Out of Pelly Crossing
/Though there is some confusion on the Yukon Quest Facebook page, Ryno Kennel headed out of Pelly Crossing just after 11:00 AM, just over 4 hour rest, with 10 super athletes. Elmer’s wrists were a bit sore near Scroggie, so he’s taking a break there and will meet up with the handler crew down the trail!
Torsten Kohnert is booting up now and will be on the trail close behind. Keep an eye on the tracker with us:
https://www.yukonquest.com/race-central/current-standings/live-tracking
GO RYNO TEAM GO!
Traveling Back in Time
/Tonight, the handlers made their way from Dawson City to Pelly Crossing to await Ryne’s team traveling out of the early 1900s. What do we mean by that? It’s currently the year 2020 - as everyone across the globe reminds us - but Ryne and the dogs are traveling back in time. It wasn’t until 1956 that a road was actually built all the way to Dawson City; travel between Pelly Crossing and Dawson City had either been by the Yukon River in the summer and dog sled in the winter. The mushers are truly experiencing what travel was like before modern conveniences.
The team will soon be at Stepping Stone Hospitality Stop, then 36 miles to Pelly Crossing!
THIS WAY TO STEPPING STONE HOSPITALITY STOP!
Leaving Dawson City
/After a wonderful 36 hour rest, the Ryno Kennel Team is back on the Yukon Quest trail. During the rest, while Kalyn took care of our wonderful puppy athletes, Ryne did not budge for one 12 hour period getting much needed rest. But with all cylinders firing this morning, they are excited to get back onto the trail.
This next section, Dawson City to Pelly Crossing, is the longest section between checkpoints on the trail. Plus there is King Solomon’s Dome to tackle. Sleds must contain all the food, supplies, and gear needed with no drop bags available for 210 miles. Go TEAM RYNO!!
One last bit of news I think we failed to post, Smoky was dropped in Eagle due to illness. A bug went through the team with Smoky having the hardest time shaking it; that was why the team stayed extra in Eagle. Ryne had hoped he would shake it quicker, but Smoky ended up being flown out to Dawson and is with the handler team now — feeling great and wishing he was with his buddies on the trail today.
TIME TO WAKE UP!
WARM, DRY COATS
Welcome to Dawson City, YT 2020!
/Ryno Kennel Team pulled into Dawson City, YT at 10:20 PM (PST) last night for their much anticipated 36 hour layover. We had hoped to bring you our on videos from the night, but download times are hours instead of minutes. So please paste the following link (starting at 5:45 minutes) to enjoy the arrival of our amazing team:
https://www.facebook.com/YukonQuest/videos/2203751266588400/
Waiting in Dawson
/While Ryne was making her way out of Alaska and into the Yukon territory, the handlers were making a mad dash just over 900 miles by truck to Dawson City, Yukon Territory to set up a cozy camp for the team’s 36 hour mandatory lay over. At this half way stop, the handlers finally get to help the team while the vets also do a thorough check of the dogs. Ryne will have the option of spending one night in a hotel complete with a shower and cozy bed!
From the Yukon Quest Facebook post:
Before Eagle: When asked about the trail on the river, Allen Moore said "it's hard to tell where to go, the trail has been blown over. So you see a marker, you can kind of guess where the trail was. If you don't guess right, you fall through" into the deep snow of the wind drift.
Ryne Olson's team arrived into Eagle at 03:53 with wagging tails!
It's partly cloudy and about 12 degrees F (-11C) with a light breeze here in Eagle. Beautiful weather for being in a checkpoint! Our amazing volunteers are willing to stand out in -50 degrees F (-45C) with a smile, but +12 degrees F is definitely more relaxing.
Ryne Olson is the 6th team out of Eagle! She hit the trail at 1:50pm with a team of 11 after dropping a dog. Once mushers leave Eagle, it's 18 miles to the top of American Summit. Current trail conditions are "windy and snowy over the top of American Summit. Some sidehill but reasonable snow cover (as of noon on 2/4/20 - Tuesday)". However, Canadian Ranger trailbreaker John Mitchell always says "the only thing constant about the trail is change.”
Setting up camp:
Yukon River in Dawson
The following pictures were from earlier in the race, posted by The Yukon Quest group of incredible photographers on Facebook
Thanks to the wonderful Veterinarians and Race Officials
Trail setters
THANK YOU TO DOT Road crews
Mile 101 Checkpoint
Volunteers of Mile 101
Welcoming to Mile 101!
if you have never had to use a porta-potty in -30 F degree weather, you will not fully appreciate the sheer brilliance of this product of Alaskan engineering. Plastic seat - egads! - level cold; insulation board seat - got almost as many compliments as the bacon.
THE TRACKER!
Leaving Circle
Mile 101 to Circle -- Yukon Quest 2020
/Hopefully everyone has been following our amazing Ryno Kennel race team on the Yukon live tracker page:
https://www.yukonquest.com/race-central/current-standings/live-tracking
Sorry for the lack of posts, but after the Two Rivers checkpoint, the handlers were forced into radio silence with no WIFI nor cell service at the remaining checkpoints on the U.S. side of the race (Mile 101, Central, Circle). Here is a brief recap communicated while the handlers dropped Tom off in Two Rivers and picked up Derek on their way to the Canadian side of the race:
The run from Two Rivers to Mile 101 was overnight, and a very COLD night. Probably the coldest night they’ll see on the trail (the handler’s woke to -40F at Mile 101.) Ryne arrived early Sunday morning (6:56 AM) with all dogs barking and excited. After feeding, massaging, and calming everyone down, Ryne decided to stay a little longer than planned to see if Uno would limber up. But with Eagle Summit challenging ahead, Ryne and 13 amazing athletes headed out soon after lunch, leaving Uno behind to cuddle and travel with the handlers.
Arriving at Mile 101
Wingman — TIME TO EAT!
Incredible media volunteers at Mile 101
A COLD night
Cloud cover provided for warmer temperatures than past years traveling over Eagle Summit, and the team made a quick run up and over into Central. (Ryne left us a few fun videos from Eagle Summit)
Arriving in Central
Once again, Ryne chose to stay in Central a bit longer than planned, this time for Lefty (and to enjoy the delicious juicy bacon, cheeseburger at the Central bar!) Unable to loosen Lefty’s stiffening joints, Ryne finally decided to leave him behind, and pulled her hook at 8:35 PM Sunday night, heading out onto Birch Creek with 12 rested, happy pups.
The night was definitely not as cold as prior years (sensing a trend here 😊) so the team enjoyed a brief camp out under a beautiful starry night while racing along the creek, arriving in Circle at 9:51 AM Monday morning to a very crowded dog yard. Circle is the last checkpoint for both the 300 mile racers and 1000 mile racers. Once again, Ryne was able to quickly settle the dogs down after feeding, massaging, and serenading them to sleep (ok, maybe not serenading.)
Leaving Circle, the team looks forward to a long run to Eagle, last checkpoint on the U.S. side (and accessible in the winter only by sled dog teams or planes.) The sled will be a bit heavier to start with gear needed to sustain a 150 mile run without drop bags, but Ryne is looking forward to a stay at Slavin’s Cabin. One of Ryne’s favorite checkpoints, Slavin’s Cabin is nestled in the trees on a little bluff overlooking the Yukon River. Warm, with a wonderful menu of homemade treats, veterinarians to consult if needed, and no outside distractions! Just the mushers, their pups, vets, and Slavin’s hosts – a musher’s recipe for happiness!
Before leaving Circle, a reporter asked Ryne her thoughts about running on the creek and the long run ahead on the Yukon River – she commented how she likes the diversity of the Yukon Quest: from rivers to mountains, has it all.
Wishing safe and happy travels to Dawson City where the handlers will see Ryno Kennel pups and Ryne next.
