Suess's Alaskan Adventure

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Yukon Quest 2008



The Quest started in Fairbanks this year, which was a great experience. The temperature hovered around -35, but notice the crowds that came out to support these tough mushers and their teams. For those of you who don't know, the Quest is a 1000-mile (yes that's three zeros) sled-dog race across some amazingly difficult terrain, with some of the most challenging weather conditions you can imagine. Some year's there have been white-out blizzards and temperatures in sections reaching close to -60F. HE volunteered helping to handle some of these teams at the start. SHE heroically watched and even filmed footage for a class project - all fingers and toes are still accounted for! The Quest lasts close to two weeks. Teams have reached Dawson city this weekend where they will rest for 36 hours before pressing on to the end destination - Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Dog teams start with about 14 and at least 6 dogs need to finish (sick/injured dogs are carried by mushers to a next checkpoint and are flown home). An amazing race of endurance!

New Mushing Trail!



He's been working hard, hooking us into the trail system. It's still a bit rough, they'll have fun trimming stumps, digging out sides of cliffs to clean-up, flatten and widen our new trail this summer. It connects into our neighbors trail at mile 1, then continues on to a larger trail system. One way to make mushing from our back door possible. The madness continues:-)

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