Alaska and the Yukon Quest

I just returned from Fairbanks, Alaska the 2008 starting city for the 25th anniversary of the Yukon Quest. The temperature upon arrival was a mere -30 below zero, but the sun was trying to shine between the layers of freezing ice fog.

The first place I headed was for the University of Alaska and the Museum of the North. What a fabulous museum! Filled with over 2,000 years of Alaskan art and displays of Alaskan culture, including Blue Babe, the world's only Ice Age steppe bison mummy. My favorite room - The Place Where you Go to Listen - an ever changing sound and light environment where the University has linked the sounds of earthquakes and even the Aurora to drums and bells and...Well you just have to go.

The next day off to Chena Hot Springs and the Aurora Ice Museum. The hot springs are very medicinal and warming when it's -40 outside. The Dog sled ride is also a must! The Ice Museum has lights and sculptures and is simply wonderful...the best part though is the world famous Appletini's served in souvenir ice Martini glasses.

Off to Denali National Park. Stopping along the Parks highway in Nenana where they hold Alaska's largest gaming project. No lottery up there. A tripod is planted into the ice river and a trigger stops the clock that records the time the ice breaks up. Bets are placed and last year’s winners claimed $304,000. Yes, I placed my bets! Lunch stop in Healy at one of Alaska's best diner’s- Rose's Cafe . Finally Denali Park - a great visit and wonderful talk by park rangers and a visit to the dog kennel to see a different kind of kennel –these dogs patrol the park during winter via sled. On the ride back to Fairbanks, we were able to turn back a few times and catch a magnificent sunset over Mt. McKinley, the highest mountain in N. America. No wonder there are so many that wish to climb it!

Saturday morning - start of the 25th anniversary of the Yukon Quest! This race is younger than the Iditarod and doesn't get as much publicity, which is sad in some ways, however, not having it widely publicized also meant that we could get up close and personal to the dogs and their musher’s. There was an air of pure adrenalin as everyone was anxious to begin that 1,000 mile trek to Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. Especially those dogs! Every three minutes a team takes off, until all 24 teams were out.
So we check the web for race results and the winner should be arriving into Whitehorse shortly and by the end of the week, the rest of the musher’s will be in. Training begins for next year's race...Whitehorse to Fairbanks.

For some pictures of this incredible quest...click here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21283786@N05/sets/72157603951696585/

What a ride! If you'd like to check out the Yukon Quest, here is the link: www.yukonquest.com
If you'd like to go to the next race, contact me, I'm going again! I can hardly wait!