Out of Pelly Crossing

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Though there is some confusion on the Yukon Quest Facebook page, Ryno Kennel headed out of Pelly Crossing just after 11:00 AM, just over 4 hour rest, with 10 super athletes. Elmer’s wrists were a bit sore near Scroggie, so he’s taking a break there and will meet up with the handler crew down the trail!

Torsten Kohnert is booting up now and will be on the trail close behind. Keep an eye on the tracker with us:

https://www.yukonquest.com/race-central/current-standings/live-tracking

GO RYNO TEAM GO!

Traveling Back in Time

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Tonight, the handlers made their way from Dawson City to Pelly Crossing to await Ryne’s team traveling out of the early 1900s. What do we mean by that? It’s currently the year 2020 - as everyone across the globe reminds us - but Ryne and the dogs are traveling back in time. It wasn’t until 1956 that a road was actually built all the way to Dawson City; travel between Pelly Crossing and Dawson City had either been by the Yukon River in the summer and dog sled in the winter. The mushers are truly experiencing what travel was like before modern conveniences.

The team will soon be at Stepping Stone Hospitality Stop, then 36 miles to Pelly Crossing!

THIS WAY TO STEPPING STONE HOSPITALITY STOP!

Leaving Dawson City

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After a wonderful 36 hour rest, the Ryno Kennel Team is back on the Yukon Quest trail. During the rest, while Kalyn took care of our wonderful puppy athletes, Ryne did not budge for one 12 hour period getting much needed rest. But with all cylinders firing this morning, they are excited to get back onto the trail.

This next section, Dawson City to Pelly Crossing, is the longest section between checkpoints on the trail. Plus there is King Solomon’s Dome to tackle. Sleds must contain all the food, supplies, and gear needed with no drop bags available for 210 miles. Go TEAM RYNO!!

One last bit of news I think we failed to post, Smoky was dropped in Eagle due to illness. A bug went through the team with Smoky having the hardest time shaking it; that was why the team stayed extra in Eagle. Ryne had hoped he would shake it quicker, but Smoky ended up being flown out to Dawson and is with the handler team now — feeling great and wishing he was with his buddies on the trail today.

TIME TO WAKE UP!

WARM, DRY COATS


Welcome to Dawson City, YT 2020!

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Ryno Kennel Team pulled into Dawson City, YT at 10:20 PM (PST) last night for their much anticipated 36 hour layover. We had hoped to bring you our on videos from the night, but download times are hours instead of minutes. So please paste the following link (starting at 5:45 minutes) to enjoy the arrival of our amazing team:

https://www.facebook.com/YukonQuest/videos/2203751266588400/

Waiting in Dawson

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While Ryne was making her way out of Alaska and into the Yukon territory, the handlers were making a mad dash just over 900 miles by truck to Dawson City, Yukon Territory to set up a cozy camp for the team’s 36 hour mandatory lay over. At this half way stop, the handlers finally get to help the team while the vets also do a thorough check of the dogs. Ryne will have the option of spending one night in a hotel complete with a shower and cozy bed!

From the Yukon Quest Facebook post:

Before Eagle: When asked about the trail on the river, Allen Moore said "it's hard to tell where to go, the trail has been blown over. So you see a marker, you can kind of guess where the trail was. If you don't guess right, you fall through" into the deep snow of the wind drift.

Ryne Olson's team arrived into Eagle at 03:53 with wagging tails!

It's partly cloudy and about 12 degrees F (-11C) with a light breeze here in Eagle. Beautiful weather for being in a checkpoint! Our amazing volunteers are willing to stand out in -50 degrees F (-45C) with a smile, but +12 degrees F is definitely more relaxing.

Ryne Olson is the 6th team out of Eagle! She hit the trail at 1:50pm with a team of 11 after dropping a dog. Once mushers leave Eagle, it's 18 miles to the top of American Summit. Current trail conditions are "windy and snowy over the top of American Summit. Some sidehill but reasonable snow cover (as of noon on 2/4/20 - Tuesday)". However, Canadian Ranger trailbreaker John Mitchell always says "the only thing constant about the trail is change.”

Setting up camp:

Yukon River in Dawson

The following pictures were from earlier in the race, posted by The Yukon Quest group of incredible photographers on Facebook

Thanks to the wonderful Veterinarians and Race Officials

Trail setters

THANK YOU TO DOT Road crews

Mile 101 Checkpoint

Volunteers of Mile 101

Welcoming to Mile 101!

if you have never had to use a porta-potty in -30 F degree weather, you will not fully appreciate the sheer brilliance of this product of Alaskan engineering. Plastic seat - egads! - level cold; insulation board seat - got almost as many compliments as the bacon.

THE TRACKER!

Leaving Circle