They're Off!

Between the two races, there are now forty-six teams out on the trails. From the Facebook page, they all got off to a good start, most of the dogs lunging and barking and so eager to run. Some of them will still be going strong as they near the finish line. Some will slow down and conserve their energies but there is no question that Huskies, both the Alaskan and the Siberian varieties are high energy dogs and they are literally born to run. At least four teams of the "Sibs' are running in the 1000 miler. I would be surprised if one of them won but you never know. Generally the modern mushers feel they are a little slower but they are still great dogs and can run darn good races.

The trackers are barely showing any motion yet since the races have only been underway a relatively short time. For now the order is still their starting order with no passes showing up yet. We'll start to see that tomorrow.

Both Aliy and Allen are running mixed teams of experienced and younger dogs. Allen has Scout who has been a member of two YQ winning teams and has often been a co-leader with Quito so he is no slouch! He's the oldest member and Commando is the youngest, a big honor for a dog not yet three.Teams are 14 for the 1000 and 12 for the 300. Allen's team consists of: Scout, Chipper, Clyde, Commando, Dutch, Felix, Izzy, Kodiak, Mismo, Mac, Willie, Schmoe, Scruggs and Waylon. Several of them were in Aliy's team last year. This time she has Lester, Boondocks, Chena, Daisy, Spark, Amber, Violet, Driver, Iron, Champ, Sandy and Chemo. Among them are three of Quito's pups and four of Olivia's. from their 2013 litters. These young dogs are carrying on some top bloodlines and showing a lot of promise already. I will be watching them for they carry the hopes of the future.

Of course none of the Surfivers are running in these serious and challenging races; they are still barely a year and a half old. And only one of the prior year's litters is included. A lot of the famous names in the SPK pack are also missing as well. In some cases they are being saved for the Iditarod or recovering from minor injuries. This year's two mamas are not yet fit enough for the hard competition but one or both may appear in Allen's Black Iditarod team which is a training team to get the younger dogs more used to the 1000 mile efforts.  He does not push them and usually finishes in about the middle of the pack.

Jessie Royer is training in Montana, her home state. She posted a cute shot of her handler's Blue Heeler riding while her team ran up a winding snowy road. She called him the Stow Away! She is a racer to watch for this year's Iditarod as she came in 4th last year, a very strong showing. My dream finish would be Aliy winning, Jessie 2nd and a newer but upcoming racer, Jodi Bailey placing third or perhaps Paige Drobney! About as likely as the moon rising over the distant coast of Russia I guess but that would be very cool!

I am concerned that Michelle Phillips dropped out of the Copper Basin 300 and now is not running in the YQ 300. She edged out Aliy to win it last year. Her partner/husband Ed Hopkins, started 3rd and is running the 1000, no surprise, but I am afraid that their diabetic teenage son is perhaps having problems and requires a parent's care. I'll say a prayer or two for them; I had a cousin who showed up with Type 1 Diabetes at about age 10 and even with good care lifelong died relatively you, blind and on dialysis. It is a tough disease to deal with and stressful for the parents as well as the kid who has it.

There is a lot to see on yukonquest.com, their facebook page and of course SPK's Doglog blog so join me in following the action!