Yukon Quest ( English Yukon Quest ) - an international dog sled race between the cities of Whitehorse territory, Yukon , Canada and Fairbanks , Alaska , USA . The length of the route is 1000 miles (1600 km). Held annually in the month of February. Yukon Quest is often called the most difficult dog sled race in the world. Since 1984, 353 people from 11 countries have taken part in the Yukon Quest, some have performed more than once.
Content
Route
The race is held on frozen rivers, crosses four mountain ranges. The route runs through sparsely populated areas. At this time of the year the temperature usually drops to minus 50 ° C, often a strong icy wind blows. The length of the race track varied from 1,482 km (921 miles) in 2003 to 1,646 km (1,023 miles) in 1998. Start and finish places alternate: in even years a race is held from Fairbanks to Whitehorse, in odd years, on the contrary, from Whitehorse to Fairbanks. On the map, the red circles indicate the control points: Whitehorse , Brabern, Carmax , Pelly Crossing , Dawson City , Eagle , Circle , Central , Tu Rivers and Fairbanks .
The route of the race varies slightly from year to year, depending on the state of ice on the rivers and weather conditions. Also in February (or between January and February) in terms of race distance, the Yukon Arctic Ultra ultramarathon competition is held (in even years the maximum distance is 300 miles in odd miles - 430, i.e. the distance from Whitehorse to Dawson).
History
In April 1983, four young Alaskan people came up with the idea of running a sled dog race between Fairbanks and Whitehorse so that its route coincided with the historic mail and freight delivery route during the Klondike Gold Rush era in the 90s of the 19th century . The rules of the race were developed, ten control points were outlined. There should be no more than 12 dogs in the team, and, during the race, it was forbidden to change them. It was allowed to take 11 kg of food for each dog (a total of 136 kg) per stage from one control point to another. The entry fee was $ 500. The race was called Yukon Quest.
The first race in 1984 was attended by 26 teams. The victory was won by Sony Lindner (Sonny Lindner).
Since 2000, in addition to the main 1000 mile race, two shorter races have been held - the Junior Yukon Quest and the Yukon Quest 300. The Junior Yukon Quest is a competition of mushers aged 14 to 18 years. The length of the route is less - 135 miles (217 km). Start and finish always take place in Fairbanks. Yukon Quest 300 is a 300 mile (483 km) race along the main 1000 mile race. The Yukon Quest 300 also changes the start and finish location, as well as the main race, and is intended as a race for less experienced mushers. It is a qualifying race for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and for the next year's Yukon Quest.
Achievements
The four-time winner of the Yukon Quest is Lance Mackey . The fastest time of the winner was set by Hans Gatt in 2010 - 9 days and 26 minutes, which also became a four-time winner. The slowest time of the winner was shown by T. Halvorsen in 1988 - 20 days, 8 hours and 29 minutes. In 2000, Aliy Zirkle became the first woman to win the race with a result of 10 days, 22 hours and 57 minutes.
Yukon Quest Winners
| Year | Cayur | Origin | A country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Sonya Lindner | Delta Junction , Alaska | USA |
| 1985 | Joe Ryunyan | Tanana , Alaska | USA |
| 1986 | Bruce johnson | Atlin british columbia | Canada |
| 1987 | Bill cotter | Nenana , Alaska | USA |
| 1988 | Dave Monson | Manly Hot Springs , Alaska | USA |
| 1989 | Jeff king | Denali Park , Alaska | USA |
| 1990 | Vern Halter | Trapper Creek , Alaska | USA |
| 1991 | Charlie boulding | Manly Hot Springs , Alaska | USA |
| 1992 | John Chandelmeier | Paxon , Alaska | USA |
| 1993 | Charlie boulding | Manly Hot Springs , Alaska | USA |
| 1994 | Leaven Barve | Vasilla , Alaska | USA |
| 1995 | Frank Turner | Whitehorse , Yukon | Canada |
| 1996 | John Chandelmeier | Paxon , Alaska | USA |
| 1997 | Rick Mackey | Nenana , Alaska | USA |
| 1998 | Bruce Lee | Denali Park , Alaska | USA |
| 1999 | Ramie brooks | Fairbanks , Alaska | USA |
| 2000 | Aliy Zirkle | Tu Rivers , Alaska | USA |
| 2001 | Tim Osmar | Klam Gulch , Alaska | USA |
| 2002 | Nance Gatt | Atlin british columbia | Canada |
| 2003 | Nance Gatt | Atlin british columbia | Canada |
| 2004 | Nance Gatt | Atlin british columbia | Canada |
| 2005 | Lance mackey | Fox , Alaska | USA |
| 2006 | Lance mackey | Fox , Alaska | USA |
| 2007 | Lance mackey | Fox , Alaska | USA |
| 2008 | Lance mackey | Fox , Alaska | USA |
| 2009 | Sebastian Schnulle | Whitehorse , Yukon | Canada |
| 2010 | Nance Gatt | Atlin british columbia | Canada |
See also
Links
- Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yukon Quest