The race started on the Chena River beneath the Cushman Street bridge.
As we raced down the frozen river we mush under several bridges and
through an Army base.
Around the 32 mile mark I stopped to check my teams booties
and give them a snack

It is 68 miles from Chena Lakes to the checkpoint at Angel Creek.
We cross the Chena River and got into the forrested area.
Even though there was alot of markers we did take a wrong
turn and had to turn around. Not before my lead dog Jake
sniffed out a tree to go pee. LOL

On our way again and approached Angel Creek check point.
It is mandatory to have a two hour stop over at Angel Creek
I stayed four hours signing autographs and smiling for the camera's
Had a lot of fun

It is 42 miles from Angel Creek to Mile 101
The Team is rested but I am bagged.
It is slow going as it is 42 miles of steep terrain
I am singing to my team now and am taking requests LOL

We reach Boulder Summit 20 miles out of Angel Creek
Surprise, surprise we have passed some mushers on the way
Perhaps they should have stayed and smiled for the camera.

Now its down a gradual slope. There is no treeline so we
are exposed to the weather.
Mile 101 is approaching. Cabins for rest but I cuddled in
with my faithful team. Gotta give them a pep talk.
Hope this strategy works.

We leave 101 before the others. It is about 33 miles from 101 to Central.
The trail winds up Eagle Mountain. Some teams were refusing to pull.
Much harder coming down.
Have to watch out that I don't run into my wheel dogs.
(The pair infront of the sled)
We arrive at Crabs Corner checkpoint.
Somehow most of the mushers are already there.
Did we take a wrong turn. Time to show lead dog Jake the map again
Jake, the Swing dogs (front dogs behind main dog)
and I have a pow wow.

It is now about 75 miles from Central to Circle.
We ran out of Central right next to the road for about 9 miles
toward Circle Hot Springs Turned left and ran next to an airstrip.
This is where Jake and the other dogs got a sniff of a snow shoe rabbit
Good thing the rabbit knew which direction to run.
Looks like we pulled out ahead of the other mushers.

It is now 160 miles up the Yukon from Circle to Eagle
We stop at Dill's cabin and visit since we are well ahead
Unfortunately we found lots of sled tracks in the snow when
we left. Hope we aren't last now.

At 60 miles from Circle the park rangers host a dog drop and hospitality point on the right at the Slaven cabin.
Most sleds are resting. We carry on with a wave and a big smile
From Eagle Creek to Dawson City we go at a leisure pace
taking in the sites and smells.
Yup foul smelling, picked up some time when the team
got a wiff of that grizzly

We arrive in Dawson City with a 36 hour break in front of us.
The team and I need a rest. Lots of partying happening in this
town. My team and I lay low watching the other mushers arrive.
There is a big climb out of Dawson and while they party we
plan to go over our route map

From Dawson it is 100 miles to the Stewart River
and about 200 to the next checkpoint at Pelly Crossing.
We hope to be first
From Pelly Crossing you are about 35 miles From McCabe Creek
and 80 from Carmacks checkpoint.

It's easy going for us as we sing and howl away.
From Carmacks it is 80 miles to the next checkpoint at Braeburn.
Braeburn is a full service checkpoint,
and you must stay there at least 8 hours so we'll
have plenty of time to check out their huge sticky buns.
Ooops my team and I ate too many of those famous sticky buns

From Braeburn it is 109 miles to Whitehorse.
Somehow we have taken the wrong turn.
Seems like we hit a dessert.
The smallest dessert in the world, located
in Carcross
I turn the sled around and head to Jake's Corner and head back north
We are now sledding along the Alaska Highway
We are not far now from Whitehorse
The finish line is right ahead of us.
I can see and hear the crowds. We cross the finish line going the wrong way
That's ok the crowd loves us.
Thousands of adoring fans cheering for us.
We have finished the Yukon Quest!

We are now official members of the 1000 MILE CLUB

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© copyright 2001 Dora
September 26th, 2001