Aerie Report, February 3, 2011

Glorious day here today. Sunshine, clear skies, temperature up to 30 degrees, no wind, and the sun didn't set until 5:30 PM, at which time there was a gorgeous rosy glow on the western horizon.... What's NOT to like?! After those clear skies help produce a low near 0 degrees tonight, tomorrow (Friday) will be a near carbon copy.

BUT (and there's always a "but") that ends very early Saturday morning--probably before dawn--when the next wave of snow hits from the southwest. Accu-hunch is saying 3-6 inches before it's over.

******

Speaking of Saturday...and snow....

The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race starts Saturday in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. It's a 1000 mile race like the Iditarod (which starts March 5th in Anchorage, AK). The Quest traverses the road we were unable to travel this summer due to the Top Of The World Highway being washed out. Racers will leave Whitehorse and head north through Braeburn, Carmacks, Pelly Crossing, Dawson City, Circle City, Eagle, Central, Mile 101, and Chena Hot Springs on their way to Fairbanks, Alaska. Next year, the route will be reversed and the race will start in Fairbanks, AK, as it did last year. (They alternate the route which is appropriate since it is along the old gold rush mail route which was not a one-way affair like the Iditarod's race for serum/medical supplies.)

Last year's winner, (heading from Fairbanks to Whitehorse) was Hans Gatt who made it in 9 days and 59 minutes. Lance Mackey finished second a little more than an hour later. A few weeks later, they would reverse that order as Mackey won the Iditarod in 8 days, 23 hours and 59 minutes with Gatt coming in second after 9 days, 1 hour and 4 minutes on the trail. It was Mackey's fourth consecutive (!) Iditarod victory to go with four Quest titles.

I certainly hope there's sufficient snow for both races. I'll be following the Quest at the web site linked above.