The man has arrived and now the key word is rest. The Gang made their entrance into the one-time “Paris of the the North” at 3:10pm, yesterday, and for the next 36 hours will be recuperating and readying for the next leg of the journey.

The dogs look great, though there are a few sore wrists. Still with the proper care and attention, there is no reason they won’t be charging through to the next checkpoint. Dave, of course, is tired too, but after a jacuzzi and a good night’s rest in a real bed, he’s feeling much better.

Here’s a video shot by Peter Kamper, official videographer of the Yukon Quest, showing Dave’s arrival…

The City of Gold

The Quest mushers are slowly filtering into Dawson City, halfway mark of the great race. Listing a population of 1,360, during the Gold rush days of the 1890s, this town was home to over 40,000 people, including the likes of Jack London, Skookum Jim Mason, and Tagish Charlie. Gold seekers drank hard at Diamond Tooth Gerties’ and the Hub (now the Red Feather saloon. )

Hugh Neff

Gold hunters still come to this town only now the names are Hugh Neff and Hans Gatt. Neff was the first to arrive yesterday at 3:30 in the afternoon with Hans close on his heels, an hour behind. For his efforts Neff was awarded 4 ounces of gold nuggets. Hugh is also the first musher in Quest history to be first at every checkpoint to Dawson. Congratulations, Hugh!

Dave and the Gang are making their way here and expect to arrive sometime around noon. After that, they’ll have a mandatory 36-hour layover to rest and relax. Something they are looking forward to.

Unlike the Spartan-like accomodations of Braeburn and Pelly, we are housed in a quasi- mansion with the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen.

Outside my window

It was a long day for handlers and members of the media at the Pelly Crossing checkpoint. Throughout the day, dodgy internet connectivity played havoc with those giving and getting information. When Dave pulled into Pelly Crossing at 2:26pm, only some of the laptops in the Community Center were able to relay the information to eager race fans.

During an interview with Fairbanks radio station KUAC, Dave called the trail conditions “ideal”. “Cold, but not too cold and the trail is hard-packed snow.” At the moment, Dave is running in the middle of the pack, chasing Hugh Neff along with everyone else. Though there is no mandatory rest for mushers at this checkpoint, many take advantage of the facilities for a hot meal and a little shut-eye. In a 1,000-mile race, there are several strategies, depending on the weather conditions and terrain, that drivers will adopt. Neff has started at a blistering pace leaving many to wonder if he can maintain it. As a 20+ year veteran, Dave knows exactly what he wants to do and that is to hit the summits (there are four, altogether) with a rested and health team.

Bootie changing at Pelly

Pelly Crossing is home to the Selkirk First Nation of Northern Tutchone people and many are volunteers helping Quest followers. It is a testament to the Quest logistics team that they can pull so many people from disparate walks of life. Inside their Community Center at the “Questaraunt”, they serve up Alaskan delicacies like Moose Stew and salmon. As with all stops along the trail, mushers eat for free.

After a five hour layover, the Dalton Gang rejoined the race and are now on their way to Dawson. This is the longest distance between checkpoints, 201 miles. The only viewing possible is from the air. As his handlers, we’ll be heading out in the morning. It should take Dave nearly 24 hours of mushing to get there. We’ll do it in four.

In the meantime, here’s a video of several mushers leaving Carmacks and heading to Pelly Crossing…

The temperatures drop, but still the teams press on. Fourteen hours earlier, the Dalton Gang left Braeburn and made their way over the uneven terrain to Carmacks, a one time trading post.

Bedded down in Carmacks

What was considered to be a difficlt path was made even more so by injuries to two of the Gang member. Joey, one of the older dogs on the team, suffered a sore shoulder while Lit sprained a wrist. As a driver who truly focuses on the health and well-being of his dogs, Dave decided that it wasn’t worth the price to push these two anymore. For Joey and Lit, the race is over with the remaining twelve soldiering on to Pelly Crossing, where they are expected to arrive in a few hours.

To finish the Quest with all the dogs a musher starts with is a rare occurrence and something Dave has done twice in his career. Other scratches include the entire team of Denis Tremblay, a musher from Quebec. Tremblay’s team caught a doggy virus and rather than wait around until they were well, the rookie decided to call it a race.As far as  race leaders go,  Hans Gatt, Brent Sass and Ken Anderson are pressing the leader, Hugh Neff.  

We are now two days into it and the handlers are tired and sore. Imagine how the mushers feel…

It was -24°F when Dave left Braeburn at 7:47am. Currently, he’s about 35 miles outside of Carmacks. Looks like Dave might miss the Superbowl, but I think he has more imortant things on his mind…

The Northern lights were dancing overhead when the mushers began pulling into checkpoint #1 at Braeburn. Hugh Neff led the pack to the Braeburn Lodge, followed closely by Kelly Griffen. Dave was the 20th musher with the official entry time of 2:07am. There is a mandatory four hour layover, giving Dave and the Gang some well deserved rest. When they take off again, times will be re-adjusted and drivers will depart in proper placement. That is, whoever leaves Braeburn first will be the official race leader. By 6am, Dave will know where he stands and shortly thereafter, will be on his was to Carmacks.

The 2011 Yukon Sled dog race is now under way. Earlier today, 25 brave souls have put it all on the line and are now making their way across the frozen wilderness of Northwest Canada. The line the put it on is the gangline and none were more ready the the Dalton gang.

From the moment the dogs woke, something was different. Maybe they were reflecting our excitement, but it would be difficult to prove. They ate more aggressively, they jumped more excitedly, and they ran much faster to the dog truck this morning than they normally would have for a morning run.

We arrived in plenty of time and thanks to Dave’s organizational abilities, things went smoothly. The race started on schedule and when it came for #23 to start the show, the gang didn’t dissappoint.

On the way to the Start chute, Dave had a special passenger, Marcia from Haines, Alaska. Marcia  had the high bid in a sponsorship raffle for the right to ride with Dave and to have her picture taken with him. Her enjoyment was evidenced by the smile on her face. Then came the serious stuff, and the Dalton Gang put on their race face. It was “Go Time.”

Also, thanks to modern technology and the Yukon Quest International Committee, you can follow Dave and the gang all along the trail. Here’s the link:

http://yukonquest.com/site/live-tracking/

The Dalton Gang takes over

Last night, amidst all the whoopin’ and hollerin’, the Dalton Gang rode into town for the annual Start and Draw Banquet. One of the most beloved Quest events, the banquet, held at the Yukon Convention Center, provides all those involved with the race one last opportunity to relax and socialize before the serious stuff begins.

Feasting

 Tables overflowed with meats, cheeses, salads, and cakes giving the mushers and their handlers one last taste of plenty before two weeks of deprivation and self-sacrifice. California wines and beers from local breweries were also available for those with a taste for adult beverages.

After dinner, before the all important drawing for race positions, came a Raffle giveaway of a Yamaha Nytro Snowmachine (snowmobile, to those in the lower 48,) air travel tickets,and a pair of Canada Goose Parkas. Sadly, not one of the Dalton Gang won anything, but we still have hopes of winning a much bigger prize. Then, the big moment arrived. One by one, the mushers drew lots to see when they would begin their quest. Dave drew bib #23, third to last. We were hoping for a lower draw, but you work with what you’ve got.

Today is a free day for the mushers, meaning there are no more meetings. Still there are preparations to be made and training to be done. Dave and the other mushers now put on their race face and focus is intensified. Snow, and excitement, is in the air. Everything is in place for “The Toughest Sled Dog Race in the World.”

Last night at the Mt. McKintyre Sports Center,  the general public was invited to meet the Mushers participating in the 2011 Yukon Quest. Dave was there along with the other 25 brave souls including past winners Hans Gott, Sebastien Schnuelle, and Aily Zirkle.

Musher's Row

Dave and Dolly