What is…the “Yukon Quest!”
The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race… billed as the “toughest race in the world,” is 1000 miles up and over 4 mountain ranges right in the middle of the depths of the sub-arctic winter.  Passing thru areas where temperatures last winter bottomed out at minus 72 degrees F.  Mushers and their 14 dog teams will start the 2006 race in Fairbanks, Alaska and traverse their way to Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory of Canada carrying gear and supplies to survive the elements independently on their own.

Rules do not permit any help or support along the entire 1000 miles, except by another racer and during the mandatory 36-hour layover in Dawson.  During the 2002 race my wife was not even allowed to pet our dogs or hand me a cup of coffee at a checkpoint.

Of course, the dogs are the real, elite marathon athletes of the race.  A crew of veterinarians follows the race and checks every dog at checkpoints along the way.  These dogs have the highest level of refined aerobic capacity of any animal on earth.  They were bred and born for one specific reason, to run. 

You will never see such excitement and enthusiasm, as you will with a team of Quest dogs at a race start.  It takes 6 or 8 handlers AND a snowmobile tied off to the dog sled to move to the starting line and hold the team in place for the start because the “Team” is leaping, lunging and barking hysterically just because…they want to run!

Many teams never make it to the finish line; so many variables along the 1000 miles of trail take their toll in the final outcome.  The teams that do cross the finish line are the “best of the best.”  Our full team of 14 huskies crossed that line in the 2002 race, a first in the history of the race.  You can become a part of the background support by becoming a sponsor and helping this new team make it to the finish line for 2006.  

Types of Expenses and Logistics For Racing
To be competitive, specialized equipment and gear is required, such as a sled ($3000), many sets of plastic runners ($40-$60 per set), lightweight snowhooks and dog lines.  In order to protect the dogs feet from extreme abrasion and wear they spend many miles wearing dog booties that wear out after 100 miles.  Race rules require a specific number of booties for each dog, which is usually not even close to the amount needed.  Booties cost app $1 per bootie times 4 feet times 14 dogs times countless changes.

Other expenses are entry fee $1200, Veterinary care including anti-biotics, wormers, diarrhea medicine, wrist wraps, liniments, vaccines, etc. etc. run well over $1000.  Also race specific diets of high octane dog food, vitamins, protein and fat supplements, frozen meats and freeze dry dehydrated lamb will cost well over $1500 just for the duration of the race which does not include the “in-training” diets which are almost as complex.

There are no roads open to Eagle, AK from Oct 15th to Apr 15th.  Which means we must run our team 180 miles crossing 3 summits during the shortest daylight of the year, 4 hours, and during the coldest periods of the winter, temps as low as minus 72 degrees F.  This is just to reach the dog truck before we can proceed to the starting line.  Then this is all done in the reverse in order to get the dogs back home.

We leave our home weeks ahead of time in order to expose our “isolated” team to other dogs and any viruses in the hope of building up immunity before race day and taking care of last minute veterinary care and last minute race logistics.

One of our biggest out-of-pocket expenses is having to leave our home so early.  The lodging and food along with truck repairs, maintenance and gas tend to add up quickly.  To keep down cost for the Quest organization, it is required that a racer has a support crew follow along to all the en-route checkpoints.  If a dog gets sick or injured, the handler is there to pick up and care for the dog.  No less than 4000 miles will be logged getting to the start, following the race and getting the dog truck back to Fairbanks.

Long distance sled dog racing is not “Friendly” to bush families that live off of the road system.  Our way of life combined with our level of annual income makes racing competitively extremely difficult and challenging.  For us to even consider it is quite a challenge and we refuse to do it unless we can be sure the dogs are well prepared.

Your sponsorship would help pave the way for our bush family to follow our dreams and contribute to preserving a true heritage of the North Country, the Alaska Husky!

We are actively seeking sponsorship for 2009 at this time.

CONTACT: For more information and/or questions e-mail us at bushalaskaex@starband.net or bush_alaska_expeditions@hotmail.com ask for our brochure or write us at:  Bush Alaska Expeditions, P O Box 161, Eagle, AK 99738.  No incoming phone calls due to the remote location but there is Internet access via satellite. Phone calls can be arranged via computer and satellite.   

OCT-NOV-DEC each year finds us at our American Summit Base Camp.  Our internet access is limited to once every 7 to 10 days.  Please contact us with any questions but also be aware that during that period you may not receive a reply for a period of time depending on weather and travel conditions.