SPK Dog Log

Friday morning saw Aliy and her Red team complete the veterinarian checks at the Alpine Lodge. All her team passed the exams and are fit and ready to run! She took 14 with her for checks but she has to narrow her team down to just 12 so she will do that later this evening.

L-R: Willie gets a lift back in to the truck; Nelson gets seen by veterinarian, Dr Alan Hallman

Later in the afternoon Aliy and Wes attended the YQ300 musher/handler meeting to hear about the latest trail conditions and start line arrangements. They also drew their start positions: Aliy drew bib number 56 which means she will leave the start chute at 3.15pm on Saturday. (Note: YQ300 bibs start at 50 so she is starting sixth)

L-R: Aliy draws bib number 56; Ryne Olson, Aliy, Amanda Gecas and Chase Tingle show their bib numbers for the YQ300

One more sleep for everyone then it is all on! We can’t wait, can you?

Allen and the Black team will be heading out from Fairbanks in with bib number 8!

Last night at the start draw and banquet at the Westmark Hotel, Allen drew number 8 out of 18 starting mushers. This means the team will start at 11.21am on Saturday morning.

As you may have seen on the Yukon Quest website, this year the teams are taking a “tag sled” (a second sled attached to the back of the main sled) for the first mile or two. Sharon Johnston won the auction to ride in Allen’s sled – thank you Sharon!

Aliy will draw her bib number at this afternoon’s YQ300 mushers meeting so we will let you know later today when she will be leaving the start chute. Also later today we will post the team rosters so keep an eye out for that!

L-R: Sharon Johnston and Allen at the banquet; dog tags for the Black Team

Wednesday evening a big crowd turned up at the Alpine Lodge in Fairbanks to “meet the mushers”.

It was a chance for public, friends, fans and supporters to chat to and get a signature from all the Yukon Quest 1000 mushers. By the end of the evening the mushers had signed their names hundreds of times on posters, race guides, postcards and T-shirts and smiled for many pictures.

This is one of a few events and meetings the mushers and teams attend before the start of the race on Saturday. As you will see from the schedule posted earlier today, Thursday sees the teams in meetings most of the day and the start draw and banquet is Thursday evening. This is where the mushers will draw their starting positions and we will learn what time Allen will leave the start chute.

Thanks to the Alpine Lodge in Fairbanks for hosting the “meet the mushers”!

L-R: Allen with some young fans; the “meet the mushers” board

SP Kennel Crew is at the peak of the Yukon Quest packed schedule. The whole Crew ~ friends and family is coming together for this race!

WEDNESDAY

• 4 PM – 6 PM …….YQ 1000 Mushers Meeting
• 7 PM – 10 PM …… YQ “Meet the Mushers” Event

THURSDAY

• 10 AM ………….YQ 1000 Handlers Meeting 
• 11:30 AM ………YQ 1000 “Rider” Luncheon
• 1 PM – 4 PM …….YQ 1000 Mushers Meeting
• 5 PM – 10 PM …… YQ Banquet / Starting Draw

• 11 AM ………….YQ 1000 START
• 3 PM – 6 PM …….YQ 300 START

We don’t get a lot of sun here in Two Rivers during January but we sure make the most of it!

Aliy and her team leave the yard

Congratulations to BELLA SHAMES who has won our first Yukon Quest themed Dog Fan Club Draw. Bella is a fan of SCOOTER.

Because we have all been occupied with drop bags for both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod and have been folding thousands of booties, Bella wins a set of booties! She also wins a Yukon Quest Race Guide signed by both Allen and Aliy along with a patch and some other goodies.

The next draw is due on Sunday, February 9th which is right in the middle of the race. We’ll still make the draw that day but the post may be a little later. The names of everyone who hasn’t already won and all new members will be in the draw for another Yukon Quest related prize.

Click the button below for instructions on how to join:

Click this button below to take you directly to the Dog Fan Page.

On Tuesday, veterinarian and long time SP Kennel sponsor, Dr. Tamara Rose carried out thorough vet checks on 19 “possibles” for Allen’s Yukon Quest Black team.

Vet checks are a vital part of the Yukon Quest to ensure every dog starting the race is in good health. Their importance can’t be underestimated.

Tamara checked a number of things including weight, body condition, heart rate and lungs, teeth and temperature and she checked for any sore muscles and other “abnormalities” (see vet check sheet – right). We’re very happy to say that all 19 dogs passed the vet check with flying colors so now Allen just needs to narrow down the squad to 14!

Aliy will take her Red Team squad to the YQ veterinary team for their checks on the Friday before the race.

L-R: Puppet has her teeth checked; Nacho has his feet checked

L-R: TRose feels Schmoe’s wrist; Say “cheese” Mac