The Yukon Quest

The Yukon Quest is the Iditarods younger brother. And you know how it is, younger ones often try to prove themselves. The Yukon Quest is probably the toughest sleddograce on earth.

The Quest is about a 1000 miles long just like the Iditarod. In even years the race starts in Fairbanks, Alaska and finishes in Whitehorse, Canada. The odd years it’s the other way around. The Quest is being held in the beginning of February so generally temperatures tend to be a little colder than during the Iditarod. -40°C is very common during the Yukon Quest. The trail follows the course of the majestic Yukon River and a lot of the time you’re mushing on the hazardous riverice. The ice cracks and sings inpredictably, flirting with the mushers nerves. Stretches with overflow make for tricky, uncomfortable miles. Taking a bath in minus 40 isn’t a pleasure and can be life threatening.

Overflow is not the only challenge the Yukon River has to offer. The river can be over 300 feet wide at some points providing no shelter for man or dog. Groundstorms rage through the holes in the mushers clothing chasing away every last piece of humanity. Meanwhile the dogs keep their heads down low, seeking a way through this windswept country with nothing to give them direction but the mushers voice whispering commands through frozen lips.

Sometimes the trail leads away from the river. Cliffs eroded over thousands of years, have to be climbed, another obstacle for man and dog. Some ascents stretch the musher and his dogs’ abilities to the limit.

In the Iditarod you have 23 checkpoints, the Quest only has 9. This makes for long runs without resupplies or help from abroad. For two weeks you leave civilization behind, face to face with Mother Nature.

But the Yukon Quest is not only a frozen hell. Through all the hardship shimmers the beauty of this pure country. Emerging in the landscape is a privilege. It’s going back to the roots of mankind. Getting back in touch with the nomadlife we lived for hundreds of years. It’s surviving and at the same time rediscovering yourself a little more. As you’re covering ground you can make another journey deep inside. You get to meet the darkest corners of your personality. You get a chance to reconcile with them and eventually submerge them.

Mushing there is becoming one, becoming one with yourself, with your dogs, with nature.