YQ: Dawson Dog Camp Setup

After a short nap and some hot breakfast and coffee - lots and lots of coffee - the handler crew of Ray, Aliy, Spencer and picked up our drop bags and straw from the lovely volunteers at the checkpoint HQ then drove over the Yukon River ice bridge to the campground so we could set up camp.

The rules are specific about what kind of shelter we can set up for the dogs so we string up rope from tree to tree and stretch the biggest tarpaulin you'll ever see over it. The shelter must be open ended and have enough room for the veterinarians to get inside and complete their dog checks. Inside the shelter are the drop lines where we will hook up the dogs and two whole bales of straw are set up ready for them to snuggle in.

We have all the dog food kibble and snacks we could want and we spent time organising it and laying it all out to make dispensing it easy when the time comes.

We also set up an arctic oven tent with a heater so when Spencer spends the night he doesn't freeze! We'll show you around the camp after our guests have arrived.


Before; check out our awesome view across the river!


Our completed campsite/doggie hotel

Right now we will nap some more then we expect the team to arrive later this afternoon/this evening. From the time they cross the line and check in it is all hands on deck. Aliy and Spencer will take over dog-care, with a meticulously planned timetable of food, sleep, stretch-out walks, massage and love. Ray will take of Allen-care and sled-care. I will float between the two doing what else needs doing and keeping you up-to-date with it all.

We also have the Red Team here with us in Dawson. They may not go into the camp with us but we have a schedule set of for them also that includes pretty much the same thing as the Black Team only they will be based on the truck.

We are excited to see the team later today! It will have been a long time since we caught sight of them leaving Pelly. For Aliy the last time she saw them was in Carmacks on, what was it, Sunday? I've lost track!