Saturday February 3, 2018:  Fairbanks -  Race Day!!!!!!

After breakfast, we dressed in our warmest gear!  Layer after layer!  We borrowed a few items from Jean & Bob, but we had mostly our own gear.  After you are dressed, you can barely bend over! Plus, you have to go outside, as you begin heating up to the point of being hot.  While it was still early dawn in Alaska (8:30 am), we left for the Quest Starting Line. We parked in the Courthouse parking area around 9:00am (this being Sat am, there was open parking).  Dog teams began arriving, dogs were being fed, and final prep for the race was underway.  At 11:00am the race will begin. 

After walking around for a while we returned to the Fudge Pot again (located across the street from the parking lot) for a cup of coffee and to stay warm.  We did feel very comfortable outside, but we will be standing outside for at least 2 ½ hours (the duration of the race).  The temperature is -13!  You can cool down real fast if not properly dressed.

As the musher and dogs lined up at the Starting Line, the dogs are barking, almost out-of-control.  They are so excited to be on the trail. Every three minutes a new team leaves the starting line, and there were 26 teams registered.  The Yukon Quest (YQ) is a 1000 miles race, going over 4 mountains, with check-points as much as 150 miles apart, and the temperatures are extremely cold. Other races are in March when it is not as cold.  They consider this the hardest of all dog sled races.  

Preparing for the Race

The Start Area

At the Start Line, it is announced when there was 2 minutes to start, 30 seconds to start, followed by a countdown the last 10 seconds, before they are off and running. The second they begin running the dogs are quiet!  They ran through a chute of people, yelling best wishes, until they were on the frozen river, and they were off into their own solitude.  

We began watching the race at a point near the Starting Line, later moving to different locations further down the chute.  At one point we walked to the bridge overlooking the chute – this was a different perspective. Then later still, we actually went down onto the river.  It was an extremely interesting event.  So glad we were able to be here and enjoy it.  After the YQ1000 was finished we returned to the Fudge Pot for soup and a sandwich.  Yes, we liked the Fudge Pot, but the determining issue was location, location, location!!

Team #1 Getting Ready for the Race

Team #1 in the Starting Chute ready for the Start

We did not realize until we arrived in Fairbanks, that at 3:00 on Saturday there is the start of the YQ300 (300-mile race).  They begin at the same location, so after a slow lunch, we went to the Visitor Center and museum to spend-down the time until the YQ300 began.  What was interesting, the Visitors Center was showing a film on old Dawson City in their Theater.  We sat in on the film for over an hour.  It was extremely interesting since we have been to Dawson City twice.  We could not stay for the whole showing, as the race was beginning.  There were 15 teams registered for the YQ300.  However, the crowd was extremely slim in comparison to the Quest in the morning, allowing us to watch unobstructed at any point.  Again, it was very enjoyable!  

Musher with His Lead Dogs

Keeping Warm at the Quest

Heading Down the Trail

All Ready and Anxious to Start

We returned to our host around 4:30, exhausted from a day in the cold.  We were dress appropriately, so that we were not cold today.  You will note I  the photo, how we had our mouths and noses covered.  That cold air can hurt your throat.  You need to breathe through your nose.  My biggest problem was a dripping nose.  To get the Kleenex out of my pocket required taking off the mittens.  Taking them off is no problem but putting them back on was a problem! Cal had to wipe my nose several times!!  I felt like a little kid!!

For our evening meal we went to the Turtle Club.  It was an old-fashioned Supper Club.  Good salad bar, and Prime Rib to die for! They had 3 serving sizes of Prime Rib – the largest was the Miner’s Serving, 20-24 oz.!! 

Denali Mountain from our Host House