YQ300: On The Trail

Karolyn and her 12 team mates are on the trail and heading towards the first checkpoint at Two Rivers (which incidentally isn’t actually at Two Rivers but another 25 miles or so up the road towards the Chena Hot Springs.)

The same pre-race routines were followed with Karolyn packing her sled, the crew dressing the dogs and plenty of helpers getting everyone safely to the start line. Thanks again to Padee and Lisa for capturing great photos and video for us.

Karolyn and her team will be racing a very conservative race schedule. Not only does she have a bunch of rookies in her team, she herself is a rookie and past the first checkpoint will be all new trails for her. In Karolyn’s words: “Thank you to everyone for all the messages of support. Just a note on everyone saying they hope I win. That is not the goal for this race. The goal is to finish with a happy, healthy team and a happy, healthy Karolyn. Some of the dogs on my team have never raced; others have never finished a race greater than 100 miles, and some of them are a little older. We’re here to have fun, and if we stay competitive then it will be a happy side effect but not our focus. See you all on the other side 😊”

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The trail guide describes the first 70-odd mile leg as follows:

“From the start line you will be traveling thru downtown Fairbanks and parts of Fort Wainwright on the Chena River. The river is well‐traveled and there be more than one trail choice. Stay on the Chena. Houses will change to cabins and become sparse. You pass under the Nordale Road Bridge 17 miles out.  5 1/2 miles further you will leave the Chena River on the left‐hand side. The trail takes you around some fields and on to a well‐used trail that runs predominately east. This is the Baseline Trail. You will have several road‐crossings, (more like well‐used driveways), along this trail. Approximately 10 ‐ 15 miles along this you will begin to encounter more housing, and occasional dog yards—you are entering the Pleasant Valley area. A left turn 15 miles along the baseline will put you on the Pleasant Valley Rd. You will run this road to the Chena Hotsprings Road, turn right and parallel that road past Pleasant Valley Store, (did you forget anything?), a Laundromat and several other businesses. The store is just about 40 miles from the start line. You will be on a well‐traveled trail for the next 35 miles. Three miles past the store you will cross the Chena Hotspring’s Road. Expect overflow at creek crossings. You cross under the Hotsprings Road 24 miles out, then again 28 miles out. 2 miles past Angel Creek Lodge is the Mile 52 Chena Hotsprings Rd. checkpoint.”