ID: Drop Bags

Right in the middle of the Yukon Quest, the Iditarod drop bags were due to be handed in so Aliy flew home from Dawson, after seeing the team onto the trail, to complete them.

We started making the bags of kibble, cutting the meat, putting human snack packs, packs of booties and vet kits together over the weeks preceding it but we had to bring some dog jackets, gloves and other supplies home from the first half of the Quest trail to complete them.

We sent out over 1,400 lb each for both teams to ensure there was plenty of food and supplies along the trail. There are several options for 24 and eight hour stops plus contingency for unplanned layovers due to weather or other issues.

For the dogs to eat we pack the following:

• Kibble – three different types of dry dog food
• Meat – snack sized portions of beef, poultry skins, chicken and salmon
• Supplements – other supplemental foods

Dog equipment:

• Jackets – wind, insulated and fleece lined jackets
• Booties – packs of 16 sets of booties, all the way along the trail
• Spare equipment – harnesses, T-shirts, leggings, fox tails
• Fleece blankets and throws

Human food:

• Freeze dried meals
• Seam-sealed meals of moose lasagna, beef meatballs in tomato sauce, chicken pesto
• Snack packs of protein and oatmeal bars, bacon, nuts, trail mix
• Other ‘surprise’ goodies for the mushers

Human equipment and clothing:

• Gloves, socks, hats, neck gators
• Spare clothing
• Boots and boot liners

Other stuff:

• Sled runner plastics
• Vet supplies kits (foot ointment, liniment, wrist wraps etc)
• Hand / foot warmers, matches and tissues

It is a real logistics exercise just getting these bags completed so thanks to everyone that helped us this year, we appreciate the time and attention you took to help supply us on our race.

Edit: Anything perishable that is left over (dog food, human food) stays at the checkpoint and goes to the villages. The Mushers can pack a return bag at each checkpoint to send gloves, clothing, booties etc home for reuse.