Mackey wins Quest, despite wrong turn
DAWSON CITY, Yukon—Lance Mackey took a wrong turn Tuesday, but still won the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race.
Mackey won his second consecutive Quest behind his lead dog, Larry, when he crossed the finish at 7:29 p.m. AST with 11 dogs. He became the race’s fourth multiple champion despite being caught by his closest pursuers and taking a wrong turn as he left the last checkpoint early Tuesday morning.
“It was stressful,” Mackey said after he crossed the finish line in this historic gold rush town.
“I still don’t know how I managed it. Until just now I didn’t know if I was first or third or what happened.”
Mackey said he took a wrong turn heading out of Stewart River after his mandatory eight-hour layover earlier, causing a delay that nearly cost him the race.
“When I figured out that we took the wrong trail, I cried like a baby. I thought it was over,” the Kasilof resident said. “But it looks like things turned out OK.”
While Mackey rested eight hours in Stewart River, Hans Gatt and William Kleedehn rested 12 and 13 hours before starting the 100-mile run to Dawson, where the race was forced to finish this year because of poor trail conditions.
Eleven teams remained on the trail to Dawson City. They were traveling over a route that had been reshaped due to low snow conditions. Racers traditionally travel from Dawson City to Pelly Crossing, then on to Carmacks, Braeburn and Whitehorse.
This year, teams turned around in Pelly and covered the 200 miles back to Dawson City. The total route covered about 950 of the intended 1,000 miles.
Other multiple winners of the Quest are Gatt (2002-04), Charlie Boulding (1991, 1993) and John Schandelmeier (1992, 1996).
Dozens of fans, officials and volunteers greeted Mackey at the Yukon River finish line.
“Thank you for supporting our madness,” Mackey said. “Without you guys we wouldn’t have a sport.”