Denali Highway Expeditions

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We've just finished our adventure trips on the Denali Highway, and we're already having withdrawals from the beautiful mountains and simplistic life of living on the trail!

The first trip, we explored the Alaska Range with Ryno Kennel dog sponsors, Melissa and Jeanne. After a windy first day when Melissa and Jeanne got to experience what mushing can be like on the coastal trail of the Iditarod, we were rewarded with crystal blue skies, milder temperatures, and mountains as far as the eye could see. We spent a couple of cozy nights in the Arctic Oven tent and two plush evenings at Maclaren Lodge. A perfect trip!

On the second trip, we joined forces with Smokin' Ace Kennels and brought nine MBA students from Columbia mushing on the Highway. All the students were originally from either Spain or Argentina, so the mushing experience was very new to them. Even with three days of intense wind where the students were blown off the trail, they finished the trip with big smiles and stories to tell their grandchildren.

All in all- the spring adventure season was a huge success, and we can't wait until next year! If you're interested in joining us on a trip, just send me an email at ryneolson@gmail.com, and we'll see if we can plan a trip just for you!

Perm and Boone

Portraits

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While waiting for Deb and Nycole to arrive at Slaven's Cabin, we took small teams out to get firewood, went for a free run, and took portraits of several of the dogs on the trip. Hope you enjoy the photos!

Perm

Wombat

Kindi

Gringa

Blitz

Lefty

Ewok

Wingman

Fish

Uno

Crunch

Meandering the Quest Trail

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Even though the Iditarod is beginning and is the main focus of most distance mushers right now, the Ryno athletes are done with race season and exploring around Alaska!

The past week, we enjoyed cruising the Yukon River at a leisurely pace rather than the rigorous run/rest schedule of the Yukon Quest! I loved seeing the country in the daylight and sharing it with Derek, Gunhild, Jeff, Deb and Nycole (even though the insane snow in Fairbanks made Deb and Nycole a little late to the party). We explored the Quest trail between Circle and Slaven's Roadhouse, climbed all around the Coal Creek Dredge, and followed wolf, caribou, and fox tracks down the Yukon. I apologize for all the Coal Creek Dredge photos, but it was so incredible to envision the dredge in production and what life must have been like. Or just think about what it took to barge all the parts of the dredge up the river!

Lefty and Ewok with the Coal Creek Dredge

According to the National Park Service, the Coal Creek Dredge ran day and night, processing 2,500 times more material in a day than a man could. In 17 years, it moved enough gravel to cover a football field nearly a mile deep and extracted 3.2 tons of gold. The dredge was ordered in 1935 and arrived at Coal Creek that fall. The next spring, the parts were sledded about 6 miles up Coal Creek where it was assembled near Cheese Creek. Incredible!

Along the way, we also met Michael who has been walking the entire Yukon Quest trail! He is just now arriving in Fairbanks today after walking the 1000-miles from Whitehorse. He began his trek on February first! Talk about making us feel lazy. Thank you to the folks in Circle for helping us get our truck started when it grumbled about being parked for several days of -30F to -40F!

Below are some photos of the Coal Creek Dredge.

Below are some pictures from the trail.