Hello All!

It's dog mushing season again and for some it has been already been hell. 
Note the following:

=======================================================================

"The severe storm that trapped several Yukon Quest and Yukon Quest 300
mushers and their dog teams has passed and all mushers and dogs have been
located.

Late Sunday afternoon, a winter storm descended on the Yukon Quest Trail
bringing high winds and heavy snowfall. The usual 4-5 hour leg between Mile
101 and Central Checkpoint dragged on for several teams, and stopped others
in their tracks. The last team to reach Central before midnight Sunday
reported that Eagle Summit was in white-out conditions.

Just before 7:00 am Monday, one Yukon Quest 300 and one Yukon Quest team
arrived in Central. Brent Sass and Regina Wycoff also brought in Yukon
Quest 300 mushers Randy Chappel, who had lost his team while the three of
them travelled together trying to decend Eagle Summit.

With 5 Yukon Quest and 10 Yukon Quest 300 mushers and the lost dog team
unaccounted for, Yukon Quest officials mounted a ground-based search from
both Central and Mile 101 to learn the whereabouts of all the participants.
When snowmachine drivers reported being unable to reach Eagle Summit due to
the weather conditions at the time, and also reporting not seeing any teams
in motion, Officials called for an air-based search.

Five Yukon Quest teams were located just below Eagle Summit, and helicopter
support personnel were able to air-lift these teams back to Mile 101. At
least two Yukon Quest 300 mushers returned to Mile 101 under their own
power, and over the course of the next several hours five more Yukon Quest
300 teams arrived in Central.

As air-lifts brought the final mushers and dogs off of Eagle Summit and
down to Mile 101, it was confirmed that all participants were OK.

Three Yukon Quest teams were spotted from the air between Angel Creek (the
first checkpoint in the race) and Mile 101. Snowmachine support was
confirmed to be on their way to reach these teams, and to break open the
trail that had been covered over by the storm.

======================================================

The storm may not have been the only problem as several of the Quest
mushers questioned the trail's quality.  However, you will find the party
line at http://www.yukonquest.com.  A more balanced view is available from
http://www.cbc.ca/north.

Take care,

Steven Horn (steven.horn{at}gmail.com)
Moderator, ALASKA_CHAT 
--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+