SPK Dog Log

This evening in the Whitehorse Convention Centre a packed house saw the mushers draw their bib numbers for Saturday’s race start. Allen and the Black Team will lead the teams out of the start chute and onto the trail at exactly 11am local time.

Check out the Yukon Quest website post for information about when the other mushers will start.

The evening was good fun with entertainment from the Fiddleheads group, who also performed the National Anthems. We had some welcoming remarks and a blessing by the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council followed by welcoming speeches from the Commissioner Doug Philips, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Culture Jeff O’Farrell and the Whitehorse Mayor Dan Curtis.

The Fiddleheads perform to the crowd

Each musher got up on stage to draw their bib number then some told stories, thanked dogs, sponsors, volunteers, handlers and officials, and friends and family. One even got the entire room to sing “Happy Birthday” to his wife (we’re looking at you Cody Strathe).

Can you spot any familiar faces?

The buffet dinner was sensational, as always – thanks team!

Part of the delicious buffet banquet dinner; dog tags for bib #1

It was great to catch up with a number of people we perhaps see only once a year at the Quest: mushers, handlers, volunteers and supporters. There was certainly a buzz about the evening as there’s just one more day then it’s all on!

Earlier today Allen had musher meetings where the mushers heard about trail conditions and discussed rules and procedures for the race. He also met with his “Quest Guest” Nicky. She, along with Marla are part of “Bev’s Army” of volunteers and do a great deal for the race all year round. It will be great to have Nicky in the sled on Saturday for the first mile and a half of the course. Thank you gals, and all the volunteers – we would not have a race without you!

During the Yukon Quest the SP Kennel Crew will endeavour to keep our fans and supporters as up-to-date as possible. Our main update reports will be on the Doglog with supplementary photos on Instagram and Facebook.

Moira is part of the handler crew out on the trail and will be covering the “on the ground” action with update reports, photos and maybe some videos from the checkpoints – remember we are travelling in sometimes very remote Yukon and Alaskan areas so coverage is uncertain at this point. You may also hear from Kaz and Macgellan during the race to give a different perspective and fill in some blanks.

This year, thanks to our brand new smartphones and accessories provided by Verizon, coupled with their 4G LTE network in Alaska and roaming partners in the Yukon, we have set up an Instagram account (username spkennel) and we’ll post pictures to both our Instagram and Facebook pages. Remember Allen and Aliy are not able to carry cellphones out on the trail (no two-way communication devices are allowed) but the handler crew will have fun playing with them instead! We may even have a few surprises in store for you.

Our first couple of Instagram pictures: travelling the ALCAN, enjoying Whitehorse

Of course, alongside our unapologetically SPK focussed coverage, the Yukon Quest website, Facebook page and twitter feed will have updates and a leader board with official times in and out of checkpoints. You will be able to hear about all the other teams in the race there.

Also on the Quest website you will find the Trackers for live tracking during the 1000 mile race. You will likely become very familiar with that page by the end of the race. I know we do!

There will be a news media contingent following the race with reporters and photographers on the trail. Race sponsors the Whitehorse Daily Star and the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer will be there, as well several radio stations and other news media outlets. We will try to keep an eye on these sources and link you to stories now and again.

We thank you in advance for your patience as we get team updates and information about any dropped dogs to you. Rest assured we all will be doing our best to get you the information as quickly as possible.

We hope you enjoy following along!

This evening the YQ1000 mushers met hundreds of fans and supporters at the Mount McIntyre Centre in Whitehorse. There were many stories being shared, photographs smiled for, and lots and lots of autographs signed. The queue to get posters signed was almost out the door!

Some of the crowd at “Meet the Mushers” this evening

Allen shares a joke with Ed Hopkins; some of the merchandise on sale

The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race has been running between Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory of Canada and Fairbanks, Alaska since 1984. The Yukon Quest Trail crosses frozen rivers and four mountain summits. There are nine checkpoints; some of which are more than 200 miles apart as well as five “dog drop” and/or hospitality stops in-between checkpoints.

The Yukon Quest website has some excellent information about the race and its history so when you get a moment – check it out. “The Yukon Quest Trail follows historical Gold Rush and mail delivery dog sled routes from the turn of the 20th Century. Once the transportation “highways” of the Northern frontier, the Yukon Quest Trail now comes alive each February with the frosty breath and haunting howls of hundreds of sled dogs. Up to 50 dog teams consisting of one human ‘musher’ and 14 canine athletes tread across some of the last pristine wilderness remaining in North America.“

The race is known for its sometimes rough terrain and extreme weather conditions. Being run in February the temperatures are certainly unpredictable – one year it can be run in frigid -40F conditions and the next year it could be +30F, with the conditions changing as the race goes on.

Allen and the SP Kennel Black Team are the defending champions of the Yukon Quest 1000. He’s looking forward to starting the race and getting out on the trail after many weeks of training, planning and build-up. There will be 26 teams starting on Saturday.

Allen hugs Quito at the finish line in Takhini Hot Springs; Aliy with her YQ300 leaders Honda and Pud at the start of the YQ300 in Fairbanks

Each year the Yukon Quest 300 mile race is run at the same time. This year it starts in Whitehorse and travels the same route as the 1000 mile race until Pelly Crossing. Once there the teams do an out-and-back loop and cross the finish line back in Pelly.

Aliy and the SPK Red Team are the defending champions of the YQ300, having last year won it on the north route (from Fairbanks to Circle and doubling back to Central). They will start on Saturday a few hours after the 1000 milers and she will be running a youthful team in this race. 23 teams will start the YQ300.

The starting bib draw for the YQ1000 will happen at the Starters Banquet on Thursday evening and for the YQ300 at the mushers meeting on Friday so we will let you know our teams’ starting positions as soon as we know. Team rosters will be out on Saturday morning as the starting line-up of both teams is not finalised yet.

We hope you enjoy the latest edition of the SP Kennel Howler newsletter.

We recap the successful Copper Basin 300 race and look forward to the Yukon Quest, starting this weekend in Whitehorse.

The spotlight this month is on Chica, who was named Allen’s Most Valuable Dog during the CB300. She’s an unsung hero and she deserves the spotlight for a while. She would hate it if she knew, she’s not one to seek the limelight!

We introduce Verizon as a new SP Kennel Lead Sponsor and let you know about the in-store Meet and Greet in Anchorage in February.

Click on the picture on the right to take you to the on-line version of the Howler!

Let’s catch up with Scooby, Ginger, Ernie, Rodney and Five in this video update!

The Verizon meet and greet was a great success with many people coming in to store to check out what Verizon has to offer here in Alaska and also meet with Aliy, Allen, Beemer and Viper!

There were some great prizes given away including a Go-Pro, a summer SP Kennel tour and some Yukon Quest finish banquet tickets!

Verizon had also produced a huge banner for everyone to write their best wishes to the teams.

Did you come along to say ‘Hi’? Let us know in the comments below.

Viper and Beemer take a break from their media duties; Aliy and Allen with Viper and Beemer

Allen is interviewed by Tim Palmer from KIAK FM who will be giving on-air updates during the Quest; Jared from the Verizon store signing the “Good Luck” banner

An Anchorage store visit is scheduled for February 28th from 12-3pm.

We’re excited that Verizon has joined the SP Kennel team!

Will you be in the Fairbanks area on Saturday? If so, drop into the Verizon store on 427 Merhar Avenue between 12noon and 2pm to meet Aliy and Allen.

We’ll have Beemer and Viper in store so come along and meet them as well. You might win some cool prizes and you can guarantee it will be lots of fun – see you there!