Helena Musher Competing in Race to the Sky
The old saying goes — if you are not the lead dog, the view never changes. Musher Mark Ibsen counters that he’d rather be on the sled so he doesn’t have to run 12 mph.While preparing his dogs for a practice run for this weekend’s Race to the Sky, Ibsen…
Yukon Quest Notebook
Mile 101 seems like a lonely place for a checkpoint, but that hasn’t kept a handful of volunteers from returning for 10-plus years.Checkpoint manager Peter Kamper has spent 16 years working the area that consists of a few unadorned cabins.Read more here: http://newsminer.com/bookmark/17413451-Yukon-Quest-notebook
Deep Overflows Daunting Drop at Eagle Summit Test Mushers Dogs and Equipment
If a sound could define Sunday’s Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, it would be the clunking of mushers’ ice-covered boots walking through the checkpoints.Multiple spots of trail between Two Rivers and the Central checkpoint were waterlogged, with overflow in some places up to mushers’ knees. For most, it wasn’t…
2012 Yukon Quest Begins; Sass Takes Early Lead
Frozen boots weren’t enough to dampen race leader Brent Sass’ lead coming into checkpoint Mile 101. A clear night, moderate temperatures and brilliant aurora led the Fairbanks musher to the checkpoint at 2:52 a.m. Sunday.Read more: http://newsminer.com/bookmark/17407363-2012-Yukon-Quest-begins-Sass-takes-early-lead
Central Museum Exhibit Shows Evolution Of The Dog Sled
The Circle District Historical Society Museum in Central, Alaska, houses several lovely old dog sleds, including some that would be familiar to most Alaskans — “basket” sleds with runners. But one different type of sled, what could be described as a flat-sterned snow-canoe, caught my eye.Read more: http://newsminer.com/view/full_story/17397022/article-Central-museum-exhibit-shows-evolution-of-the-dog-sled?instance=home_features_bullets1
2012 Yukon Quest Begins With All Eyes On Whitehorse
You’d think most mushers prepping for the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race would be a little nervous before the start. You’d probably be right.“This is the first race I’ve ever been nervous for,” Two Rivers rookie Jason Weitzel said. “I’m calming down, let’s say. I try to keep…
Sled Dog Races in Massena; No One Says Mush Anymore
For starters, let’s get one thing straight:In the world of sled dog racing, no one says “mush” anymore when instructing the animals to get going across the snow.At Saturday’s third annual running of the Massena Winter Carnival’s Massena Dash sled dog racing competition, the mention of the word brought grins…
The Show Mush Go On
Dogsled racers and fans converged on Marmora last weekend in search of a rare but coveted substance: snow.Mushers have been frustrated by this winter’s wacky weather, with several races cancelled due to lack of snow.Read more here: http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3461178
ADMA Challenge Series Race #5
The Annamaet Challenge Series Race #5 will be held this Sunday, Feb. 5th. We will once again use post entry rules for sign-ups with no additional post entry fee. In Challenge Series races post entries for skijor must be submitted by 10:00 a.m., 4-dog must be submitted by 10:30 a.m.,…
In Cold Weather, a Dog Team Wastes No Time Getting Home
Julie saw right away that I was not on the approaching dog sled.She was at home waiting for my return from an eight-day trapline run. Her dogs had announced that my team was approaching, and when it swung into view a quarter-mile away, she saw clearly that the sled lacked…