Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race Winner

This is the sled dog team of Sebastian Schnuelle, winner of this year's 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. The photo was taken this morning on the Chena River in Fairbanks, Alaska, one mile from the finish line. The temperature was minus 2 Fahrenheit, ideal for dog mushing. Schnuelle's team of ten dogs are confidently passing by the Hamilton Acres and Island Homes subdivisions. The trees in the background are on the Fort Wainwright Army base. Schnuelle's team completed the race in a record time of 9 days, 23 hours, 20 minutes, the first nine day Quest race.

This is one of many photos I am considering making into a post card to commemorate the event.

Straw Beds In The Sun

Used with permission, Copyright 2008 Scott Chesney

"The best long distance runners eat raw meat, run naked and sleep in the snow." --From an Alaska Airlines ad



Though the above quote describes sled dogs well, more often than not they sleep on straw beds, like those in this postcard, rather than on the cold snow. These beautiful canines were photographed by Scott Chesney, a fellow Fairbanksan, gifted photographer and experienced musher. You can find more of Scott's images on at his website.

My guess is that these dogs have already slept and they are content to watch people at the checkpoint while half-dozing on their comfortable straw beds with the warm sun on their backs. Notice the blue coats the dogs have on for extra warmth. One of the simple pleasures of running and camping with sled dogs is throwing down the straw and watching the dogs circle and dig with their paws while fluffing up their beds. They respond to fresh straw almost as enthusastically as they do raw meat.

As I post this the sled dogs of the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race are resting quietly on straw beds at Dawson City, Yukon Territories, Canada. They will resume the race following a 36-hour layover. The current leader is William Kleedehn of Limp-a-Long Kennels. Kleedehn is one of the nicest mushers to be on the trail or in camp with. He is a world-class musher with a wonderful sense of humor.

A 1,000-Mile Sled Dog Race on Valentine's Day

This postcard of lead dogs in harness is a very accurate representation. Not only does it show a typical pose of leaders while the rest of the team is hooked up, it includes booties on the dog's paws and a common x-back type harnesses.

Today is the start of the 1,000 mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. This year the race runs from Whitehorse, Yukon Territories, Canada, to Fairbanks, Alaska, my home town. The race direction alternates each year. The views along the trail are spectacular because so much is run over the tops of mountains and 500 miles along the mighty Yukon River. It is billed as the toughest sled dog race in the world because the distance between check points are long --- one stretch is 200 miles ---, and the trail follows many of the old trapping and gold rush trails of the last century where temperatures often plummet down to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

The race has begun on Valentine's Day many times, as it did in 1996, the year I ran the race and finished 11Th. That year the race began in Fairbanks. The first checkpoint was at Angel Creek Lounge, 90 miles into the race. After arriving I opened my drop bags and found a Valentine surprise from my wife packed in among my supplies. Months earlier she slipped chocolate kisses and a handmade card inscribed with loving words. It was a welcomed surprise in the cold and dark on the first night of the big race.

Despite the title "Alaska," this wooden postcard was made by Vandercraft of Prineville, Oregon. According to Postcardy's blog, "Vandercraft used to have a website showing many of their cards, but their website is not currently active." Postcardy has several examples of wooden postcards. I bought this card in the 1980's.