Yukon Quest '07

Lance Mackey was the first into Dawson at 23:35 Tuesday, followed by William Kleedehn and Hugh Neff several hours later. There is a 36-hour mandatory layover here, so Mackey can depart around noon on Thursday. Today (Wednesday), Dave Dalton, John Schandelmeier, Mike Jayne, Richie Beattie, and Brent Sass could be seen ascending and traversing the taiga ridges of King Solomon’s Dome, which is about 15 miles outside of Dawson. They reached Dawson this evening in that order, placing 9th through 13th. Kiara Adams scratched.

Brent dropped the stoic “Gene” at Scroggie Creek (see photo from 02/11/07), and ran 12 dogs into Dawson. I was waiting near the trail, on the Yukon, and shortly after Beattie went by, I heard the familiar sound of cross country ski poles. Back at the Pelly Crossing checkpoint, someone astutely observed that Brent was the first musher they had seen strap the pole to their wrist before calling up the dogs to depart. Watching Brent arrive in Dawson gave me the impression that he had not stopped poling since that moment in Pelly Crossing, some 200 miles earlier. Madonna (see photo from 02/11/07) and Pixie (see photo from 02/11/07) were leading the team, and spirits were high. Brent said, “I’m having the time of my life.”

The last report here placed Brent in 11th out of Pelly Crossing, but that statistic was inaccurate. According to the most recent information, Brent was 20th out of Braeburn, 18th out of Carmacks, 13th out of Pelly Crossing, and 13th into Dawson. If you have any words of encouragement, now is the time (post comment)!

Kleedehn speaks to the head veterinarian after arriving in Dawson.		Dalton on a ridge near King Solomon's Dome.
Brent coming into Dawson.