Allen is out of Dawson City with 13 dogs. He left Scout with the handlers with a slight shoulder injury that happened just outside of Dawson. Scout was the dog Allen had been carrying when he arrived in Dawson.
The dogs were READY to go this morning. They were cruising down the Yukon River with Biscuit in lead. Yes, you heard me right. BISCUIT!! He has been in lead for the last 100 miles. He has never, NEVER, run in lead before. Allen says that he reminds him of Aliy’s main leader from her Championship run, Pedro. That’s a serious compliment!
The handlers are cleaning up the dog camp and will be heading back towards Whitehorse shortly. Aliy was over helping our friend Tamara Rose when I talked to them. Everyone was very jazzed about Allen’s excellent run and smooth departure!
Allen is now on the trail that will lead him over two more summits, American and Eagle, and lots of river trail, mostly Yukon. He is heading towards the old prospector town of Forty-Mile and on to Eagle, Alaska, the 1st check point on the Alaskan side.
“Forty Mile is best-known as the oldest town in Canada’s Yukon. It was established in 1886 at the confluence of the Yukon River and Fortymile River by prospectors and fortune hunters in search of gold. Largely abandoned during the nearby Klondike Gold Rush, the town site continued to be used by Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in. It is currently a historic site that’s co-owned and co-managed by Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and the Government of Yukon.” – Wikapeedia
I'm sure the new front row view is a welcomed change for Biscuit. 🙂 Way to go, Biscuit! Good luck, Allen!
Thank you for the update and excited to read, see, & hear more!
Speaking of two more summits – WOW – Eagle Summit – does it just look worse on the YQ Trail Map than it really is? Or is the thing truly such a steep vertical shot upwards? They sure it isn't really a rock climbing wall? Words like brutal and grueling are coming to mind…
Good thoughts to Allen and dogs for the 2nd part of the race!
Kaz, what is Allen's plan? Maintaining 6th position, our moving up in rank? At this moment, he overtook Sebastian, and is fifth position.
Go Allen and SP Kennel dogs!
Depending on the year, Eagle Summit can be worse than you think. There are times when you literally have to use your snow hook to "claw" your way up to the summit. It truly is a vertical drop!
Allen will, as always, run to the best he and the dogs can do. He has no position he is aiming for (except 1st). He is very competitive, but this is the 1st time he has run the complete trail. It would be very difficult to win, but who knows!
I think we SPK fans would certainly rally behind the goal of "first wife and husband YQ champions"!
Maybe not this rookie year, but he's doing fantastic so far. This race format really seems to be drawing on his strengths and Aliy succeeded in her 3rd running. So maybe YQ 2012 or 2013 could be the magic year…
Credit of course, to terrific dogs too!
go, Biscuit, go!
Allan looks good from the beginning. & just 1 dog dropped.
all the best for eagle summit.
& Biscuit got mature …. :o)
Looking great! I remember the photo of the team clawing up the summit.