YQ Dawson City - Four Hours To Go

We have just over four hours before Allen and his team leave Dawson City for their run to Scroggie Creek Dog Drop then Pelly Crossing checkpoint. We cannot get to Scroggie Creek ourselves so it will be a while before we see them again as it is about 200 miles to Pelly.

What is happening now is the dogs are having a final big meal and they will get some snacks and meaty water shortly before they leave. They will also have a final massage to warm up their muscles and perhaps even get a bit of a pep-talk although, to be honest, I'm not sure they need it. After such a great rest for the last 32 hours they sure look ready to get going!

Allen is making his final preparations before heading over to the camp to pack his sled and get ready to go.

Once the team leaves Dawson we need to break down the camp then we have time to come back to the hotel and get something to eat and make our plan for the rest of the race.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Dawson City during the Yukon Quest, the dog camp is over the river from the city itself and during the winter you cross over using an ice-bridge. This year the river freeze took much longer than expected and the ice-bridge meanders a bit upriver and back down to avoid open leads of water. It's a little daunting actually.


L-R: Dawson City Checkpoint; the ice-bridge and some open water!

I am trying to upload the videos of the Dog Camp and also one of Aliy and Dr Mike Davis explaining the importance of the stretch-out and massage schedule. I am having some "bandwidth issues" (do I sound like I know what I'm talking about?) so I'm working on it!