Just in case you’re wondering…
I’m similarly equipped, fully medicated and highly caffeinated!
Happy the Sled Dog is asleep, of course, but opens an eye from time to time when she hears her former kennel mates in the videos.
This race is as exciting as any I’ve ever followed, and it shows no signs of letting up on the stress… Yikes!
We’re waiting… waiting… waiting…
Moira in front of the computer watching the tracker, Davis sleeps on the couch, Meghan hits the coffee, Aliy eats “tums” and Ray checks his watch.
A catch-up video of the team arriving and leaving Pelly Crossing checkpoint over night. Turn the sound down, Mac gets kinda loud!
Hooray for great wifi!
A number of you have asked me to offers some analysis of the race. Frankly, there’s not a lot I can say that hasn’t been evident on the tracker: Allen and Brent are dueling it out at the front of the pack, exchanging the lead based on their respective run/rest schedules.
At the moment, the two are right together, running less than 2 miles (about 10 minutes) apart. At this point in a 1,000 mile race, that is astonishing and speaks volumes about how similarly competitive both teams are.
Both teams have an almost full complement of dogs: 12 on Allen’s and 13 on Brent’s. The difference of one dog is negligible, and it’s a testament to their mutual dog care that they both have so many dog so far into this race.
Since both of them have taken so much of their non-mandatory rest out on the trail, it’s impossible (or at least I don’t know how to do it!) to assess their relative run/rest times and speeds. Looking at a replay of the race since Dawson, it looks/feels like Brent has been on a slightly longer run/rest schedule (i.e. longer runs, longer rests) than Allen. Clearly, both are diligently running their individual race strategies to suit the particular attributes of their dog teams.
So, unlike the CB300 where I was able to offer you some pretty clear guidance about how to assess who was “leading” the race irrespective of their actual positions at the moment, I’m unable to do that about the Yukon Quest. There are just too many variables.
What I can say is that this race in incredibly close and that we have two “races within the race” to enjoy over the next 36 hours (or so): First, there’s the race to Braeburn where both teams must take a mandatory 8-hour rest. Whoever gets there first will have the lead starting the second mini-race to the finish in Whitehorse. As we know from recent history, however, that lead (which will probably be small) will be no predictor of eventual victory!
Finally, don’t ignore Hugh Neff or count him out! He’s currently about 35 miles (or about 5 hours) off the lead, running with 9 dogs, but he’s also famous for his hard charging finishes! You can be sure that while Allen and Brent are slugging it out up front, they’re both looking over their shoulders and hoping not to see Hugh on their tails… Stay tuned!
For those of you who haven’t picked this up already on YouTube or on the Fairbanks News-Miner website, here is the link to a great interview during the Dawson City 36-hour mandatory rest. Allen Moore and Brent Sass answer questions about the race, their dogs, their strategy and their spirit of competition.
Sorry for the internet silence. Since updating you of our arrival we had a complete internet failure in Pelly and despite a technician from North West Tel going over-and-above and driving up all the way from Whitehorse to try to fix it, we were without connection for the rest of our stay. That coupled with a cellphone dead zone made for a frustrating few hours from a comms perspective but from a dog team perspective it went absolutely according to plan! We’re now in Carmacks with limited connection so I can update you quickly on the team arriving and leaving Pelly. I don’t hold out much hope that I can upload any video; I will try, but in the meantime I took a few pictures to share with you.
In the foyer of the community centre that is doubling as the Pelly checkpoint during the Quest, are posters drawn by the children from the local school welcoming each musher to Pelly Crossing.
It’s a lovely touch from the community and I’m sure it will be much appreciated by all the mushers that come in for a chilli and corn muffin!
Allen and the team pulled in first to the checkpoint at 10.15pm and, boy, they looked great. The dogs were very vocal, Mac even sounds like he is losing his voice from singing and cheerleading a little too much! Allen came in with Quito and Scruggs in lead, I’m not quite sure when he swapped Scruggs and Olivia.
The temperature in Pelly was around 20F below – both musher and dogs looked frosty and the dogs are wearing their wind jackets and Allen was wrapped up in his cold weather Northern Outfitters gear.
Allen arrived with 12 dogs having dropped Chemo in Scroggie Creek. Chemo developed a sore shoulder and Allen felt it best to leave him there.
Allen enjoys running with Chemo in the team so was disappointed to leave him behind. The pace of the race is such that Allen won’t be taking any chances of risking further injury to any dogs so will have made the decision with Chemo’s future, and the rest of the racing season, in mind.
He was taken back to Dawson so we’re very lucky that Meghan and Thomas who are handling for Cody Strathe are bringing him with them to Pelly and one of us will head back that way to pick him up when he arrives. He is in great hands and they will take good care of him. We’re looking forward to seeing him and giving him some loving which I am certain he will lap up! He is a big, tough racing dog but enjoys some smooching too.
Allen himself is tired but still looks good. He hadn’t slept since Dawson but he works hard on his fitness and it is at this part of the race that it really shows. That he can still be efficient with his chores and hold a coherent conversation on so little sleep is testament to that.
After a quick nap and a couple of bowls of hearty beef and barley soup he gathered his gear ready for the 70-odd mile run to Carmacks. The dogs got almost three hours of rest, interrupted only to eat dinner. He did some switching around on the line and left with Quito and Scruggs in lead, Nacho and Olivia in swing followed by Scout and Chica, Mac and Boondocks (can you imagine – our biggest dog running with our smallest dog!), Schmoe and Clyde with Biscuit and Beemer still in wheel.
While we waited for the team to leave we were treated to a stunning Aurora show – I tried to capture it on my little “point-and-shoot” for you.
L-R: Quito and Scruggs lead the team in to Pelly; A frosty Allen arriving in Pelly.
L-R: Dr Mike, Aliy and Meghan watch on; a show of Aurora as we waited.
The team left quietly – they were more than happy to leave and looked ready to go. When we caught up with them at McCabe Creek Dog Drop they were loping along, looking comfortable. When Allen stopped there briefly to check in with officials Mac managed to get himself over the top of Boondocks and she was standing under his belly – it look hilarious and even Allen stopped what he was doing for a moment and said “well, that’s freaking funny right there!”
We expect to see the team here in Carmacks soon. Not sure when you will hear from me again… “stay tuned”.
FYI: In Pelly the officials are changing the batteries in everyone’s trackers with you in mind. Little things can make all the difference.
– Moira
After a full night’s rest we packed up and said farewell to Dawson City to head for Pelly Crossing. The temperatures are warmer today than what we had experienced during the 36 hour break and there has been fresh snow so the ploughs were in action on the highway. Just as the first three teams left Dawson not far apart, the handler crews travelled close together also.
Since leaving Dawson the teams have climbed over King Solomon’s Dome and we heard there was fresh snow up there which would make it slower and more difficult. Next up are the notorious Black Hills which are continuous ascents and descents – it’s not mountainous above the tree-line but the continuous nature of the ups and downs make it challenging. Talking to Aliy about this part of the trail she said you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere then you come across active gold-mine claims where there is heavy equipment and dredges that you mush right by. You can really tell that this part of the country is focussed on gold mining – not just in its history but currently as well.
Once out of the Black Hills they drop onto the Pelly River and the first lights of civilisation are at Stepping Stone, where there are always very happy, welcoming people. It has been a hospitality stop on the Quest for many years and is incredibly hard to go passed without stopping as they have burritos, ice-cream and lasagna – anything the musher wants PLUS warm beds – so you never know whether the musher planned to stop there or got sucked into the hospitality!
It is then just 34 miles to Pelly crossing; the trail either travels along the river or the road depending on the conditions, this year it is travelling along the road. We expect Allen and the team later today and we are just now getting the lay of the land at this checkpoint so we are ready for them to arrive. We are all missing the dogs having spent an intense 36 hours with them – we can’t wait to see them (oh, and Allen too!)
FYI: Pelly Crossing lies where the Klondike Highway crosses the Pelly River (hence Pelly-Crossing) and is the home of the Selkirk First Nation (thanks wikipedia!).
