2007 Yukon Quest

EAGLE — After the leaders of the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race endured temperatures of 40 to 55 below in the Fortymile River area, clouds moved in and temperatures warmed for the next group.

But, the skies have cleared and the weather is turning frigid again.

The temperature in Eagle, where 16 of 22 remaining mushers had arrived Saturday night, was minus 34 at 11 p.m. and overnight lows down to 45 below zero are expected the next two nights.

As if the 1,000-mile race race through the wilderness didn’t have enough challenges, Mother Nature has decided to make it even more so.

On their trips through the Fortymile country, Lance Mackey reported he jumped around through an entire five-hour rest stop in a hopeless attempt to stay warm; William Kleedehn said the mercury dropped to colder than 50 below; and Hans Gatt said his dog team looked like a freight train and his leaders were completely obscured due to the condensation from their breathing.

Brent Sass and Richie Beattie were the last to leave Eagle on Saturday night, mushing past the dramatic bluffs overlooking the Yukon River as the green northern lights sent them on their 160-mile journey to Circle.

Lance Mackey continues to be in command of the Quest, making the run from Eagle to Slaven’s Cabin in 18 hours, 44 minutes, about 2 1/2 hours faster than the same stretch of trail in 2005. He arrived at Slaven’s at 2:58 p.m. Saturday. Hans Gatt leapfrogged into second place, 4:14 behind Mackey and two hours closer than he was leaving Eagle, though that deficit could be distorted depending on where and for how long Gatt rested.

William Kleedehn (8:06 p.m.) and Gerry Willomitzer (8:28 p.m.) were the only other mushers into Slaven’s.

Ten other mushers were en route to Slaven’s, where racers can leave injured or tired dogs in the care of race officials. They were led by Sebastian Schnuelle, Hugh Neff (now with eight dogs), Michelle Phillips and Aaron Burmeister.

Contact staff writer Matias Saari at msaari@newsminer.com.