SPK Dog Log

Report from Braeburn. Ryne has been in Braeburn since 8:58 am and was get set to leave at approximately 2:30 pst. She had a wonderful run from Whitehorse, camping about half way. She and the dogs saw an incredible show of Northern Lights as they rested. She will be leaving Sissy at Braeburn with the handlers. Sissy is just working too hard!

Aliy left Braeburn at 11:39 with 11 dogs. She dropped Bonita. She was very pleased with her run. The trail was fast and she was able to move up through the teams at a nice pace. She is really enjoying seeing the trail again after so many years.

Bonita and Sissy are well and sleeping in the truck. They ate a good meal and are curled up in the straw. The Sat Phone had a frozen battery, but fixed now. Hope to have another update when Ryne leaves.

Allen is still on the trail to Carmacks.

The Mushers are making their way towards Carmacks. The Quest Mushers are beginning to arrive and the Quest 300 mushers are just heading out on the trail to the Carmacks Check Point.

The Village of Carmacks was named after miner George Washington Carmack. He found coal in 1893 and built a trading post near the present site of Carmacks. He also started a coal mine on the Yukon River. Carmack is credited with discovering the gold in the Dawson region with Skookum Jim and Tagish Charlie that started the Klondike Gold Rush. Carmacks is the home of the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation, a Northern Tutchone people.

Aliy Checking into Braeburn this Morning

By the Yukon Quest
From the Official Yukon Quest Flickr Page

The Northern Light over Braeburn

By the Yukon Quest
From the Official Yukon Quest Flickr Page

I just got a call from Ray on the trail. He is currently in Carmacks waiting for Allen to arrive. Allen had an excellent run to Braeburn. The temperature had dropped during the night to -24 F and the trail had frozen up nicely. Very little open water and very fast. He did his mandatory rest and left in very good spirits on his way to Carmacks.

Aliy arrived in Braeburn at 6:40. She was happy with the run in and was taking a short nap when Ray left for Carmacks. There is a 2 hour mandatory rest there for the Quest 300. I believe she will take a longer rest there to prepare for the next leg of the 300.

As of this Update, Ryne had not reached Braeburn yet, but information is slow trickling in and out of the check point. She may already be there and eating a good breakfast.

By the Yukon Quest
From the Official Yukon Quest Flickr Page

Ryne at the Start Line

By the Yukon Quest
From the Official Yukon Quest Flickr Page

The Quest musher’s are fast approaching the first checkpoint at the Braeburn Lodge. I am still getting used to reading the Live Update, but it is clear that the first mushers should be there very soon. Allen has moved up quickly, passing many of the slower teams already. There is a 4 hour mandatory stop at Braeburn for the Yukon Quest and a 2 hour mandatory rest there for the Quest 300.

Braeburn Lodge is a piece of history! The Lodge is a former roadhouse on the Whitehorse – Dawson Overland Trail. Between 1902 and 1914, the White Pass Stage Line ran sleighs and stage coaches between Whitehorse and Dawson. The Braeburn Roadhouse, located near Braeburn Lake and Braeburn Mountain, served travelers on the first section of the trail.

Today, Braeburn Lodge and their EXCELLENT cinnamon rolls serve travelers on the North Klondike Highway driving between Whitehorse and Dawson. If you listened to any of the Radio Coverage of the Yukon Quest start, you heard musher after musher rave about the hamburgers and cinnamon rolls.
I had hoped to have pictures and video of the Quest 300 start to put up before going to bed tonight, but I have not gotten any from the trail yet. Hopefully I will have some for you in the morning. I accidentally signed on earlier today as Aliy. Sorry for any confusion. As talented as she is, I don’t think even she can pull off running the 300 and keeping the Dog Log updated. This is Kaz Zirkle and I will be doing my best to keep you informed and entertained for the duration of the two races.

And Finnally we have Allen and the SP Kennel Black Team!

Last Two Mushers from the Yukon Quest Start from the Official Yukon Quest YouTube Channel.

More of the Yukon Quest Start from the Official Yukon Quest YouTube Channel.