<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<document>
<title>Yukon Quest</title>
<authors>Wikipedia</authors>
<publisher>wikipedia.org</publisher>
<publishedplace>network</publishedplace>
<publishedyear>2010</publishedyear>
<edition></edition>
<category>Endurance sports</category>
<section id="29175" fatherid="0" title="" lv="" priority="-1" level="1">
The Yukon Quest 1,000-mile International Sled Dog Race, or simply Yukon Quest, is a sled dog race run every February between Fairbanks, Alaska, and Whitehorse, Yukon. Because of the harsh winter conditions, difficult trail, and the limited support that competitors are allowed, it is considered the "most difficult sled dog race in the world", or even the "toughest race in the world".
In the competition, first run in 1984, a dog team leader (called a musher) and a team of 6 to 14 dogs race for 10 to 20 days. The course follows the route of the historic 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, mail delivery, and transportation routes between Fairbanks, Dawson City, and Whitehorse. Mushers pack up to  of equipment and provisions for themselves and their dogs to survive between checkpoints. They are permitted to leave dogs at checkpoints and dog drops, but not to replace them. Sleds may not be replaced (without penalty) and mushers cannot accept help from non-racers except at Dawson City, the halfway mark. Ten checkpoints and four dog drops, some more than  apart, lie along the trail. Veterinarians are present at each to ensure the health and welfare of the dogs, give advice, and provide veterinary care for dropped dogs; together with the race marshal or a race judge, they may remove a dog or team from the race for medical or other reasons.
The route runs on frozen rivers, over four mountain ranges, and through isolated northern villages. Racers cover  or more. Temperatures commonly drop as low as , and winds can reach  at higher elevations. Sonny Lindner won the inaugural race in 1984 from a field of 26 teams. The fastest run took place in 2009, when Sebastian Schnuelle finished after 9 days, 23 hours, and 20 minutes. The 2009 competition also had the closest one-two finish, as Schnuelle beat second-place Hugh Neff by just four minutes. Lance Mackey, who held the quickest finish record before Schnuelle, is the only musher to have won the race four times. In 2007, he became the first to win both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, a feat he repeated the following year. The longest race time was in 1988, when Ty Halvorson took 20 days, 8 hours, and 29 minutes to finish. In 2000, Aliy Zirkle became the first woman to win the race, in 10 days, 22 hours, and 57 minutes. To allow participation in both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod, the 2010 Yukon Quest will begin in Fairbanks one week earlier than usual—on February 6. Yukon Quest International, which runs the Yukon Quest sled dog race, also runs two shorter races: the Junior Quest and the Yukon Quest 300 (previously the Yukon Quest 250).

</section>
<section id="29176" fatherid="0" title="History" lv="" priority="2" level="1">
<section id="29177" fatherid="29176" title="" lv="" priority="-1" level="2">
The idea for the Yukon Quest originated in April 1983 during a bar-room discussion among four Alaskans: LeRoy Shank, Roger Williams, Ron Rosser, and Willie Libb.Yukon Quest International. "Yukon Quest race history", Yukonquest.com. Accessed February 22, 2009. The four proposed a thousand-mile sled dog race from Fairbanks, Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon, to celebrate the Klondike Gold Rush-era mail and transportation routes between the two.Saari, Matias. "Founders recall origins of the Yukon Quest", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 22, 2009. They disdained the many checkpoints and stages of the Iditarod Sled Dog RaceFirth, p. 248 and envisioned an endurance race in which racers would rely on themselves and survival would be as important as speed. "We wanted more of a Bush experience, a race that would put a little woodsmanship into it", Shank said at the race's 25th anniversary.
This remained a vague plan until August 1983, when the first public organizational meetings took place. Fundraising began, and the start date for the race was optimistically moved forward from February 1985 to February 25, 1984. The entry fee for the first race was $500, and Murray Clayton of Haines, Alaska became the first person to enter when he paid his fee in October 1983. In December 1983, the race was officially named the Yukon Quest.Staff report. "Looking back in Fairbanks — Dec. 22", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. December 22, 2008. Accessed May 14, 2009. Two more months of planning followed, and a crew of volunteers was organized to staff the checkpoints and place trail markers. On February 25, 1984, 26 racers  Fairbanks for Whitehorse. Each team was limited to a maximum of 12 dogs, and racers had to finish with no fewer than nine. They also had to haul  of food per dog ( total) to cover the long distances between checkpoints.
Numerous problems occurred in the first race. The leading mushers had to break trail because the snowmobile intended for the task broke down. Trail markers often were absent or misplaced, and no preparations had been made for racers in Dawson City until organizer Roger Williams flew there shortly after the race began. After Dawson City, mushers had their dogs and sleds trucked  to avoid a section of snowless trail, then had to deal with open sections of the Yukon River near Whitehorse due to above-average temperatures. The eventual winner of the inaugural race, Sonny Lindner, was greeted with little fanfare on his arrival. On the race's 25th anniversary, he recalled, "I think it was 90 percent (camping) trip and maybe a little bit of racing."Saari, Matias. "1984", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 22, 2009.

</section>
<section id="29178" fatherid="29176" title="First decade" lv="" priority="2" level="2">
After the inaugural race, organizers improved the marking of the trail for the first contest held in the Whitehorse–Fairbanks direction. Musher Bill Cotter said, "The trail was so nice that it was difficult to keep from going too fast."Saari, Matias. "1985", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 26, 2009. The race grew in popularity over the next few years. In 1988 and again in 1989, 47 mushers entered. In 1989, 31 completed the race—the most that have ever finished it. In 1990, Connie and Terri Frerichs became the first (and so far only) mother and daughter to compete in the same Yukon Quest: Terri finished 21st, beating her mother (22nd) by 26 minutes.Saari, Matias. "1990", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 27, 2009. The 1991 race saw eight teams withdraw in the first quarter because of an outbreak of a canine disease called the "Healy Virus". Thirty-five more dogs were sickened before the spread of the virus was halted by colder weather halfway through the race.Firth, p. 196 In 1992, unseasonable warmth caused problems in the first half of the race, and the second was affected by bitter cold.Saari, Matias. "1992", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 27, 2009. The head veterinarian of that race, Jeannie Olson, was replaced after she offered canine acupuncture to several mushers. Though not then forbidden by any rule, this violated equal-treatment guidelines because she did not offer the treatment to every musher.Firth, pp. 199-200 At the end of that race, George Cook became the first musher since 1984 to finish short of Whitehorse when open water on the Yukon River prevented him from continuing. Because he did not quit, race officials gave him the Red Lantern Award.Firth, p. 201
Following the 1992 race, controversy erupted when the Alaska board of directors of Yukon Quest International informed the Yukon board that they were considering dropping the Yukon half of the Quest because Yukon officials did not meet fundraising goals. Alaska officials also believed it would be easier to manage an Alaska-only race.Firth, p. 234 A crisis was averted when the Yukon board of directors agreed to raise more money and the two sides formed a joint board of directors.Firth, p. 235 The 1993 race was run as usual, but Jeff Mann had a more eventful race than most. When a moose attacked his dog team, he was forced to kill it with an axe, then butcher it according to Quest rules. Later, he was penalized 90 minutes for borrowing a reporter's head lantern. Finally, after the conclusion of the race, he was fined half his winnings when his dogs tested positive for ibuprofen.Saari, Matias. "1993", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 27, 2009.
In the 1994 race, Alaskan Bruce Cosgrove was denied entry by Canadian customs officials in the pre-race verification process, the first and only time a musher has been denied entry into either Canada or Alaska. Cosgrove started the race, but quit before the border.Firth, p. 207 Following the race, controversy again erupted when Alaska Yukon Quest officials announced they would unilaterally eliminate Whitehorse from the Yukon Quest and run a cheaper Fairbanks-to-Dawson City race. Members of the Yukon Quest organization revolted against this and voted to evict the board members who had proposed it.

</section>
<section id="29179" fatherid="29176" title="Second decade" lv="" priority="-3" level="2">
The 1995 race featured 22 mushers, of whom 13 finished.Saari, Matias. "1995", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 27, 2009. Budget problems caused the first prize to drop by 25% to $15,000, contributing to the low participation.Firth, p. 265 This problem was fixed for the 1996 race, with a first-place prize of $25,000. The 1997 race was won by Rick Mackey, brother of later Quest winner Lance Mackey; the two are the only brother-brother winning tandem in Quest history.Saari, Matias. "1997", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 27, 2009. Following the 1997 race, financial troubles again arose, this time on the Alaska side. Canadian organizers secured international sponsorship for the 1998 race, and when they refused to let this sponsorship money be used to pay debts accumulated in Alaska, members of the Alaska board threatened to host a separate competition. In the end, the Alaska board members were forced to resign, and a deal was worked out between the two sides.Firth, p. 236
The 1998 race was run on schedule and had 38 entrants.Saari, Matias. "1998", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 27, 2009. The 1999 race was won by Alaska Native veterinarian Ramy Brooks, who defeated Mark May by 10 minutes.Saari, Matias. "1999", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 27, 2009. In 2000, Aliy Zirkle became the first woman to win the Yukon Quest after taking 10 days, 22 hours, and 57 minutes to trek the .Saari, Matias. "2000", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 27, 2009. Also in 2000, Yukon Quest International added two races: the Quest 250 (today the Quest 300) and the Junior Quest (both described below). Competitors in each have gone on to participate in the Yukon Quest. The first of these graduated mushers competed in the 2001 race, won by Tim Osmar.Saari, Matias. "2001", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 27, 2009.
In 2002, the Yukon Quest was won by Hans Gatt, an Austrian-born resident of British Columbia and the first European to win. This was the first of three consecutive wins, making him the first three-time winner.Saari, Matias. "2002", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 27, 2009. In 2003, Gatt's second win was truncated by a lack of snow near Whitehorse. Unseasonable warmth forced organizers to truck mushers and their dog teams to Braeburn before continuing what became a  competition. The 2004 race saw 31 mushers start the race and 20 finish, a drop-out rate of 35%.Saari, Matias. "2004", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 27, 2009. During the first 24 years of the competition, there were 776 starters and 513 finishers. Though 90 more mushers attempted the race in the first 12 years than in the next dozen runnings, there is little difference in the percentage that did not finish (35% in 1984-1995; 33% in 1996-2007).

</section>
<section id="29180" fatherid="29176" title="Third decade" lv="" priority="-4" level="2">
In 2005, first-time participant Lance Mackey broke Hans Gatt's three-win streak. Mackey finished in 11 days, 32 seconds.Saari, Matias. "2005", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 28, 2009. The victory was the first of four straight wins by Mackey, who holds the record for most consecutive wins and is the only four-time winner. During Mackey's second win, a fierce storm atop Eagle Summit caused a whiteout that forced seven mushers and dog teams to be evacuated by helicopter. Partly because of the storm, only 11 finished the 2006 race—the fewest ever.Saari, Matias. "2006", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 28, 2009. The finishers also endured an unusual course: because snow was scarce near Whitehorse, they doubled back and finished in Dawson City after racing the .Saari, Matias. "Mackey wins his fourth Yukon Quest by a nose", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 20, 2008. Accessed February 28, 2009. In 2007, three dogs were killed in unrelated incidents, but Mackey tied Gatt's record of three consecutive wins. One month later, Mackey became the first person to win both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod in the same year.Saari, Matias. "2007", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 28, 2009. Mackey's fourth win came during the 2008 race, the first Yukon Quest to end in Whitehorse since 2003.
Because of the late 2000s recession, the 2009 Yukon Quest purse was reduced to $151,000 from a planned total of $200,000. As a result, the first prize was reduced to $30,000 from the planned $35,000.Saari, Matias. "Lead Yukon Quest mushers reach Braeburn by end of first day", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 15, 2009. Accessed March 4, 2009 Partly because of this, Mackey withdrew before the race, making it easier for a newcomer to win.Staff Report. "Mackey officially withdraws from Yukon Quest", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. January 24, 2009. Accessed February 28, 2009. In the closest one–two finish, German Sebastian Schnuelle completed the race faster than anyone before, finishing that year's  trip in 9 days, 23 hours, and 20 minutes. He was just four minutes ahead of Hugh Neff.
Following the 2009 race, officials decided to advance the competition's start date by one week to better accommodate mushers also participating in the Iditarod. The 2010 race will start in Fairbanks on February 6, 2010.The Associated Press. "Yukon Quest plans earlier start date in 2010", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. May 12, 2009. Accessed May 12, 2009. That race will run a slightly changed route because the building that housed the dog drop at McCabe Creek burned down shortly after the 2009 competition.Staff Report. "Yukon Quest checkpoint at McCabe Creek burns", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 20, 2009. Accessed May 12, 2009.

</section>
</section>
<section id="29181" fatherid="0" title="Route" lv="" priority="3" level="1">
<section id="29182" fatherid="29181" title="" lv="" priority="-1" level="2">
alt=A map showing landmarks along the Yukon Quest race route, starting in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, and traveling northwest to Fairbanks, Alaska. Rivers, highways, and points of interest are included.|464px|
The course of the race varies slightly from year to year because of ice conditions on the Yukon River, snowfall, and other factors. The length of the route has also fluctuated, ranging from Saari, Matias. "2003", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 22, 2009. in the weather-shortened 2003 race to  in 1998.Balzar, p. 3 In even-numbered years, the race starts in Fairbanks and ends in Whitehorse. In odd-numbered years, the start and finish lines switch.Balzar, p. 5
The route follows the Yukon River for much of its course and travels over four mountains: King Solomon's Dome, Eagle Summit, American Summit, and Rosebud Summit.Yukon Quest International. "Yukon Quest trail map/trail elevations", Yukonquest.com. Accessed March 3, 2009. Its length is equivalent to the distance between England and Africa, and the distance between some checkpoints is the breadth of Ireland.Firth, p. 7 Racers endure ice, snow, and extreme cold. Wildlife is common on the trail, and participants sometimes face challenges from moose and wolves.Killick, p. 10Firth, p. 209 Because of the harsh conditions, the Yukon Quest has been called the "most difficult sled dog race in the world"University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences. "Arctic Zirkle", Penn Arts -anddocsymbol- Sciences Magazine. Fall 2001. Accessed February 25, 2009. and the "toughest race in the world".Balzar, p. 15Killick, pp. 7-8

</section>
<section id="29183" fatherid="29181" title="Pre-race preparation" lv="" priority="2" level="2">
Because of the extreme difficulty of the competition, several stages of preparation are needed. The first is the food drop, when mushers and race officials position caches of food and supplies at race checkpoints.Saari, Matias. "Quest mushers put strategy into food, staple planning", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 1, 2009. Accessed March 10, 2009. This is necessary because mushers may only use their supplies along the route, reflecting the Gold Rush era, when dog trains would resupply at points along the trail.Balzar, p. 56 One week after the food drop, all dogs participating in the race undergo a preliminary veterinarian inspection to ensure they are healthy enough to race 1,000 miles in subarctic conditions.Saari, Matias. "Most dogs get the go-ahead at Yukon Quest vet check", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 8, 2009. Accessed February 23, 2009. The final stage of formal preparation is two days before the race, when mushers pick their starting order from a hat.Saari, Matias. "Yukon Quest rookies stay positive after drawing starting positions", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 13, 2009. Accessed March 10, 2009.
</section>
<section id="29184" fatherid="29181" title="Whitehorse to Braeburn" lv="" priority="3" level="2">
The traditional starting line is in Whitehorse on First Avenue, near the former White Pass and Yukon Route train station, which today houses the Canadian offices of Yukon Quest International.Killick, p. 16 Shortly after leaving the starting line, racers follow the frozen Yukon River north out of town.Killick, p. 55 Crossing onto the Takhini River, mushers follow it northKillick, p. 56 to the Klondike-era Overland Trail. Racers take the trail to Braeburn Lodge, the first checkpoint.
This trail segment is about  long. The terrain consists of small hills and frequent frozen streams and lakes.Killick, pp. 57-58 When the race runs from Fairbanks to Whitehorse, the Braeburn checkpoint is the site of a mandatory eight-hour stop to ensure the health of mushers' dogs before the final stage.

</section>
<section id="29185" fatherid="29181" title="Braeburn to Pelly Crossing" lv="" priority="4" level="2">
In this leg of the race, mushers travel  to the checkpoint at Carmacks, followed by   to Pelly Crossing.
Coming out of Braeburn, competitors cross the Klondike Highway and proceed east for about  to Coghlan Lake. From there they turn north, then northwest, and travel along a chain of lakes that stretches for about .Killick, p. 80 They then enter a notorious stretch of heavily forested hills nicknamed "Pinball Alley"Yukon Quest International. "Majority of mushers have reached Carmacks", Yukonquest.com. February 12, 2007. Accessed March 10, 2009. for the way the rough terrain bounces sleds into trees, rocks, and other obstacles. Trees are so scarred from repeated sled impacts that they have lost their bark on one side.Killick, p. 81 In 1998, racer Brenda Mackey was jolted around so much by the rough trail that her sled became wedged between two trees, forcing her to cut one down to continue.Balzar, p. 69.
After Pinball Alley, racers briefly mush along the Yukon River before climbing the riverbank to the Carmacks checkpoint.Killick, p. 97 They then follow a road for about  and turn onto a firebreak trail. After departing the trail, they travel alongside and across the Yukon River to McCabe Creek, the first dog drop on the Whitehorse–Fairbanks route.Killick, p. 106 Leaving McCabe Creek, the race trail parallels a driveway and the Klondike Highway for several miles before turning north to cross the Pelly Burn, an area scorched by a wildfire in 1995.Killick, p. 112 Because the fire destroyed much of the forest in the area, this portion of the trail has few obstacles and is considered fast. From the McCabe Creek site it is about  to Pelly Crossing.Schandelmeier, p. 2

</section>
<section id="29186" fatherid="29181" title="Pelly Crossing to Dawson City" lv="" priority="5" level="2">
The stretch between Pelly Crossing and Dawson City is the greatest distance between checkpoints of any sled dog competition in the world.Killick, p. 132 Between the two sites are  of open trail, marked only by a dog drop at Scroggie Creek, an abandoned gold-mining site activated only during the Yukon Quest.
From Pelly Crossing, mushers travel west on the frozen Pelly River, or on a road that parallels the river if ice conditions are poor. At Stepping Stone, shortly before the Pelly and Yukon rivers meet, they can rest at a hospitality stop before turning north. Killick, p. 133 From Stepping Stone to Scroggie Creek the trail consists of a mining road or "cat" road, named for the Caterpillar tracked mining vehicles that use it. Before organizers coordinated schedules with the mining equipment operators, racers often had to contend with heavy machinery blocking the trail or turning it into a muddy path.Firth, pp. 140-144 The Scroggie Creek dog drop is at the confluence of the Stewart River and Scroggie Creek.Killick, pp. 140-141
After Scroggie Creek, the trail switches from a westerly direction to almost directly north. At this point, mushers enter the gold-mining district surrounding Dawson City. From the Stewart River adjacent to Scroggie, the trail climbs, crossing the Yukon Territory's Black Hills.Schandelmeier, p. 3 Fifty miles (80 km) from Dawson City and  from Scroggie Creek, it crosses the Indian River, and mushers begin the climb to King Solomon's Dome, the highest point () on the trail. The trail ascends more gradually in the Whitehorse–Fairbanks route than in the opposite direction, where mushers have to endure several switchbacks.Killick, pp. 147-148 When mushers start in Whitehorse, they already have gained several thousand feet from the ascent into the Black Hills, including a climb over 3,550-foot (1,082 m) Eureka Dome.O'Donoghue, p. 116 The main difficulties come during the descent from King Solomon's Dome to Bonanza Creek, the epicenter of the Klondike Gold Rush.Killick, p. 148 After reaching the creek, mushers thread through an area of mining wasteO'Donoghue, pp. 136-137 and follow the Klondike River to Dawson City, the halfway point of the race. They are required to rest for 36 hours in Dawson City.Killick, p. 153

</section>
<section id="29187" fatherid="29181" title="Dawson City to Eagle" lv="" priority="6" level="2">
The distance from Dawson City to Eagle, the first checkpoint in Alaska for the Whitehorse–Fairbanks route, is . The second half of the race is conducted in a time-even fashion: mushers leave in staggered order, their rest times adjusted to make up for the staggered start.Killick, p. 168
Racers exit Dawson City on the Yukon River and follow it for about  to the Fortymile River hospitality stop. The river's name comes from its distance from Fort Reliance, an abandoned trading post established in 1874.Killick, p. 173 From the hospitality stop, mushers travel southwest on the Fortymile River in what is one of the coldest portions of the race, because of cold air sinking to the bottom of the river valley.Killick, p. 186 The trail on the river crosses the Alaska–Canada border, noticeable only because of the border vista, a strip of land cleared of all foliage.Killick, p. 192 Shortly past the border, the river turns northwest, and mushers leave its frozen surface when it meets the Taylor Highway, a road closed to automobile traffic during the winter. As the trail follows the highway for  conditions are often hazardous, with high winds and drifting snow that can obscure trail markers. After climbing the 3,420-foot (1,042 m) American Summit, the trail gradually descends  to Eagle, on the banks of the Yukon River.

</section>
<section id="29188" fatherid="29181" title="Eagle to Central" lv="" priority="7" level="2">
The route from Eagle to Central covers a distance of . In winter, Eagle is buffeted by high winds and drifting snow funneled through the town by nearby Eagle Bluff, which stands  above the Yukon River.Killick, pp. 195-196 Because it is the first stop in the United States, competitors are greeted at Eagle by a United States Department of Homeland Security official who checks passports and entry documents.Killick, p. 195
After leaving Eagle, mushers travel northwest for  on the Yukon River, except for a few short portages. During this stretch, two hospitality stops are available. The first is 28 miles (45 km) from Eagle at Trout Creek.Killick, p. 217 The next is Biederman's Cabin, the former home of Charlie Biederman, one of the last people to deliver mail by sled dog. (The final sled dog mail route was canceled in 1963, and Biederman's sled hangs in the National Postal Museum.)Balzar, p. 170Killick, p. 225 A dog drop site is located 18 miles (29 km) from Biederman's Cabin at Slaven's Cabin, a historic site operated by the National Park Service.Killick, p. 229 Some 60 miles (97 km) past Slaven's Cabin mushers arrive in Circle,Schandelmeier, p. 4 so named because its founders believed it was on the Arctic Circle. (Circle is actually about  south of that line.)Killick, p. 233
From Circle, it is  to the checkpoint in Central. Mushers follow Birch Creek south until just before Central Hot Springs. This area, along with the Fortymile stretch, is considered among the coldest on the trail, and mushers are advised to prepare for  temperatures. Turning west, they travel through frozen swamps before reaching the Steese Roadhouse checkpoint in Central.Killick, p. 238

</section>
<section id="29189" fatherid="29181" title="Central to Two Rivers" lv="" priority="8" level="2">
From Central to the final (or first, in the Fairbanks–Whitehorse direction) checkpoint in Two Rivers is . Despite the comparative closeness of the checkpoints and the location of a dog drop between them, this is considered the most difficult stretch of dog sled trail in the world.Killick, p. 246 At this point, mushers must climb the two steepest and most difficult mountains on the trail: Eagle Summit and Rosebud Summit.
After leaving Central, mushers head west, paralleling the Steese Highway, which connects Central and Circle with Fairbanks. The trail travels through frozen swamps, mining areas, and firebreaks for about . Mushers then encounter the Steese Highway for a second time before crossing several creeks to begin the ascent of Eagle Summit. They eventually climb above the tree line and are exposed to the wind as they continue upward. The weather atop Eagle Summit is harsh as this is a convergence zone between the Yukon Flats to the north and the low ground of the Tanana Valley to the south. A differential in the weather within the two valleys causes high winds and precipitation when there is moisture in the atmosphere.Balzar, p. 253 The final few hundred yards of the climb consists of a 30-degree slope often scoured to bare rock and tundra by the fierce wind.Balzar, pp. 252-254 The crossing point itself is a symmetrical saddle, with two peaks of similar height separated by .Killick, pp. 246-247 The south side of Eagle Summit is not as steep, and mushers generally have an easier time reaching the dog drop at Mile 101. When descending the steep northern slope of Eagle Summit on the Fairbanks–Whitehorse route, many mushers wrap their sled runners in chains to increase friction and slow the plunge.Killick, p. 249
The Mile 101 dog drop is a cabin at mile marker 101 (the distance from Fairbanks) on the Steese Highway. The cabin gives mushers the opportunity for a short rest between Eagle Summit and Rosebud Summit.Killick, p. 254 The ascent of Rosebud Summit begins about  south of the dog drop. It consists of a gradual climb of  followed by a steep descent into the valley that contains the north fork of the Chena River. The descent also brings mushers back into forested terrain.Killick, p. 256 The trail then parallels a road for about  before entering the final checkpoint at Twin Bears Campground near Two Rivers.

</section>
<section id="29190" fatherid="29181" title="Two Rivers to Fairbanks" lv="" priority="9" level="2">
Two Rivers is the final checkpoint in the Whitehorse–Fairbanks route. Mushers are required to rest at least eight hours in Two Rivers to ensure the health of their dogs during the final leg of the race. The terrain in this stretch is among the easiest on the trail, with gently rolling hills and forest which gradually change into an urban landscape as racers approach Fairbanks.Killick, p. 261 The greatest challenge for racers in the Two Rivers area is distinguishing the Yukon Quest trail from other sled dog trails, many of which have similar markings.Balzar, p. 276 Mushers have occasionally been deceived by these markings and taken wrong turns.O'Donoghue, p. 312
Beyond Two Rivers the trail reaches the Chena River northwest of Fairbanks. This is the final stretch, and mushers use the river to enter Fairbanks and reach the finish line,Killick, p. 262 which is on the river itself in the middle of downtown Fairbanks. Regardless of the timing of the finish, several thousand spectators typically gather to watch the first musher cross the finish line.

</section>
<section id="29191" fatherid="29181" title="Route changes" lv="" priority="10" level="2">
The 1984 route was slightly different from today's. It had just one non-checkpoint dog drop, at the Mile 101 location,Firth, p. 237 and bypassed American Summit, Pelly Junction, and Braeburn. Instead of running through Braeburn, mushers traveled across Lake Laberge for  between Whitehorse and Minto.Firth, p. 279 The inaugural race also included a checkpoint at Chena Hot Springs Resort near Fairbanks. This site was moved to nearby Angel Creek after mushers complained that the hot springs melted nearby snow, causing their dogs to become wet—an extreme hazard in sub-freezing temperatures.Firth, p. 19 Two additional dog drops were added for the 1994 race: Biederman's Cabin (since replaced by Slaven's Cabin) and McCabe Creek. In 1995 the Whitehorse end of the trail was moved away from Lake Laberge to near the Takhini River.Firth, pp. 237-238 Additional changes that year included the rerouting of the trail around the southern and eastern sides of King Solomon's Dome south of Dawson CityFirth, p. 238 and the introduction of the Scroggie Creek dog drop site on the shore of the Stewart River.
In 1996, the trail was rerouted through Pelly Crossing and a checkpoint was added there, and the Lake Laberge stretch was replaced by a route through Braeburn and along the Dawson-Whitehorse Overland Trail. In 1997, mushers were routed through the Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project and to the Alaska town of North Pole before continuing on to Fairbanks.Firth, p. 240 The North Pole loop was removed before the 2009 race, and mushers were directed through Two Rivers instead.Willomitzer, Gerry. "Tuesday morning update", Yukon Quest International. February 24, 2009. Accessed February 25, 2009.

</section>
</section>
<section id="29192" fatherid="0" title="Weather" lv="" priority="-4" level="1">
The Yukon Quest trail is in the subarctic climate range. In Fairbanks, the average February temperature is , but  is not uncommon, and temperatures have dropped to .Alaska Climate Research Center. "Climatological data: Fairbanks International Airport", climate.gi.alaska.edu. Accessed February 25, 2009. An average of  of snow falls in February, with average snowpack depth of .
Outside the sheltered urban areas of Fairbanks, Whitehorse, and Dawson City, temperatures and snowfall are often more extreme. During the 2008 race, competitors started in  temperatures in Fairbanks and then faced winds of  on the trail, resulting in severe wind chills.Saari, Matias. "Quest trail fraught with difficulties", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 8, 2008. Accessed February 25, 2009. At higher elevations, such as the crossings of Rosebud and Eagle summits, whiteout blizzards are common. In the 2006 race, 12 teams were struck by a massive storm that eventually caused the evacuation of seven teams by helicopter.C. Talbott. "Mushers recount summit adventures", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 15, 2006. Accessed March 4, 2009.Saari, Matias. "Eagle Summit is more merciful this time around", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 11, 2008. Accessed February 25, 2009.Saari, Matias. "Crossing of Eagle Summit brings back memories for mushers", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 12, 2008. Accessed February 25, 2009. In 2009, mushers endured winds up to , blowing snow, and subzero temperatures atop Eagle Summit,Saari, Matias. "Troubles on Eagle Summit drop William Kleedehn from Yukon Quest lead", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 24, 2009. Accessed February 25, 2009. where conditions had been even worse in a storm during the 1988 race, when wind chill temperatures dropped below .Firth, p. 39
The extreme temperatures pose a serious health hazard. Frostbite is common, as is hypothermia. In the 1988 Yukon Quest, Jeff King suffered an entirely frozen hand because of nerve damage from an earlier injury which  him unable to feel the cold. King said his hand became "like something from a frozen corpse".Jenkins, p. 195 In 1989, King and his team drove through a break in the Yukon River in  temperatures. Frozen by the extreme cold, King managed to reach a cabin and thaw out.Jenkins, pp. 195-204 Other racers have suffered permanent damage from the cold: Lance Mackey suffered frostbitten feet during the 2008 Yukon Quest,Medred, Craig. "Mackey proves Iditarod/Quest wins no fluke", Anchorage Daily News. March 12, 2008. Accessed August 3, 2009. and Hugh Neff lost the tips of several toes in the 2004 race.Cremata, Andrew. "'Dream Quest' for Dyea dogs", Skagway News. February 11, 2005. Accessed August 3, 2009.

</section>
<section id="29193" fatherid="0" title="Participants" lv="" priority="5" level="1">
<section id="29194" fatherid="29193" title="" lv="" priority="-1" level="2">
250px|alt=A line graph with two parallel tracks indicating the number of participants and finishers per year of the race. The graph has many peaks and valleys, but starts and ends around the 30-participant mark.|
Since the race's inception in 1984, 353 people from 11 countries have competed in the Yukon Quest, some many times. The race attracts from 21 (in 1996)Saari, Matias. "1996", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed March 4, 2009. to 47 (in 1988 and 1989)Saari, Matias. "1989", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 6, 2008. Accessed February 27, 2009. mushers each year. Of the 776 entries from 1984 to 2007, 263 (34%) did not finish. The racers have come from various professions: taxicab drivers, swimming instructors, coal miners, tax assessors, lawyers, fur trappers, journalists, and a car salesman have all entered.
At the end of the competition, racers are given awards for feats performed on the trail. The foremost is the championship award, given to the winner. Accompanying this is the Golden Harness Award, given to the winner's two lead sled dogs.Yukon Quest International. "Musher hall of fame", Yukonquest.com. Accessed March 4, 2009. The next award is the Veterinarians Choice Award, which is voted on by race veterinarians and given to the musher who took the best care of his or her dogs during the race. Other awards include the Challenge of the North Award—given to the musher who "exemplifies the spirit of the Yukon Quest"—and the Sportsmanship Award, given to the most sportsmanlike competitor, as chosen by a vote of the mushers.
The Rookie of the Year Award is given to the highest-finishing first-time competitor. The Dawson Award, consisting of four ounces of gold, is given to the first musher to reach Dawson City (the midpoint) who also finishes the competition. The final award is the Red Lantern, given to the last official finisher of the year's race. Two awards have been discontinued: the Kiwanis Award, given to the first musher to cross the Alaska–Yukon border, and the Mayor's Award, given to the Yukon Quest champion by the Mayor of Fairbanks.
The most recent Yukon Quest champion is German-born Canadian Sebastian Schnuelle.Saari, Matias. "Schnuelle sets record in Yukon Quest win; Neff only 4 minutes behind", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 24, 2009. Accessed March 4, 2009. Iris Wood Sutton won the 2009 Red Lantern Award and its accompanying cash prize by taking 13 days, 23 hours, and 17 minutes to finish.Saari, Matias. "Fairbanks woman claims Red Lantern as Yukon Quest draws to a close", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 28, 2009. Accessed March 4, 2009. Michelle Phillips won the Veterinarian's Choice Award, Jamaican Newton Marshall won the Challenge of the North Award, Brent Sass won the Sportsmanship Award, William Kleedehn won the Dawson Award, and four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser won the Rookie of the Year Award.Saari, Matias. "Yukon Quest awards banquet brings 2009 race to a formal close", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. March 1, 2009. Accessed March 4, 2009.

</section>
<section id="29195" fatherid="29193" title="Dogs" lv="" priority="2" level="2">
Dogs in the Yukon Quest come in a variety of sizes and breeds, though the most common are Alaskan and Siberian Huskies weighing between 45 pounds (20 kg) and 70 pounds (32 kg).Yukon Quest International. "The modern sled dog", Yukonquest.com. Accessed March 11, 2009. The Alaskan Husky is not a recognized breed, but an amalgam of several different types bred for speed, stamina, and strength.WNET. "Sled dogs: An Alaskan epic", PBS.org. Accessed March 11, 2009. Siberian Huskies are a breed recognized by the American Kennel Club and are characterized by thick coats, stiff ears, a fox-like tail, and medium size.American Kennel Club, Inc. "AKC meet the breeds: Siberian husky", AKC.org. Accessed March 11, 2009. Siberian Huskies are typically larger and slower than their Alaskan counterparts,Killick, p. 74 causing mushers to nickname the breed "Slowberians",Balzar, p. 110 but have more pulling power. The difference was seen during the 1998 Yukon Quest, when Bruce Lee's team of Alaskan Huskies competed against André Nadeau's team of Siberians. Lee's team was faster than Nadeau's over short stretches, but Lee had to rest more often. Nadeau had a head start out of the final checkpoint, but Lee was able to overtake and pass him.Killick, p. 255
</section>
</section>
<section id="29196" fatherid="0" title="Rules" lv="" priority="6" level="1">
<section id="29197" fatherid="29196" title="" lv="" priority="-1" level="2">
The Yukon Quest encourages participants' self-sufficiency,Firth, p. 28 and one of its objectives is "to encourage and facilitate knowledge and application of the widest variety of bush skills and practices that form the foundation of Arctic survival."Yukon Quest International. "Mission statement and philosophy", Yukonquest.com. Accessed February 22, 2009. On the trail, racers may not accept outside assistance and are limited in the changes they may make to their teams and sled.2009 Yukon Quest Rules, p. 6 There are 10 checkpoints and four additional locations where sick or injured dogs may be dropped from a team. Only four checkpoint stops are mandated: a 36-hour stop at Dawson City; a four-hour stop in Eagle, Alaska; a two-hour stop at the first checkpoint; and an eight-hour stop at the last.2009 Yukon Quest Rules, p. 5
As well as food, camping equipment, and dog-care gear, mushers must carry an axe, a cold-weather sleeping bag, a pair of snowshoes, veterinary records, Quest promotional material, a cooker, and eight booties per dog.Saari, Matias. "Yukon Quest rules range from the practical to the peculiar", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 14, 2009. Accessed February 23, 2009. Included in the required promotional material are numerous event covers intended to reflect the Quest's ancestry as a mail route.Moran, Tom. "Leaving a stamp on the Quest", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 10, 2008. Accessed February 23, 2009. One unusual rule requires mushers to immediately butcher any game animal killed during the race. This rule was applied in 1993, when a musher was attacked by a moose and killed it to protect himself.

</section>
<section id="29198" fatherid="29196" title="Entry requirements" lv="" priority="2" level="2">
Competitors must meet a series of written and unwritten requirements before entering. The first is that each musher must have a team of dogs. The race does not furnish any dogs, but participants have been known to lease or borrow dog teams rather than raise their own. In the 2009 Yukon Quest, for example, Newton Marshall from the Jamaica Dogsled Team borrowed a dog team from Canadian Hans Gatt.Saari, Matias. "Jamaican musher prepares for Yukon Quest", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 12, 2009. Accessed May 21, 2009. Each competitor must have completed at least two sled dog races sanctioned by Yukon Quest International: one of 200 miles (320 km) and one of 300 miles (480 km).2009 Yukon Quest Rules, p. 1. Sanctioned races include the Copper Basin 300 and the Tustumena 200, Alaska races held before the Quest.Copper Basin 300, Inc. "Copper Basin 300 Sled Dog Race", cb300.com. Accessed May 21, 2009.Tustumena 200. "Tustumena 200 Alaska Dog Sled Race", tustumena200.com. May 11, 2009. Accessed May 21, 2009.
Those who have completed at least  of Quest-sanctioned racing are eligible to send in an entry form. This requires entrants to certify that they are older than 18, have not been censured by the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and have never been convicted of animal abuse or neglect. They must pay $1,500 or $2,000 for late entries.

</section>
<section id="29199" fatherid="29196" title="Dog health" lv="" priority="3" level="2">
Many of the Quest's rules are intended to ensure the health of dogs in hazardous conditions. This process begins before the race, when all dogs must be examined by race veterinarians, who certify that the animals are suited and healthy enough to participate. Before the race, dog equipment also must be checked by race officials. Padded harnesses are required, each musher must carry an appropriate amount of food, and additional food supplies must be in position at checkpoints.
Mushers must start the race with at most fourteen dogs and finish with no fewer than six. Dogs are visually examined by veterinarians stationed at every checkpoint, and mushers can be ejected and banned from the race for mistreating dogs. Dog whips and forced feeding are forbidden.2009 Yukon Quest Rules, p. 7 Participating dogs may not receive injections during the race or be under the influence of performance-enhancing substances such as steroids. The race marshal may remove any team from the race for violations of these rules or substandard dog care.

</section>
<section id="29200" fatherid="29196" title="Penalties" lv="" priority="4" level="2">
The Yukon Quest's rules allow race officials latitude on whether to assess a time penalty or monetary fine on mushers who violate one or more regulations.2009 Yukon Quest Rules, p. 2 The most serious penalties can be assessed for mistreating dogs. Racers have been forcibly removed from the race for inadequate dog care; the most recent instance of this took place in 2008, when Donald Smidt was removed.Saari, Matias. "Quest legend Turner scratches, leaving 22 mushers competing", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 11, 2008. Accessed February 23, 2009. More common are minor time and monetary penalties. For example, Dan Kaduce was fined $500 of his eventual $9,000 winnings for missing roll call at a mandatory meeting in 2007. Fines of $500 also have been levied for not attending the finish banquet, littering, not wearing start and finish bibs, or losing veterinary records. These minor penalties can have an effect on the race. In 2009, Hugh Neff, then in second place, was penalized two hours for mushing on the Steese Highway.Saari, Matias. "Second-place Yukon Quest musher Hugh Neff is penalized two hours", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 23, 2009. Accessed February 24, 2009. As a result, he finished four minutes behind Sebastian Schnuelle, the winner.Saari, Matias. "Schnuelle sets record in Yukon Quest win; Neff only 4 minutes behind", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 24, 2009. Accessed February 24, 2009.
</section>
</section>
<section id="29201" fatherid="0" title="Junior Yukon Quest and Yukon Quest 300" lv="" priority="7" level="1">
<section id="29202" fatherid="29201" title="" lv="" priority="-1" level="2">
In addition to the main 1,000-mile sled dog race, the Yukon Quest organization operates two shorter races: the Junior Yukon Quest and the Yukon Quest 300.Yukon Quest International. "Other Yukon Quest races", Yukonquest.com. Accessed February 23, 2009. The two began in 2000, though in its first three years the Quest 300 was only 250 miles and thus known as the Quest 250.
</section>
<section id="29203" fatherid="29201" title="Junior Yukon Quest" lv="" priority="2" level="2">
The Junior Yukon Quest, or Junior Quest, is a 135-mile (217 km) race for mushers older than 14 but under 18.Staff Report. "Six mushers set to race in Jr. Quest", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 7, 2009. Accessed February 23, 2009. Unlike the Yukon Quest, the Junior Quest does not change locations and always starts and ends in Fairbanks. It is billed as an opportunity for young racers to experience a mid-distance sled dog race. They must plan a food drop, camp away from checkpoints, and carry much of the same equipment as mushers in the Yukon Quest and Yukon Quest 300.
</section>
<section id="29204" fatherid="29201" title="Yukon Quest 300" lv="" priority="3" level="2">
The Yukon Quest 300 is a 300-mile (483 km) race along the regular Yukon Quest trail. It alternates starting locations along with the main race and is intended for less-experienced mushers training for longer races. The race is also a qualifier for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and the following year's Yukon Quest. Several mushers, including Fort Yukon Native Josh Cadzow, have used the race as a trial before entering the longer races.Saari, Matias. "Prepping for the big race to come", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 12, 2008. Accessed February 23, 2009.Saari, Matias. "Crispin Studer takes first in Quest 300", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 18, 2009. Accessed February 23, 2009.
In 2009, the race was capped at 25 entries.Saari, Matias. "Mushers quickly fill Yukon Quest 300", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. October 29, 2008. Accessed February 23, 2009. When the Quest 300 starts in Whitehorse, its course follows the main Yukon Quest trail until the Stepping Stone hospitality stop. From there, it turns southwest, ending in Minto Landing, Yukon. The Fairbanks route follows the main trail to Circle, then reverses course, ending in Central.

</section>
</section>
<section id="29205" fatherid="0" title="See also" lv="" priority="-8" level="1">
</section>
<section id="29206" fatherid="0" title="Notes" lv="" priority="-9" level="1">
</section>
<section id="29207" fatherid="0" title="References" lv="" priority="-10" level="1">
</section>
<section id="29208" fatherid="0" title="Further information" lv="" priority="-11" level="1">
<section id="29209" fatherid="29208" title="" lv="" priority="-1" level="2">
</section>
<section id="29210" fatherid="29208" title="Fiction" lv="" priority="-2" level="2">
</section>
<section id="29211" fatherid="29208" title="Video" lv="" priority="-3" level="2">
</section>
</section>
<section id="29212" fatherid="0" title="External links" lv="" priority="-12" level="1">
Category:Dog sledding
Category:Endurance sports
Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1984
Category:Sport in Yukon
Category:Sports in Alaska
Category:Yukon Quest

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</document>
