We are excited to get the Black Team on the trail. We hope you are too!
Last night at the Start Banquet and Bib Draw Allen drew number 23. This means the team will leave the starting chute at 12:06pm local time (mushers leave three minutes apart).
Here’s how you can follow along with us.
Firstly, for anyone new I need to let you know that this blog will be unashamedly SP Kennel focussed! I (Moira) will be on the trail for the whole race to bring you stories and pictures but please keep in mind that this race is taking place in the Alaskan and Yukon wilderness so good cell and wifi coverage is not a given. The race puts in a lot of effort to get coverage but official communications are prioritised so often you will have better access at home than I do on the trail.
I will be updating our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter directly at times during the race where I can’t update the blog easily. “Like” or “Follow” them to see new posts. We may use each platform differently so make sure you follow them all!
The Yukon Quest Facebook page and Twitter feed will be invaluable sources of information during the race. They will often post checkpoints arrivals and their visual content team (below) will post photos, videos and updates. Be sure to like/follow their pages before we start. There will be times when we can’t post to the blog – either due to dodgy internet or on the loooooooooong drive from Circle to Dawson – so check these sources often for updates.
The Quest Website is full of useful information. They will update checkpoint / run times during the race and you can also find musher bios, information about the trail, race rules and all sorts of other interesting tidbits. You may even consider donating to the race, there are several support options.
Every team will be wearing a GPS tracker and you can follow the little bouncing dog the entire way down the trail. This tracker can give great insight including rest times outside of checkpoints, speed and elevation graphs. You can also compare mushers strategies. It is a super useful tool and thanks to Spot Trackers and the Quest administration for making them free and available to anyone with internet.
Sponsor print news media include the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer and the Whitehorse Daily Star. They will run stories behind the stories throughout the race. I will link stories from other media when possible. There will be several other reporters following the race e.g. KUAC Fairbanks, so if you find something interesting please feel free to email me the link so I can share with everyone.
Remember also, you can still Gear Up The Dogs for the Yukon Quest! We will keep that open for the entire race.
Thanks of your support and we hope you enjoy following along with us.
Great run down of all info us Fans will need to follow the race! I have already made the couch comfy cozy for those “must track” nights in the coming week! I LOVE THIS RACE! Get a good night sleep SPK…..tomorrow its game ON!!
Fans run/race schedule
1. Pre-race verify checklist of stay bags: snacks, drinks (lots of coffee), back up battery for mouse, gloves for hands to keep warm while hovering over the mouse, warm booties/socks, oh, and did I mention snacks?
2. Race Start: Why are all the trackers on top of each other? Where is Aliy? Where is Allen? Why are the trackers leapfrogging?
3. Think like a dog team. Eat, layout comfy bed, rest, stretch, eat, gear up, run. Fit in a check to FB/Website for Moira’s update.
4. When team settles into any mandatory rest, take nap or go to bed as necessary for individual time zone.
5. Set alarm based on rest time or rest/differential allowing time to check Moira’s update(s).
6. If timing requires you to sleep while the team on the trail, set alarm for a check-up every 2 hours. Never mind how bright the computer monitor is!
7. Spend the ever aggravating slow tracker update by scouring the web for pictures, videos, live-feeds, articles. Find out where you can see the finish LIVE.
8. If you must work during races, make sure your phone is set up for the mobile version of updates and if you can, have another page open for race refresh on your work monitor.
9. Watch our happy teams, mushers and dogs, cross the finish line wherever they are!
10. GO SPK GO!
Dawn, This is wonderful….and I wholeheartedly agree. I can’t tell you how many previous YQs and Iditarods I’ve gotten up to use the bathroom and just “have” to sneak a peek at the tracker!! Go SPK!
I am very excited to see the Black Team on the trail! I will be using the GPS tracker to track the Black Team on the trail. This is going to be an Amazing race! Go Allen Go!
Thank you Moira, for the much appreciated, unashamedly SP Kennel focussed coverage!!!
<3
🙂
Wonderful suggestions and Thanks Moira before hand for all your posts!
Go Allen & Wonderful SP Dogs!!!! Am with you all the way!!
WOOF WOOF WOOF
The Dawson doggie camp is 36 hours I think this year, and I hope we are fortunate enough to have some up close and personal video visits to the 4-legged team members vacation pad.
Until then, like the marvelous post above illustrating the 10 step plan for YQ viewing/cheering, fans will be huddled at the computer at all times of day and night driving the team ahead with our best wishes for a fast and safe race for all on the Black Team!!!
YQ is my favorite time of year! Moira, thank you for all your dedication and hard work, not only to SPK but to us, the fans. Your efforts are not lost on us and are much appreciated!
I am such a fan of your race coverage. When you guys have a team in a race, it is my go-to or excellent race insights. Thank you! And GOOOO Allen and the black team 🙂