Photo by Christopher Reynolds
PREPARATIONS CONTINUE – Tagish musher Ed Hopkins, pictured at Sunday’s Carbon Hill race in Mount Lorne, is one of five Yukon mushers registered for the 2015 Yukon Quest. See tomorrow’s Star for coverage on the Carbon Hill.
As open water continues to flow in the Yukon River through downtown Whitehorse, Yukon Quest officials are looking into alternate start locations.
As open water continues to flow in the Yukon River through downtown Whitehorse, Yukon Quest officials are looking into alternate start locations.
Race brass confirmed the news via press release yesterday, noting there are still three weeks until the start of the 1,600-kilometre odyssey and that much can change.
The Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile International Sled Dog Race begins Feb. 7 in the Yukon capital.
The race is set to begin at Shipyards Park – at least for now.
Trail crews are out on both sides of the border, and a more comprehensive trail report is expected to be available next week.
“It’s kind of one of those conversations that always goes on – Plan A, Plan B, Plan C,” Marty Steury, Yukon Quest executive director – Alaska, told the Star yesterday.
“We’ve re-routed the race almost every year it’s been raced, and we’re looking at a lot of different options.”
On Friday, 34 members of the Canadian Rangers were deployed between the Takhini Hot Springs and the Alaska-Yukon border. Alaskan trailbreakers were also at work, Steury confirmed.
“We’ve got crews out on both sides of the trail,” said Steury. “Mushers have been contacted and told not to worry.”
Steury refused to discuss the potential alternate locations.
“As soon as we say something, people will go with that,” she said. “Remember, we’re still three weeks away. We’re a bit premature, but we’ll be able to put a comprehensive trail report together soon.”
Steury said the Quest published the press release as a response to a plethora of questions from fans in Whitehorse regarding start line location. Last year, warm weather saw the race finish line moved to the Takhini Hot Springs.
A total of 26 mushers will tackle this year’s trail, including five Yukoners and four past champions.
Registered Yukon mushers include Normand Casavant, Rob Cooke, Ed Hopkins, Tamra Reynolds and Brian Wilmshurst.
Past champions slated to make the journey are Jeff King, Lance Mackey, Allen Moore and Hugh Neff.
“Whatever we do, the Yukon Quest is going to be fantastic this year,” Steury concluded.
“It’s an amazing group of mushers.”
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