Update: Quest to finish in Dawson City
Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race officials announced Friday the race will finish in Dawson City, Yukon, this year due to awful trail conditions in the final 250 miles from Pelly Crossing to Whitehorse.
This is the fourth time the Quest trail has been altered in its 23 years, though never quite so dramatically. Race Marshall Mike McCowan said the 13 teams remaining in the race will leave Dawson City after the completion of their 36-hour mandatory layovers, travel 200 miles to Pelly Crossing, then return to Dawson City.
The configuration means the race will cover approximately 950 miles.
McCowan made the decision after conferring with mushers, his officials and the Canadian Rangers, who put in the Canadian portion of the trail. Mushers complained of rough trail conditions between Angel Creek and Central this year, but the home stretch was even worse.
“This is the toughest trail I’ve ever been on,” Ranger John Mitchell said.
Leaders in the race will begin filing out of Dawson shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday morning. Nine teams have made it to Dawson and four remain on the 150-mile trail from Eagle to Dawson. Kyla Boivin and Regina Wycoff left Eagle together Thursday night.