Angel Creek - Mile 101
Start/Finish
Checkpoint
Dogdrop
(Distance 70 km, Time 5-8 hours)
The easy, smooth and often traveled Trails around Fairbanks stays
now behind the Mushern, while the first mountains begins and with
it the first test for the teams. Boulder Summit and Rosebud Ridge
lie 700 meters higher than Angel Creek and thus above the arctic
timber line. Sources in this area can mean slippery icefields along
steep slopes and wind protection are hardly present on the bald
ridges. Some teams in past lost here on the windy summit the Trail
and were running in large time delays. Afterwards the Trail goes
again downhills during the teams descends into the wooded valley
of the Birch Creek. The shallow river can exhibit fragile ice or
open water, which was pressed by the ice to the surface in some
places and yet did not freeze. Many use here "Booties"
and mushers must hold a eye on the Trail, which they travel usually
at night. There are many moose in this area and incidents are not
rare. In 2000, when the race also began in Fairbanks, three teams
had been attaced on this part from moose, two dogs were hurt and
a sled were heavily damaged.
From the valley of the Birch Creek the Mushers goes now ahead by
high valleys and along small side rivers over small upward gradients
by the Wildnis to the foot of notorious Eagle Summit, where "Mile
101" is. Mile 101 consists of a old cabin, which is abandoned
the largest part of the yearly on a crave road, which leads until
Circle City and to the Yukon, but which is equiped for the Yukon
Quest. Nearly all teams rest here to collect forces for the mountain,
which lies before them and forced already many mushers to giving
up. Depending upon weather conditions upward gradients as well as
downward gradients on the Trail are rather drastic and wind speed
up to 90 km/h on the mountain summit are possible. warm water (melted
snow) for the dogs, free meals for mushers offers 101 and a heated
hut with mattresses for a "cap full of the sleep".
