SPK Dog Log

Allen and his 13 team mates are currently resting in Slaven’s Cabin. They have been there for about one hour at the time of writing.

They will rest a few hours there before embarking on the 60 mile run to Circle. The trail report we received in Dawson said ‘Windblown rough ice for a few miles out of Slavens. Windblown ice and hard packed snow after the Woodchipper Cr crossing.” Richard Smith Cabin (40 miles out of Circle) is stocked with wood. 26 miles from Circle the trail jumps up off the Yukon and enters the beaver sloughs and portage. Good shelter from wind for the next 5 miles. Caribou in this stretch. 20 Miles out of Circle the trail passes a rough shelter cabin. More snow as you approach Circle, trail could be blown in.” 

The handler crew is currently travelling up the Steese Highway and will meet the team in Circle. They will all enjoy the hospitality of the remote checkpoint and they will report back on the team asap. We are unsure of wifi accessibility up there so we’ll get what details we can to you.

Where are they? What’s happening? Is he over the Summit yet? How far from Eagle are they?

That was the handler crew each time we came within town limits and got some internet to check the tracker. Dawson to Two Rivers is a heckava drive but we are back at the kennel now and making a plan for the crew to head up the Steese Highway to Circle City to meet the Black Team.

As I write, Allen and his 13 team mates are about 25 miles past Trout Creek Hospitality spot and in first position. Since we saw them they have seen a lot of trail, climbed a big hill and enjoyed some trail hospitality.

Soon after leaving Dawson, the trail report called for five new inches of snow on the river – perhaps an advantage leaving the checkpoint in fourth position? Teams travel 50 miles on the river to “40 mile” then on to Clinton Creek Hospitality Stop. Sandy and Earl are huge supporters of the mushers and open their home to them, if they wish to partake. I know Allen always enjoys stopping there for a warm meal and bed and it looks to us like he rested the team just over three hours there. Allen took a cooler of already made food with him from Dawson to save time in Clinton Creek and the dogs could eat immediately as they arrived.

After Clinton Creek the teams travelled the Taylor Highway (that was built to provide access to Eagle, Chicken and the historic Fortymile Mining District) for a time. They crossed the border back into the USA and at that point there was a one hour time zone change. After about five hours running, Allen rested his team for three hours on the trail. Once rested they climbed up and over American Summit (3,652′). This is a technically challenging climb as the summit is almost always side-hilled and coupled with possible glaciation and/or windy whiteout – can cause difficulties for a team. Once at the summit there is a gradual 20 mile descent into Eagle.

The Black Team was the first into Eagle at 22:58pm with a combined run/rest time from Dawson of 23 hours, 42 minutes. At Eagle checkpoint is a compulsory four hour rest but you’ll see from the leaderboard that so far everyone has stayed longer than four hours. It is a welcome haven in the middle of the night. Also at Eagle is another mandatory vet check for the dogs and as Allen left with all 13 they must all still be doing well.

From Eagle to Circle City the trail is 160-odd miles. There are two hospitality stops – Trout Creek and Slavens with several other cabins as possible shelter or rest spots along they way. The trail runs on the Yukon River all the way and it can be extremely cold in that area. Forecasts for the area right now calls for fairly warm temperatures, above zero but with a good possibility of some blowing snow as the teams near Circle.

The Black Team rested for about 2.5 hours at Trout Creek and are now currently about 35 miles from Slavens.

If you haven’t already checked it out – the replay function on the tracker is a fun way to find out where everyone stopped to camp and to see the shuffling of places.

Right on time at 12:16am Allen and 13 team mates left for Eagle. They were howling and excited to get moving again. We won’t see them again until Circle City – around 310 miles away! (In the meantime the handler crew will drive 1050 miles.) Safe travels doggies – and Allen.

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The dogs are dressed quite differently than the last time we were able to help. Temps are much higher and snow conditions will therefore be different. Sticky, wet snow is potentially on the trail and that can cause “chicken legs” on the dogs with longer hair on the backs of their legs. The snow can stick then it comes off in balls, taking the hair with it – causing chicken legs. We dressed any dogs that might have a potential issue in leggings. They are also wearing their puff coats and Allen has packed in the sled the wind coats that were not necessary for tonight.

Leading out the team was Dutch and Chipper with Commando and Junior in swing, Spark and Amber, Nomex and Clyde, Rodney will run on is own (which suits his as he can twirl and spin as much as he wants), Bruno and Champ with Felix and Vi in wheel.

Allen left Ironman with us – coming in to Dawson on Monday night Iron had a hitch in his get-along on the back leg / groin area and although Bridgett, Karolyn and Aliy worked on it for 36 hours, massaging and stretching, we ran out of time to get it back to rights. He won’t take long to recover but as Allen said “If I have to think about it at all then it’s a no”.

It was a very conservative ‘drop’ but it is not worth taking him knowing he is not quite right and risk turning it into a major injury. Iron helped the team for 500 miles, he enjoyed the Dog Camp experience and is no longer a Yukon Quest rookie! He will join his YQ200 buddies and head back to the kennel with us in the truck.

We were so happy to see the team trotting in to Dawson, looking great, at 12:16pm. They are currently in fourth position behind Brent Sass, Michelle Phillips and Hans Gatt. There is less than an hour separating the first four positions. Their exit time will be 12:16am on THURSDAY (edit: thanks Becky for pointing out I had the wrong day originally.)

While Allen was checking in and talking with the scrum of press, the crew snacked the dogs and removed booties in the chute. This year, as the dogs had just run past the camp ground, the officials gave teams the option of trucking the dogs back to camp, rather then turn them around to go back the way they came. We took the truck option so were able to drive them right to the camp spot and settle them straight into their inviting sleeping quarters.

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They all enjoyed their warm meal and full body massage before the vets came through to do their checks. Allen waited in the heated arctic oven wall tent eating a couple of cheeseburgers until the checks were completed. I interviewed him about the run from Pelly and asked especially about the four “newbies” in his team – Chipper, Bruno, Iron and Amber.

Allen is now sleeping in his hotel room while Aliy stayed behind at camp to keep the dogs company. The rest of the crew came back to town (camp is about 10 minutes out of town) and dropped the sled and dog jackets and harnesses off at the RCMP workshop to dry. We then gave the YQ200 dogs some attention for a while, explaining and reassuring them that they are just as important as those other 14 glamour boys and gals.

Shortly, the team will get their second meal – this one full of thawed beef and soaked kibble then we will rouse Allen from his slumber to give him his second meal also. Overnight we will have at least one of the crew spending the night with the dogs to take care of their every need.

We are ready! At the time of writing Allen and the Black Team are about 12 miles out. I captured a screen shot of the moment they summited King Solomon’s Dome.

Yesterday the advanced crew of Karolyn, Bridgett and Mark arrived in Dawson to set up camp for the team. It is a labour of love as they consider the dogs’ needs in crafting bespoke sleeping and feeding quarters.

Karolyn captured the activity in setting it up.

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Once the team arrives the handler crew takes command of the team. We will get the dogs over to camp and settle them in to their digs. We’ll remove all booties, harness and jackets and give them fresh fleece lined sleeping coats and cover with fleece airline blankets. They’ll get a hearty dinner of thawed meaty bits in watery soaked kibble with crunchy kibble sprinkled on top. Each will also receive a full body massage with warmed liniment and soothing foot ointment and plenty of kisses.

At the same time the veterinarians will carry out their mandatory checks on each dog to identify any issues that may need working on for the next 36 hours.

Once that is all done the dogs will, no doubt, get right down to the serious business of sleep! We’ll then get Allen back to his hotel room (with jacuzzi in-room!!!) for his rest and recuperation.

Over the next 36 hours we have a strict timetable of feeding, massage, walking to stretch out, and sleeping. It also includes the continuation of the omeprozole dosing during the break. We work backwards from exit time to ensure they are in tip-top shape to leave.

We can’t wait to see them.

More soon.