And they're off! Yukon Quest 2013 Begins!

 Well, they are off! It was an incredible experience to watch twenty-six teams of mushers and their dogs jolt out of the starting chute of the 2013 Yukon Quest here in Whitehorse! Seeing it all first-hand just gets my heart pumping and my eyes wide open to catch all the action! I especially enjoyed having the inside scoop on some of the history and personalities of the Questers due to all the pre-Quest action here in Whitehorse. Every day this past week there have been presentations and vignettes (videos played) at The Old Firehall. There is also an excellent YQ exhibit at the MacBride Museum that I recalled facts from, plus the Musher’s Banquet on Thursday was entertaining and informative, and I had the opportunity to read the YQ supplement that Marcel and his coworkers created for this past Friday’s newspaper which have all contributed to the anticipation of this morning’s big start!

  There is so much to say! Last Saturday, Marcel and I went out to Annie Lake so that he could cover a thirty mile dog sled race. It was a frigid -25 degrees and so we bundled right up and brought a thermos of hot chocolate on the 1 hour drive. As soon as we arrived, we could hear where all the action was by the barking of the dogs, raring to head out on the trail! This event included dog sledding and skijoring (skiing assisted by dog(s)). We entered the rustic cabin of the Annie Lake Community Center which was full of excited outdoorsmen and women. The smell of fresh baked goods and warm soup filled our nostrils and the buzz of English as well as many European languages hummed above the wooden picnic tables. After talking to the race marshal, we learned that about 15 km down the road there was a spot where the dogs crossed the road and headed towards Annie Lake to do a loop and then head back to the finish line at the community center so we got back in our warm vehicle and booted it up the road. We passed more snowmobiles on the way to the photo-spot than cars!

  A couple of volunteer firewomen were doing jumpjacks and strange dance-moves to try to keep themselves warm when we arrived at the location. They had an oldschool ambulance running and took turns taking breaks inside it all day while making sure the road was clear for the mushers. Marcel and I hiked out down the trail through the snow to try and position ourselves for some good rustic shots. We could hear the firewomen shouting and then we knew a sled was on its way. We quickly took off our mittens and got out our cameras ready for the shot. It was actually not that stressful, but pretty peaceful to watch the sleds come up over the road and then turn towards the lake for the halfway point of the race. The skijorers were my favourite… they were breathing hard as they skate skied down the trail and the moisture from their breath created little icicles on the hair popping out of their tuques or on their beards. Here are some photos of the event:  

Its a dog's world out here.

Marcel interviewing a racer. Check out the cool dog trucks and sleds!

Marcel in action photographing the teams as they mush by!

 

  One problem Marcel faced while out photographing the event was that his glasses would fog up if he covered his nose with his scarf so he just endured the cold so he could see and get a good snapshot of the event. However, later that day his nose started tingling and it didn’t stop for three days. He also developed a white spot on his nose that later turned brown and then began to peel. Frostnip is our diagnosis… just a taste of frostbite. He has been putting polysporin on it (when in doubt – put on the poly!) and it is looking a lot better now, but at least he’s learned to take his contacts on the Quest! Don’t worry Mom VW- he also bought a much warmer face mask!

  Thursday night we attended the Yukon Quest Musher’s Start Banquet. There is one at the end in Fairbanks as well. I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to go with Marcel. At first, I didn’t even know what to wear to the banquet! Coworkers of Marcel told me to wear Carharts and boots. I ended up wearing leggings and a nice long tunic shirt with a scarf (not a winter scarf, a fashion silk scarf) and I was way overdressed. I should’ve gone with the Sorels, jeans, a fleece sweater, and maybe a Speelman’s tuque. J The food was delicious, there were a number of speeches, a lot of thank yous to sponsors, the Sourdough CanCan Dancers performed (there is a great photo at the Whitehorse Star website), and of course the Musher Start Draw Ceremony!

The Sourdough CanCan Dancers

  The Start Draw Ceremony was my favourite part because after each musher was called forward to draw their start number out of a colourful Sorel boot, they had an opportunity to speak. During their short speech, the crowd was able to get to know them, see their face, and then look  in the Race Annual to see what they wrote as their goals and reasons for racing were. I thought I would be able to come out of the banquet with a clear favourite, but there are just too many to favourite! There are 26 mushers total, four are from the Yukon and there are six women racing.  Here are some race start photos:

I think all of Whitehorse came out to line the chute from Shipyards Park to the Yukon River. There was excitement in the air!

Volunteers hold back the dogs as their musher speaks to each one and rubs them down before heading out on the trail. Some of these dogs were leaping out of the starting chute!

Marcel blowing a bubble, chilling beside Canada's first ever winner of the Yukon Quest Race, Frank Turner. He now runs tour groups to dogsled and camp out in places to watch the racers pass by during this epic week. (not the best shot of Frank- he is a really great guy- and a goldmine for Yukon Quest quotes for Marcel)

After the race is over, Marcel poses with Echo and Pixie- two of the Yukon Quest official staff that he is headed on the trail with.  

Photographers line the chute to try and get epic shots as the dogs are released from the starting line.

I see this guy in Tim Hortons all the time and I've always wanted a picture of his amazing hat! Today was my lucky day. His name is Julian and he has just about the best hat I've ever seen!

 

 

 

  If you would like to follow the mushers on their route there is live tracking on the Yukon Quest website. Click here: http://www.yukonquest.com/site/live-tracking/. The mushers are already well on their way and expect to make it to Dawson City on around Tuesday. Marcel texted me last night and he slept in the car for a bit, but then his photographer's snores became too loud so he went back to a table and began typing away again. Today, I imagine they are on their way from Braeburn to McCabe Creek and then Pelly Crossing.

  Over the next few days I'll try and give a picture of who some of the mushers are and why you should be cheering for them!