It’s a gruelling race for man and beast across the frozen Arctic. The annual Yukon Quest dogsled race is now into day 3 of the 1600 kilometre race from Fairbanks Alaska, to Whitehorse, Yukon.
It is truly an international event this year. Of the 23 entrants, there are mushers (dog sled drivers) from Japan, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Hungary, France, and five Canadians.
This year, veteran Japanese musher, Yuka Honda has a film crew from Japan’s NHK broadcaster filming her race.
The winter has not been particularly cold and in some areas, especially closer to the finish where there is less snow.
The route also had to be changed around Dawson City, Yukon, because of ice-jams on the river.
There is no doubt the race is tough, adding to that are the vagaries and severity of an Arctic winter weather. Quoted in the CBC, Natalie Haltrich, the race’s executive director in Yukon.The trail can change in an hour with a storm, or wind, or you name it”.
As of today, last year’s winner Brent Sass was in the lead.
Another racer, J Jay Levy, one of the the several female mushers, has withdrawn saying it was over concerns for her dog team, which interestingly is made up of rescue dogs.
Canadian racer Hank DeBruin called in from the trail for one of his dogs to be taken out over an “unforeseen issue”. The dog is reported in stable condition, while DeBruin is continuing.
The mushers are expected to reach the half way point of Dawson City on Wednesday where mushers and teams are required to take a mandatory 36 hour rest stop. For the health and safety of the drivers and teams, there are other mandatory rests at checkpoints along the trails.
The race start and end points alternate between Fairbanks and Whitehorse each year.
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