The Yukon Quest is Off & Running

by clorenz1 | February 12, 2007 at 01:51 pm | 512 views | add comment

While it was a happy celebration in New Orleans for Barkus, it was a sad day at the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog race. One of the musher's lost a team member along the the trail, and she was brought back in the sled.

My cousin was a long time dog musher, and retired just a few short years ago. The bond between musher and dog is a very strong one, and losing a team member is a devastating experience.

The race of course continues on, and many fine teams are competing in the 1,000 mile trail, which takes the dogs, and their mushers from Whitehorse to Fairbanks. Lance Mackey will be trying to defend his championship from the last two-years.

Lance Mackey

Two Time Defending Champion at the Yukon Quest 2007

Honda is one of 28 mushers who left Whitehorse Saturday on the trail to Fairbanks, Alaska, with a 14-dog team.

Shortly after her arrival at the checkpoint, head veterinarian Vern Starks said race officials were not sure what caused the dog's death because they were still waiting to talk to Honda.

With about 2,500 international spectators lining the sunny First Avenue chute in downtown Whitehorse, Two Rivers musher Richie Beattie pulled his snow hook late Saturday morning, freeing his eager 14-dog team, with Fang and his daughter Kritter leading the way.

Two mushers later, father Mark Sass gave his 26-year-old son, Brent, a big hug and soon the younger Sass lurched forward, raising an arm to cheers from the crowd.

"Awesome," Mark Sass exclaimed in describing the feeling of watching his son begin the 1,000-mile odyssey from Whitehorse to his home in Fairbanks. "I'm pretty proud of him."