The first three races
So the goal is the Yukon Quest 1000 miles race (1600 km) in February, I have to complete 1 x 200 miles (320 km) , and 1 x 300 miles (480 km) race for qualification. I have done 1 x 150 miles (Sheep Mountain) and 2 x 200 miles now (Gin Gin and Knik), the Copper Basin 300 is this weekend and if everything goes well I'll be qualified - YAY - it's been -65°C (-85°F) in Circle and Eagle, 2 of the checkpoints, for the last 7-10 days.
The Sheep Mountain was excellent fun, perfect weather low of -25°C (-13°F), fun trail, amazing views, though I got Boss a sore wrist and dropped her at the checkpoint, then at the end I had Gas with a slight wrist, and Buckley a slight shoulder. Gas and Buckley cleared up within 24 hours, Boss needed longer. The Gin Gin was uneventful Dog-wise but the wind well and truly kicked my ass on the first run of 3 - 50 miles (80 km) from Paxson Lodge to MacLaren River Lodge, then a 106 mile (169 km) loop around the MacLaren and Susitna Rivers back to MacLaren River Lodge, then 42 miles (67 km) back to Paxson via a slightly shorter than the 1st run route. -40°C (-40°F) on the Rivers was - I thought - pretty cold. I spent some time trying to get out of the ditch which I was blown into and probably covered 1 mile in about half an hour due to the wind, I have never worked so hard as to get the sled out of the ditch. After I went in the first time, we got back in about 6 or 7 times before we got out for good.
The challenge was that we were running on the Denali Highway - unploughed in winter and snow covered - a section of about 8 miles (13 km) had very little snow due to the side wind. Plastic sled runners do not grip on asphalt, and if you're lucky in a right to left wind, the dogs keep hard to the right, and you are almost at 90 degrees to them being dragged sideways on the tarmac.
My dogs did this but when we had to pass another stalled team we went left around them, and drifted into the ditch, there the fun began. After this point that race was pretty smooth, the team was pretty tired, and I made a mistake on the 106 mile run (169 km) where I only rested for 2 hours, which probably should have been 4, still we made it back at a slow pace but all safe and sound.
I just finished another 200 mile (320 km) race last weekend - the Knik 200, which was solo - we had 4 teams in the Sheep Mountain and Gin Gin, I was the only one in the Knik, and it was way more eventful than those 2. Before the start on Saturday morning one of my 16 dogs escaped on Sebastian, and followed another team up the trail, only to be re-captured by someone Sab knew on Sunday morning.
It was -45°C (-49°F) most of the time, occasionally rising to -35°C (-31°F) if i was going overland. The race was 40 miles (64 km) or so over land and lakes, then it dropped onto the Susitna river, turning onto the Yetna river and reaching Swentna Station (a lodge) which is the checkpoint, after 52 miles (83 km) on the rivers - i.e. 92 miles (147 km), then run back the same way. I used a lot of handwarmers. 11.40 am start, then I stopped for 2 hours at 16.40 on the way up and camped to feed my dogs, then it took me another 5 hours until about 23.20 to reach the checkpoint. When I camped on the way up I didn't watch my stove and it tipped meaning I had to start again - wasting fuel!
For the last hour or so of the run into Swentna I noticed one of the pups in my team was running a bit funny - something with her back leg I think, so I was fairly sure I would drop her at the checkpoint - she would then be flown back the the start/finish.
On arriving, and health checking all the dogs I found 2 of them had sore wrists, Boss and Griffin - problems which they had in previously and had now come back. These 2 wrists massaged and wrapped to try and prevent swelling, all dogs fed and sleeping I went inside for food and a couple hours of sleep with the possibility of dropping 3 dogs on my mind for when I woke up. Waking I played it safe and left all 3, then got the rest of the team ready and headed out with 12 dogs. Because I had low fuel for my cooker, and not knowing how long cold water (all that was available in Swentna) would last in the cooler before freezing I asked around to see if water was available from Lucy's or Yetna Station (two more lodges on the river on the way back) and got confirmation it was at Yetna, so I stopped there - even though it was earlier than I'd have liked at only 32 miles (51 km) into the run, at least I knew the dogs were getting a good feed - I also got pancakes and egg for breakfast.
The dogs re-bootied and coated I set off for the run home. After a while, 2 of the younger dogs, Cooter and Ginzu, were getting tired and to play it safe again, I loaded both. First that meant making room in the Sled. 2 dogs in the sled, 10 pulling we're off, for a 7 hour run home.
What was amazing was that the 10 dogs remaining marched so well all the way home, really unbelievably strong, especially with 2 pretty big dogs in the sled - I had to help them on some hills, and the sled completely stopped on the climb off the river - a 15 foot bank where the top 2-3 feet are vertical - here I climbed up the sled to the land which the dogs had reached, and pulled on the gang line as I gave the command to go and we were up. Well as Sab says, you learn more when shit happens. I learned a lot on the Knik.
It's been very cold here, Ollie arrived about 10 days ago, and it has not been above -30°C (-22°F) since, though the Susitna River for me was the coldest. The difference between -20°C (-4°F) and -45°C (-49°F)is VERY noticeable, I thought it wouldn't be - WRONG.
Good luck
Mark
PS. Thanks to Bonnie there are also some pictures from the Knik - see the Album at right.
Mark
