Today was the start of the
Yukon Quest sled dog race here in Fairbanks. Although not as well known, the race is said to be considerably more difficult than the
Iditarod. Running from Fairbanks to
Whitehorse, Yukon in even years and vice versa in odd, the route runs 1,000 miles on many frozen rivers, to elevations up to 3,800 feet, and through extreme continental cold temperatures down to 60 below and roaring winds.
The race began on the frozen
Chena River downtown. While temperatures slowly climbed upward, it was still around thirty below at 11am. Most of the ice fog had cleared out, but it surrounded the bridge just over the starting line as cars drove past and idled in parking spaces. Tonight teams will reach Chena Hot Springs where there is a mandatory rest period. Tomorrow they'll pass Eagle Summit, where the Steese Highway is currently closed due to high winds and blowing snow.
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