the team and burns your face...
So starts a story in the 1984 Yukon Quest Annual. Every year I thrill to stories of nature's beauty and her violence, and of the triumph of human and canine spirit over
everything the Yukon and Alaska can throw at them.
Related Links
Yukon Quest - official site
Lots of race data, musher biographies, stories and photos.
Mushing Terminology
A glossary of the terms used by mushers - for dogs, equipment and commands.
Iditarod
The huge official site is loaded with information.
Dog Sled Tours Around the World
Companies around the world can help you experience the thrill of mushing.
Everything Husky!
The name says it - everything you could want to know about Northern breed dogs is here.
Photographs are © 2000-2001 by the Yukon Quest, and are used here with permission.
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