Copper Basin 300 in one week!

The second Saturday in January has become a fixed engagement on the SPK racing calendar for around 15 years. The Copper Basin 300 is one of the kennel’s favourite races and this year is no different. Allen will be taking 12 elite athletes plus support crew down to Glennallen for the 2019 CB300 race that kicks off in one week – on Saturday, 12th January at 10am local time. It is touted as the toughtest 300 miles in Alaska and I’m sure the mushers would concur! It traverses some of the most challenging but also the most beautiful parts of the state.

Preparations

This week the crew will be busy with final preparations – packing supplies into the drop bags that will be sent ahead of the teams to the checkpoint, inspecting and setting aside the racing harnesses and lines, assembling team-packs of booties and meal size kibble portions. They will also ensure the support vehicles are primed and ready, packed with all the essentials as they follow the race by road. The CB300 has it written in the rules that each team must have a handler at each checkpoint so reliable transport is critical!

As the week progresses Allen will finalise his team line-up and start tapering their training so they are fit and rearing to go come Saturday. He will pack his race gear into his sled, including the mandatory gear (sleeping bag, hand ax, snowshoes, cooker and fuel, food for dogs and musher plus spare booties) and gather his personal clothing and equipment. Even through he knows this race like the back of his hand he still consults a master checklist to ensure nothing is left behind.

Race Route

This year due to low snow conditions the race will start at Gakona and continue from there to Red Eagle Lodge in Chistochina, to Meiers Lake Roadhouse to Sourdough camp to The Point Lodge on Lake Louise and finishing at Old Paths Baptist Church in Glennallen town.

Total race trail distance from start to finish is approximately 263 miles

Find out more about the route, the rules by visiting the CB300 website.

Coverage

We will be covering the race, of course, through an SPK-centric lens and will bring you updates from the trail and from Moira who is following the race from the NZ summer. Check back with us here often and also on our Facebook page and maybe even Instagram too!

For the best overall race updates keep an eye on the CB300 website and their Facebook page.

For the last few races the local Glennallen radio station KCAM has live streamed the start and finish of the race plus giving updates through the weekend so tune in closer to the time for that. They have really knowledgeable commentators and are great supporters of the race. You can also keep an eye on the weather in the area with this link.

You might also like to support the race directly through their “sponsor a mile” program. It is a well-run and managed race with many great people involved. Thanks to several of you who already have! There is also some supporters gear available to purchase on-line.

We will post again, closer to “go time” with a race roster and handler crew details. With Allen getting to choose only 12 canine athletes to take with him he will have a hard time deciding!

Top graphic by Margaret Wirtenberg