The storm
We got out of Mile 101 just in time Sunday night. We decided to head back to town and worry about picking up Rod’s gear in Central and Circle later. Twelvemile Summit was already drifting over at 8:30 p.m. and we could barely see the road markers. Eagle Summit must have been a nightmare.
We wound up spending the night at Chatanika Lodge. When we got home Monday morning, we saw the reports of mushers stranded on Eagle Summit and on the trail to Mile 101. Although Rod’s early exit from the race had nothing to do with the weather, today I’m happy that he quit when he did. Since he got lost in a blizzard on the Tustamena 200 a few years ago and went missing for six days, I worry a bit more about him on the race trail than I would if his race history was unblemished. If he had been out in this storm, I would have been a basket case.
Eagle Summit is more exposed than the Caribou Hills on the Tustumena Trail, and I think it’s the most dangerous part of the Quest Trail. Although the mushers are generally capable of taking care of themselves, a storm like the one that hit Sunday night is a dangerous situation for them and their dogs. Even before the storm hit, the front-runners who crossed Eagle Summit early were saying the trail was scary this year. Those are all very tough, very experienced mushers. I don’t want to see a trail that scares them.
A race veteran asked me today why the Quest doesn’t reroute the trail around the summit, but I don’t think there is a viable trail or they would have done it years ago. Even in gold rush days, the trail from Circle to Fairbanks had to cross Eagle and Twelvemile summits. Maybe if a proposed road from Circle Hot Springs to Chena Hot Springs ever gets off the ground, that could be an alternative, but that’s years away, if it ever happens.
The latest reports are that the National Guard airlifted five mushers and teams off the summit Monday. I applaud the Yukon Quest for getting help so quickly. It seems everyone is OK, too. Snowmachines were heading out to break trail to get the remaining Quest 300 mushers into Mile 101.
I don’t know what the status of the airlifted mushers is. I doubt any of them had enough food for another 24 to 36 hours on the trail. Communications are poor. Mile 101 is basically a couple of mining shacks surrounded by tailing piles at the base of the hills. The only reason it works so well is that there is a team of terrific and dedicated volunteers who put it together. The ham radio operators are the chief communications link there, although the Quest may also have satellite phones.
I hope for good news, when there is any news.