Count Down to start: 1 Day 12 Hours

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Super busy day getting ready for the Yukon Quest 1000 mile race start on Saturday. Both the handlers and mushers were in meetings this morning where they learned the latest trail conditions and logistics for the start. Though the prediction is for the temperatures to drop, the continued lack of snow here on the Yukon has caused a small course change: after racing to the first checkpoint, the dogs will be transported in dog trucks between checkpoint #1, Braeburn, and check point #2, Carmacks, so details and logistics were shared.

After the morning meetings, mushers had lunch with their Quest Rider. Ryne met her guest rider, Carole, from Colorado! Fun to have folks from her home state up supporting the team.

Carole, Ryne, and Dan

Tonight was the starters’ banquet where not only did we get to enjoy the evening getting to know Carole and her husband, Dan, eat some great food, but the mushers drew their starting numbers. Drum roll please —- Ryno Kennel drew # 21 — best number out there!

Tomorrow, Friday will be a day to catch our breath, walk the dogs and let them stretch their legs after a long drive, and—- get ready to rumble on Saturday!

Disclaimer: As Ryne makes her last preparations for the start, posts and updates for the race will be shared between Ryno handler extraordinaire, Kalyn, and me (Mom Katy).

Meet the Mushers

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My mom and I have made it to Whitehorse! Kalyn, Derek, and the dogs will be arriving later tonight.

Upon arriving in Whitehorse, our first event was Meet the Mushers. All the competitors sit at tables around the perimeter of the hall while friends and fans file down the line of tables, getting signatures from all the mushers on the posters, shirts, banners, or sometimes their own jackets! While this event is more socializing than most mushers do the entire year combined, it’s a great opportunity to say brief hellos to kids and folks from the community who will be excitedly following the race. It’s also fun to see all the other mushers who we sometimes haven’t seen since last year! Even though we’re all competitors, there’s a lot of camaraderie among mushers so the evening was filled with chatter between mushers- how are their dogs, what are they feeding, how was training, did their truck break down on the drive- all normal musher conversations.

Today will also be full of meetings including the Quest Guest Lunch, the Mushers Meeting, the Rookie Meeting, the Handler Meeting, and the Start Banquet. It’s currently snowing and 4F outside, but temperatures are forecast to drop to -30F by Saturday. Bring on the Quest!!

The Women of the Yukon Quest

One of the final runs before the Yukon Quest

Yukon Quest Vet Checks and Drop Bags

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Immediately upon returning from Copper Basin, we jumped right into Yukon Quest preparation. Last Saturday, the drop bags were due. Today was the official day for vet checks! And in ONE WEEK, we’ll be hitting the trail in Whitehorse!

Drop Bags

Completing drop bags for a 1000-mile race is cause for a big celebration. The first hurdle in long distance racing has been overcome! Like everything, practice makes perfect, so with this being our third start from Whitehorse, I do have an Excel Spreadsheet already generated with lists of what to pack for each checkpoint. Each drop bag is labeled with the name of the checkpoint, my last name, and Bag # ___ of ___. Some checkpoints only need 2-3 drop bags. Others like Pelly, where we’re about to take off on 200 unsupported miles require 6 or Dawson, 8. Items included in drop bags might include:

  • Dog food (Inukshuk 32/32, Inukshuk 30/25, Red Paw)- I like to have variety, although the main kibble is the Inukshuk 32/32, which means it has 32% fat and 32% protein.

  • Fish snacks, beef snacks, BLT snacks, liver snacks, chicken skins snacks, snacks, snacks, snacks!

  • Probiotics and supplements

  • Dog Booties- sizes range from small (Fish, Perm, Katy) to medium (Wingman, Boone, Cooke) to large (Rucu, Goblin, Lefty)

Saeward’s creations

  • Human Food- This is where I need to give a BIG SHOUT OUT and THANK YOU to Saeward! Saeward made all of my meals for both the Copper Basin and Yukon Quest. That’s 30 delicious, calorie-packed, vacuum and seam-sealed meals that I can soak in the boiling cooker pot water to make out on the trail. Shepard’s pie, enchilada casserole, pasole, canadian bacon and egg bake, and french toast are on the menu. She also threw some homemade cookies in for dessert. Thank you!

  • Human Gear- fresh socks, neck gaitor (made by another person who needs a thank you- Lynne Witte!), work gloves, hand and toe warmers

  • Resupply Vet Packs comprised of extra wrist wraps, vet wrap, Algyval oil, pink ointment, and handwarmers

  • Runner Plastic- just like ski wax, there are different colors of runner plastics for different conditions. Since we never know what the conditions will be like two weeks away, we send out a bit of everything.

  • Tosses- fleece blankets to make the dogs extra comfortable

The video below is of Kalyn explaining all the different kinds of snacks we send on the trail. Kalyn single-handedly cut ALL THE SNACKS for both our Copper Basin teams and the Yukon Quest. This is a huge task with lots of time standing in the cold next to the meat saw. A VERY BIG THANK YOU to Kalyn for keeping the dogs happy and fed!

Vet Checks

Prior to the race, we selected 16 dogs to be thoroughly examined by volunteer veterinarians to make sure they’re healthy and ready for a 1000-mile race. Specific items the vets looked for were range of motion, , weight, temperature, heart and lungs, and overall body condition.

Which 16 athletes were brought to the vet checks?!

Perm, Katy, Jana, Goblin, Lefty, Rucu, Supai, Uno,

Wingman, CJ, Fish, King Louie, Badger, Cooke, Boone, Wombat

I’ll be selecting the final 14 from this crew of 16.

Dr. Cole checking Rucu

Fish

A sample sheet of 4 of the 16 dogs examined.

In the midst of all this, we’re still of course training and preparing! In addition to training runs, the dogs occasionally have a free day to romp about and just be dogs. Kalyn snapped some great photos on her last walkabout with the crew.

Boone

Fish and King Louie

Cooke

Wingman

Uno and Fenton

Fenton

Supai and Lefty

View on a recent training run.

Yukon Quest Press Release

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As I hinted in my prior post, there are some changes taking place with the Yukon Quest trail. Due to the lack of snow in the Whitehorse area, race officials have opted to adjust the route with some rather significant changes. Check out the full press release here:

https://yukonquest.com/news/changes-made-2019-race?fbclid=IwAR073aCYkMZUuPKp7iVRFWM_b_DSbJys0kVYQNZz5g49yaDpA3TDfeodHWk

For the 1000-mile race the big changes are:

1) Mushers can decide to start with anywhere from 8 to 14 dogs. The remaining dogs will be added back farther down the trail (Carmacks to be exact).

Ryne’s Commentary- Hm… I’d like to start with the entire squad because we are doing this as a team, but hurtling down a trail at 15 mph also seems like a bad idea. So if we start with less dogs, who has to ride in the truck? Should we take older dogs? Or younger dogs? Leaders? Only 8? Only 10? Only 12? Or an odd number like 9?

2) Teams will run from the start to Braeburn, which is a distance of 100 miles. Once at Braeburn, mushers will load their teams in trucks and drive to Carmacks. Twelve hours after arriving in Braeburn, the teams will leave from Carmacks with their full team of dogs. This will keep teams more or less on the same timeline (for logistical purposes) as if they had run from Braeburn to Carmacks instead of trucking.

Ryne’s Commentary- Excellent. I get to sleep a nice long while after only 100 miles of mushing. But now, how long should we rest on the 100 mile run since we’ll all have 12 hours upon arriving in Braeburn? I’m guessing some teams will try to run it straight, but that seems like a bad idea for the Ryno crew. It’ll be like stage racing! Except for hundreds of miles!

Team camped in Dawson in 2015

3) For the second year in a row, the Dawson City dog yard will be located at Bonanza Road instead of the campground across the Yukon River. The Yukon River is still not safe to cross.

Ryne’s Commentary- We weren’t in Dawson last year, so this will be new. There apparently aren’t trees or things to construct a tent for the dogs. We’ll have to bring that along- note to Derek and Kalyn. Thanks Mom for getting us a hotel room at the hotel right next to the dog yard!

Another speculation bouncing around the mushing gossip circles is the possible effect of the government shutdown on Slaven’s Dog Drop. Slaven’s Roadhouse is located between Eagle and Circle on a stretch of 150 miles without a checkpoint. The Roadhouse is a Park Service cabin and typically staffed by Park Service Employees for the race. The stop is known for its welcoming atmosphere, copious amounts of food, and toasty, warm building after traveling on the Yukon River for 90 miles. Seriously, they normally have a menu of food you can pick from! And while I do tend to think with my stomach, the bigger loss would be the dog drop itself. I love how the Quest has 150-200 mile stretches without a checkpoint, until I realize 80 miles in, someone needs a ride. The prospect of carrying a dog for 70+ miles takes away some of the magic. Or it could be something as simple as hoping a vet can look over a dog during the course of two days of mushing (which is how long it takes to go 150-200 miles). By no means is it a game changer to not have Slaven’s, all I’m saying is that it will be missed! And losing it due to a government shutdown seems rather silly. And me complaining about it seems rather silly too. I’m sure other folks have a lot bigger issues than that!

Overall, I’m thrilled that the Quest is taking action to keep the teams safe. I can’t imagine the volunteer hours that go into the logistics of this race, and then throw in no snow! Phew! Thank you, thank you, thank you Quest volunteers! We can’t wait to hit the trail, wherever it may be.

Ryne's Team Recap

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Even though we’ve changed gears to the Yukon Quest (and drop bags and logistics and vet checks and trail conditions…), I can’t forget to give a report on the all-star canines on my Copper Basin team!

Goblin left, and Cooke right. Photo credit- Emily Rosenblatt

As you recall, our game plan was to run slower and stick to 8.5 to 9 mph and that’s exactly what we did. Phew, that was TOUGH. The trail was perfect. Hard, fast, smooth. The weather was an ideal -20 to 0 degrees. If I took my foot off the break, the dogs wanted to fly. The first leg of the race, I kept thinking we were going slow, only to glance at my GPS and see we were averaging 9.8mph! And the dogs weren’t the only ones who wanted to cruise; I was right there with them. I was ready to ski pole like a maniac and run up all the hills and get after it. But we kept our steady 8.5 to 9 mph pace, and it seems to be paying off. Eleven dogs finished in my team and eleven in Kalyn’s, so there are lots of strong contenders for the Yukon Quest team!

Cooke- WOW. I’m pumped about this youngster. He led 4 of the 5 legs in CB, including the last two. Even though he’s a high burner, he ate well and maintained his weight. He had a stellar attitude. I was tempted to put him in single lead at the end just to highlight his leadership prowess but figured I probably shouldn’t overdo it, especially given it was his first 300 mile race.

Ewok. Photo Credit- Emily Rosenblatt

Ewok- Ewok had a fantastic race. She led from Chisto to Meiers Lake, including over the infamous Hump. She also led the last several miles into the finish. She needs a strong partner when leading because she can lose confidence passing other teams in close quarters, but otherwise she was exceptionally motivated. She ate all her snacks and meals, worked hard, and was a rockstar.

Jana- Jana ran the entire race in swing except for a brief stint in lead from Meiers Lake to Sourdough. Like Ewok, she’d prefer not to lead a pass in close proximity to another team, so most of the race she ran in swing. She devoured all her meals and was always ready to lope out of a checkpoint. As I’d mentioned before the race, her biggest issue is that she works too hard. I was Jana’s personal masseuse and kept her limber and spry.

Goblin- Goblin led the majority of the race with only a couple exceptions. He’s only issue is that he loves the ladies, so having Perm nearby was a bit of a distraction whenever we stopped. Good thing Cooke holds the line out so well! Also, Goblin isn’t big on meat snacks, so I pack an extra kibble baggy for him to eat on the trail. Everyone else devours a chunk of BLT (beef, liver, tripe) but Goblin prefers his dry kibble!

Perm- Perm was flawless. She worked hard, ate everything, and barked to go. Just as importantly, she takes camping very seriously. She’ll lay in the straw until the last second, then jump up and start her high pitch barking. A good camping team was very important, especially for the first checkpoint of Chisto only 30 miles into the race!

Cartel- Cartel did great but was dropped 100 miles in at Meiers Lake. She’d developed a sore shoulder. Given that she has led all four of our Copper Basins up to this point, I was pretty heartbroken to leave her behind. She didn’t seem to mind though. Now she’s back to her sassy, flirty self and was upset when I left her behind on a training run today!

Rucu- Rucu finished the CB looking strong! The slower pace was great for him. He ran with Fenton, and those two combined were a force to reckon with. Rucu loves his food. And his neighbor’s if they’ll let him eat it. I think he might have gained weight on the race.

Fenton- Even though Fenton had the least miles of anyone, he ran a fantastic race. He was probably the slowest on the team, but since we weren’t trying to run fast, he wasn’t really holding us back. Fenton is tough as nails and exceptionally driven. Not that he needed to prove anything, but Fenton is always up for the challenge and showed his enthusiasm on the Copper Basin.

Supai. Photo Credit- Emily Rosenblatt

Supai- Supai was his normal self- perky, feisty, and fiery. He was quick to bark whenever we stopped and definitely tried to pop my hook if he felt I was taking too long. His wrist from earlier in the year is looking good, so I’m hopefully that a slow, steady Copper Basin was exactly what he needed.

Lefty- Lefty was the ace in the hole who I could put in lead if need be, but otherwise I kept him closer to the back. He had a flawless race. If you had met Lefty the morning of the race, and then again shortly after finishing, you’d have no idea he just ran 300 miles on 18 hours of rest.

Yuker- Yuker crushed it. Other than sitting up awake during the first checkpoint (which given the excitement, I couldn’t blame him), Yuker was perfect. He worked hard, didn’t pester anyone, and had a fired-up attitude. He’s such a good boy!

Fish- Fish was the cheerleader. When she felt it was time to go, she’d start screaming and throwing her body into her harness. I was concerned about her maintaining her weight, but she ate ravenously during the race. Assuming all goes well over the next week, Fish has earned herself a spot on the Quest team.

Kalyn's Team Recap

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The team at the start

Crunch – Crunch started the race in lead with Katy. At the starting chute, just as I was about to call “ready!”, Crunch dove into a gaggle of children and I could tell was having a wonderful time. Derek ran up to straighten Crunch out so the children wouldn't be taken out by his enthusiasm when asked to go. I can always count on Crunch to be a goofy, happy cheerleader. He was very driven and did a fantastic job overtaking teams. At the first checkpoint – Red Eagle Lodge – Crunch felt we hadn't run far enough yet and spent his rest time barking at other teams. At all of the following checkpoints Crunch ate and rested very well. Leaving Sourdough, I decided to give Crunch a break from leading and moved him into swing with King Louie. He continued to drive forward from this position. Starting on the last leg, he began to try to bed down if we stopped on the trail but would jump up and lean into his harness when asked “ready?” He finished the race with a wagging tail and smiles all around.

Katy – Katy started the race in lead and remained there the entire race. She passed teams beautifully with enthusiasm and sometimes a little sass – if another team was getting rowdy during a pass, she had no problem barking back at them. Katy ate well and is a pro at resting in checkpoints. She maximized her sleep and was always ready continue down the trail when asked. At one point, we accidentally turned the wrong way down a trail until I saw that the “X” that marks a wrong way had been knocked down. The team had turned down the trail but my sled was still partially in the intersection. I asked Katy to “gee”. She would have to pass the entire team to turn us around. She was hesitant – a little unsure of what I was asking. I called “gee” again. When she turned back and looked down the correct trail I called “good, good! Yes! Gee!”, Katy plunged forward with enthusiasm and brought our team around in the correct direction. We had no tangles, and I didn't even have to get off my sled to turn us. Good girl, Katy!

Boone – Boone spent half of the race in swing with King Louie. She can always be counted on to be a hard and enthusiastic driver. At Sourdough, I switch her into lead with Katy. She stayed in this position until the finish. Due to her constant hard work and enthusiasm, Boone makes a great leader for a team that might be getting a little sleepy. She's not the greatest at lining out, however. On the last leg of the race, if we stopped to snack or fix something in the team, I often found Boone wandering back to me and asking for cuddles. I would have to line her out and then sprint back to my sled yelling “ready!” to keep her up front. Throughout the race, Boone ate exceptionally well and was, unsurprisingly, a fantastic sleeper at checkpoints.

King Louie – Louie spent the entire race in swing. As an up-and-coming leader, I wanted to help boost his confidence being in front of the team without having the mental drain of leading, as this was his first longer race. Louie did a wonderful job in swing, driving consistently and smooth throughout the race. Toward the end of the race, I put a pair of leggings on him to help prevent snow buildup on this legs. This was the first time wearing leggings for Louie and he spent some time trying to shake them off before settling in. Louie acted like an old pro in checkpoints and bedded down to rest very quickly.

Wombat

Wingman – Oh Wingman. Wingman was the class clown of the team. If something silly is happening, you can generally expect Wingman to be involved. He's a great cheerleader and his enthusiasm for running seems never ending. Even when he's tired, he's quick to rouse and get the team going, which is a great help later on in the race. He ate wonderfully and was a little slower to settle down at checkpoints but would eventually rest. I decided to drop Wingman at Point Lodge, the last checkpoint due to a wrong step onto ice that caused one of his wrists to become inflamed. He is a ridiculously hard driver so I figured it was best to let him heal up because that boy doesn't know how to take it easy.

Vanessa – This was Vanessa's first longer race. Vanessa was a strong and consistent puller throughout the first half of the race. Toward the end, her tug started going slack occasionally but she would pick back up and dig in. She ate moderately well at checkpoints – eating most meals – and ate the majority of her trail snacks. A few notes about Vanessa – She hates wearing clothing. While running, she could get over her displeasure. At checkpoints however, she would not move once I put a jacket on her. Once the leggings were put on, she stood stock still with her little legs stuck in different directions. It was as though she had short-circuited a bit. I also have to give Vanessa the best pooper award – She can poop mid-run and not even miss a step. She finished the race pulling hard and with a wagging tail.

Uno – Sometimes when a dog is doing super well; pulling hard but not overworking themselves, not getting distracted, not getting tangled, eating well – they blend into the team. You know they're there, but they're not at the forefront of your mind. You're not worried about them. This was Uno for the entire race. She was exceptional and I was so happy to have her on the team.

Nile – This was Nile's first longer race. He did an amazing job. His tug was always tight, he drove forward hard and ate very well. On the last leg of the race, when some of the dogs were starting to get a little goofy from being a little mentally tired and having new leggings on, Nile remained serious and driven. About 15 miles from the finish, I noticed that his gait changed a bit. I checked him over. He was starting to develop a slight rub from his harness. Moving him to the other side of the gangline relieved the pressure and he resumed his easy trot. Great job, Nile.

CJ – CJ is an old pro. She pulled consistently for much of the race, taking breaks as she felt she needed to. During the second leg of the race, my sled became lodged on a tree that had broken from a previous musher. She was running with Amelia at this time. Amelia's harness broke and CJ somehow managed to clip her tug onto the line, which unclipped her harness. CJ is a playful goofball, often with an air of mischievousness. As I replaced Amelia's harness, I looked around for CJ. She was nowhere in sight and my sled wasn't in the greatest spot. We would definitely be crashed into by another team coming around the icy corner. I hooked Amelia back up and moved the team forward down the trail to a safer spot calling for CJ. I finally saw a white smear racing through the woods. She popped out in front of the team with a look of wild pleasure. It took me a few minutes to convince her to be hooked back into the team. She manged to unclip herself at one of the checkpoints as well. I'm not sure how she does it. Her antics often make me laugh and shake my head. During the last run, CJ took many breaks. She reserved her energy and pulled hard only during the steepest ascents.

Amelia with Nile and Wingman in the background.

Amelia – This was Amelia's first longer race. Amelia is one of those dogs who drives so hard she will overwork herself if I don't make her take a break I never once saw Amelia's tug go slack – uphill, downhill, beginning, middle, or end, she was one of the hardest working members of the team. Nothing seems to phase her, she's so incredible driven and focused. Coming into a checkpoint, she would eat her meal then curl up under a blanket and sleep. Amelia looked awesome coming into the finish.

Wombat – Wombat was similar to Uno during this race – I didn't have to worry about her at all. She was always pulling, always happy, she ate well and was just overall consistently fantastic throughout the race. Great job, Wombat.

Badger – You have to be on your toes with Badger. I call him Boopin' Badger because his enthusiasm often has his muzzle trying to collide with my face as I bootie, harness, unhook, or do anything with him. This was Badger's first longer race. He was a hard working boy for the majority of the race. During the last leg, I noticed that he started to get a little goofy. He was trying to play with his partner, bouncing along the trail boopin' them with his muzzle. I checked to make sure he didn't have any rubs or obvious soreness that was causing him to act silly. I found nothing and gave him a encouraging “good job” pats and we continued down the trail. If he started to act silly again, all I had to do was say his name and he would start focusing again. Badger finished the race strong and happy.

The entire team looked fantastic and happy coming into the finish line. I couldn't be more proud of these dogs. Good job, buddies.

Videos from the Trail

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Race Map for reference

Start to Red Eagle Lodge (Chistochina)- 32 miles

These first three videos are right after the start in Gakona. Normally the Copper Basin starts in Glennallen; however, when the decision was made to set the final race route, there was open water between Glennallen and Gulkana, so the race began in Gulkana, which cut the first leg of the race to 32 miles. In the past, the first section of the race is a flurry of passes and speedy teams, but since our game plan was to travel slower (and we started near the back of the pack), we didn’t have too many passes.

Red Eagle Lodge to Meiers Lake- 68 miles

This section of the trail I ran at night, so I have no videos. In fact, I’ve unfortunately never run this section of trail in the daylight. Chistochina ot Meiers Lake is a 68 mile section of trail where teams cross over the infamous “Hump.” The Hump is a big, bald mountain high above treeline. Even in the dark, you can sense the vastness of the terrain. I can only imagine the grandeur of the landscape on a clear day! Since I always love a good climb, this is probably my second favorite section of trail.

Meiers Lake to Sourdough- 32 miles

This is my favorite section of trail! The trail is narrow with lots of quick twists and turns in thick black spruce. At only 32 miles in length, it's a short fast run and is a refreshing change of pace after the hill workout into Meiers. Since we ran this section in the daylight, I once again have some videos from the trail!

Sourdough to the Point Lodge- 55 miles

This was the first year that Point Lodge was a checkpoint in the Copper Basin; however, for the most part, the route traveled the same trail as in the past. I ran this entire trail in the dark, so once again no videos. The trail was firm, fast and perfect! At the end of the section, we travel across Lake Louise. In a snow storm or at night, it can be very easy to get disoriented on Lake Louise since it’s just one flat, open expanse. Luckily, there were plenty of trail markers- thank you trail crew!

Point Lodge to Finish- 73 miles

Even though we traveled in daylight for the last few hours of this run, I didn’t capture any videos. We had one thing on our mind- to finish! The first part of this section was very similar to the previous section (crossing Lake Louise and on firm, established trails). We then traveled next to the highway for a short while, then turned left onto what I like to call, the Seismic Lines of Death (SLOD). Ok, that’s probably a bit dramatic, but the trail follows exceptionally straight lines for a few hours, which at the end of the race, can feel like you just entered the doldrums. Some mushers swear it’s uphill the whole way. I did check my GPS to see if there was any elevation gain, and it was only probably about 100 feet, but I know the feeling! After mushing through the SLODs, you pop out onto the highway and parallel it all the way to Glennallen. I’ll do individual dog updates, but I have to give a shoutout now to MVD, Cooke! This last run can be mentally taxing for young dogs, especially after taking minimum rest. I wanted to test Cooke by having him run this final leg in lead, and he didn’t just rise to the occasion, he DOMINATED! Ewok, too, led the last 15 miles along the highway, and she was also unfazed. I’m very proud of these young leaders!

A big thank you to Jamie and the Copper Basin trail breakers! It was a brilliant, fun trail this year and super fast! Even the SLODs weren’t too awful :) It’s very unique for mid-distance races to not use sections of trails twice, so thank you to the CB for making it 300 different miles of trail! As always, it’s one of my favorites.

Ryne and Team- 13th, Kalyn and Team- 21st!

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At 12:12, Ryne and crew crossed the Copper Basin finish line in 13th place! The team was led by Cooke and Ewok, followed by Jana and Goblin, Rucu single, Fenton and Perm, Supai and Lefty, Yuker and Fish. They gobbled up fish snacks and a beef/kibble meal then curled up in their boxes to relax for the remainder of the afternoon.

Just a while later, Kalyn and team crossed at 4:30 with cheerful, spunky attitudes. Katy and Boone led the charge followed by Louie and Crunch, Uno and Badger, Nile, CJ and Amelia, Wombat and Vanessa. As you can see from the video, they’re in high spirits!

A big thank you to Saeward for updating the website and social media pages. Thanks to Derek, Bill, and Saeward for your handling duties! Handlers get as little (if not less) sleep than the mushers, but not near as much dog time! We couldn’t run these races without our handling crew! And of course, thank you to the CB volunteers and organizers!

Tomorrow we’ll remain in Glennallen until the finishers banquet tomorrow night. In the meantime, the dogs and humans will relax with some fun time romping around and stretching muscles. I have more video from different legs of the race (daylight permitting) and will write up the individual athlete reports! Thanks to everyone for following. Another Copper Basin in the books!

Crossing a frozen lake between meiers lake and sourdough

Copper Basin Update from the Finish Line

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Ryne has almost reached the finish line! We’re in Glenallen at the finish, waiting for the two Ryno Kennel teams to arrive. Ryne’s team is a few hours ahead of Kalyn’s team, and both are maintaining a steady pace on this final run of over 70 miles.

A few notes from the trail (for those of you also on Facebook, these are the same notes posted there):
- At Sourdough checkpoint, Ryne said that Ewok had done a fantastic job leading the team through some very challenging terrain on the previous run. Ewok was tired from her efforts, so Goblin and Cooke were switched back into lead. Those boys have done a great job as well.
- For many of the younger dogs, this is their first long distance race. They've been doing very well, working hard on the trail, and eating well at checkpoints. We're definitely very happy with their performance so far, and are rooting for them as they finish the race with this last long run. 
- Crunch and Katy led Kalyn's team for the entire first half of the race. Crunch is a young dog as well, and he's done a great job of keeping his team excited. At Sourdough checkpoint, Kalyn gave Crunch a break by moving him back into swing and putting Boone into lead with Katy. 
- I've uploaded an assortment of photos from Meier's Lake and Sourdough checkpoints. We didn't get any at Point Lodge, the final checkpoint, because the teams were there exclusively in the dark. 

- Ryne should be finishing soon, so keep an eye on the tracker!

Ryne thanks Ewok for doing a great job as leader during a tricky section of trail.

Goblin and Cooke led Ryne’s team for a good portion of the race.

Jana and Cooke waking up at the Sourdough Checkpoint.

Snack time!

Copper Basin Update from Meier's Lake

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Hello everyone! The Ryno Kennel handlers have all arrived at the second checkpoint. Ryne and Kalyn are out on the trail right now, speeding through the 68 miles from Chistochina (first checkpoint) to Meier’s Lake (second checkpoint). We’re expecting Ryne in a few hours, but hoping to catch a little sleep yet.

The dogs look great so far. The first run from the start to Chisto was shorter than usual this year due to weather conditions, but the dogs did a good job of resting at the first checkpoint despite not being tired. That having been said, they blasted out of the checkpoint with extreme enthusiasm when they could! This second run will be a lot longer, so they should all be properly ready to rest by the time they arrive here in Meier’s Lake.

I’ve included some photos from the first run and the first checkpoint. Enjoy!

Kalyn arriving in the first checkpoint.

Ryne taking care of her dogs just after arriving at the first checkpoint.

Ryne’s team on the first leg of the race.

Bib Draw

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Hello everyone! This is Saeward posting for Ryno Kennel. We’re settling in for bed in Glenallen, trying to get some sleep before the race start tomorrow. At bib draw tonight, Ryne drew #29 and Kalyn drew #35 (which is the last bib number). You can follow the race trackers on the Copper Basin website. The dogs are totally stoked and we’re looking forward to having some fun times over the next few days!