First musher, Brent Sass, arrives in Dawson City

Brent Sass currently holds first place in the 2016 Yukon Quest, a position that will reward him with 4 ounces of gold if he finishes the race!

Jeff and I helped staff the checkpoint overnight, and then went home for a few hours snooze this morning before Brent arrived in town.

Here are some photos!

Waiting at the check point line

The race started in Fairbanks, Alaska on Saturday. Brent arrived here shortly after noon today (Wednesday), having only rested a few 4 hour blocks. Dawson City is a mandatory 36 hour stop before the teams race on to the finish line in Whitehorse. It is a 1,000 mile race!

We spotted Brent Sass and the team as they came down the hill, and then crossed the Yukon River into town.

Quite a few media personnel are in town, and race officials, and people who come from all around the world to watch, and volunteer.

Each dog team has handlers who race ahead to the next check out to help out. Here they helped guide the team into the shoot towards the line.

The dogs looked so content, and tired. One even had a ride in on the sled!

I get so choked up when a musher walks up and checks all his dogs and thanks them. Tears every time!

Brent’s lead dog suddenly died last month so maybe I’m just a softie.

While at the check point line, the mushers have to show that they have all the mandatory gear (including ax, fuel, sleeping bag, etc). Then the media surrounded him.

“My legs hurt pretty bad”

For the first time, Canadian customs officers won’t let any of the mushers leave the check in until they’ve checked in with customs.

First thing the dogs wanted to do was bite and rip off their booties.

And then sleep 🙂

After 10 minutes, the team was off, back across the river, to their mandatory vet check, then to be bed down with their handlers, and fed.

We’re headed back in a few hours to staff the concession stand, and then Jeff has a shift tonight in the vet tent. Tomorrow night we’re back on over night, and will get to be the volunteers who watch the clock and let the teams go after their 36 hour rest is complete.