The
Klondike 300 has been postponed until Monday. From the site:
WE HAVE 18 MUSHERS SIGNED UP. AND WE DISCUSSED WITH THE DOG MUSHERS OF ALL THE OPTIONS WE HAD (AND THERE WEREN'T TO MANY OF THEM). WE DISCUSSED THE TRAIL SITUATION AND THAT PART CAN BE DEALT WITH. THE RIVERS HOWEVER ARE A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY, WHEN I SPOKE WITH RON FROM DESHKA HE SAID IN A FEW HOURS THE 2 INCHES OF OVERFLOW ON THE MAIN TRAILS ON THE RIVER TURNED INTO 4 INCHES IN SEVERAL AREAS. WHEN HE GOT OFF THE PACKED TRAIL 8 INCHES OF WATER. WE LET THE MUSHERS DECIDE ON STARTING ON SUNDAY OR MONDAY AS THE WEATHER IS "PREDICTED" AS COLDER.
THE MAJORITY THOUGHT MONDAY AT 10 AM WOULD BE THE START. PAT PATTERSON AND I PLAN TO RIDE THE RIVER SATURDAY AND SEE FOR OURSELVES WHAT THE SITUATION IS AND HOW TO PROCEED FROM THERE, AND I'LL POST IT HERE ASAP. BEN KLEINENBERG
Mushers signed up for the Klondike 300, in starting order:
1. JESSICA HENDRICKS, TWO RIVERS .AK
2. CARMEN PERZECHINO, STERLING, AK
3. BECCA MOORE, MONTANA CR. AK
4. MATT HAYASHIDA, WILLOW, AK
5. ABBY WEST, TWO RIVERS, AK.
6. RAMY SMITH, WILLOW, AK
7. WADE MARRS, WASILLA, AK
8. LOUIS BISSONNETTE, TWO RIVER, AK
9. JEN SEAVEY, STERLING, AK
10. KRISTY BERINGTRON, KASILOF, AK.
11. RAY REDINGTON JR., WASILLA, AK.
12. CIM SMYTH, BIG LAKE, AK.
13. RYAN REDINGTON, WASILLA, AK.
14. WATTIE DONALD, SCOTLAND
15. STEVE GIEGER, WILLOW, AK.
16. JESSE ROYER, FAIRBANKS, AK.
17. MIKE BARNETT, SCOTLAND
18. DON KADUCE, FAIRBANKS, AK.
It was such a lovely day today I drove up to Willow's Eagle Quest Lodge at Deshka Landing and took a few quick photos of a couple of the teams going through. Nothing fancy, no close-up shots here, and almost as many "interesting tree shots" as sled dog teams. But for what it's worth, here's the slideshow. (Note the link goes to the album; click the slideshow link for the show. You can control the time onscreen, or pause the photos.)
The Klondike 300, originally scheduled for January 17 but delayed by adverse weather conditions, starts at 10 am Saturday, February 7 at the Tug Bar, at the end of the Knik-Goose Bay Road, south of Wasilla, Alaska. The mushers currently entered are, in starting order: Carmen Perezchino, Abby West, Louise Bissonnett, Kristy Berington, Ray Redington Jr., Cym Smyth, Ryan Redington, Steve Geiger, Jessie Royer, Aaron Burmeister, Benedict Beisch, DeeDee Jonrowe, Jim Lanier, Emil Churchin, Lance Mackey, Nancy Yoshida, and Jan Steve. For complete information about the mushers and the race visit the race website.
The race has been delayed by weather conditions - see update at the Klondike 300 site.
