2010 Yukon Quest: pairs and portraits of dogs (mostly)

The 2010 Yukon Quest, a 1,000 mile sled dog race run between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Canada, began this year in Fairbanks on February 6th.  It is not over yet but the top ten mushers have arrived in Dawson City, Canada, the mid-point of the race.  Given the mandatory 36-hour rest period in Dawson, I thought this would be a good time to post some photos from the race start.  (Besides, there will be nothing much going on on-line until the first musher can leave tomorrow morning.)

The dogs are anticipating a great race...  

It will also be a highly competitive race.  Of the 24 mushers, 2 have won the Quest a total of 7 times since 2002 (Lance Mackey 4x and Hans Gatt 3x), and Sonny Lindner won the first Yukon Quest in 1984.  Three others have come in 2nd (Hugh Neff, Ken Anderson, and Zack Steer with Hans Gatt placing 2nd 2x).  There are also mushers from Switzerland and Belgium participating.

... as are good Fairbanks friends Jess and Ann.

A classic set-up for moving dogs around.  

The dogs here are pretty calm, but it is still a couple of hours before the race.  There was a pancake breakfast for mushers and fans adjacent to the staging area for the race.  By the time we arrived, they were out of everything but the pancakes -- they were good, though.

Here Lance Mackey, everyone's favorite musher, is getting gear together for the race.  These mushers have to have incredible focus -- a thousand miles is a long distance.

An example of a dog sled.

Here a team is being led from the staging area to the race start -- about a quarter of a mile.

The teams are hooked to an ATV to hold them back.  Handlers could never restrain a dog team for this distance at the start of a race.  The dogs are unstoppable...  We stayed back from the starting line to be able to get closer to the teams.  This was a good opportunity for photos, and I hope these give you an idea of the variation that exists in the "Alaskan husky".

I have some tricks up my sleeve!

Is it time yet???

Reflecting on races past...

We are excited!!!

Uh, patience is a virtue!

Well, we've done a lot of training so we think we're ready.

This is serious -- no fooling around!

We are clearly the most elegant dogs here ... and look at our outfits!

... but I'm adorable.

Two "lead dogs" waiting for their turn to go.

They are still pretty calm...

Lance Mackey at the start surrounded by adoring fans 

(myself included, of course).

Lance (number 11) and his dogs are ready to go...

The dogs are the real athletes of these races.  When not racing, they are calm and friendly.  Who wouldn't love these dogs?

I will report the results as soon as they are available.  I know you all can't wait!!!!