Dave Dalton came into Dawson City just after noon today holding the red lantern position (last place). 
It’s been a remarkable cold race this year. We weren’t sure Dave was okay when he came in. He mushed clear past the check in line, and was sitting on his cooler. It was a long time before he got up, and he never did open up his hood to show his face.
His dogs looked healthy, but tired and frosty.
It was my first chance to get my camera out, between the really cold (below -40) temperatures, and our overnight shifts at the check point, and catching up on sleep during the day.
Other mushers had teams of handlers who greeted them, and checked the dogs and gave them treats but there was nothing for this team. One handler helped guide them away from the shoot after he was checked in and interviewed briefly, but it was really a remarkable difference over earlier teams.
And off they go!
Really impressed with my new camera. It is nearly impossible to get good shots with temperatures like this, with the extreme light on the snow, and the shadows, as the breath is freezing all over my camera and my hands are screaming in cold pain, even with a thin pair of mittens on to feel the focus and shutter buttons.
Update: turns out Dave Dalton isn’t our red lantern! We’ve got another musher coming in now who is still in the race (a mistake led to belief he had called for help and therefore scratched when he had not!)
Discover more from Lisa.blog
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
Evan Decker
Hey Lisa, I just stumbled upon this. I’m one of Dave’s handlers this year. My mother being the other one. I’m not quite sure what previous teams did but I was sticking to Quest rules. Prior to Dave’s official check in handlers are allowed to do nothing but secure the front of the team. We aren’t allowed to help him open his sled bag, greet the dogs, pet the dogs, feed the dogs, or basically anything else. After he checks in were allowed to do almost anything (only in Dawson). After Dave’s official check in I hoped on the sled with him and helped guide them down to the new campsite (it was the first time in Dave’s memory that the campsite wasn’t across the river). His other handler (my mother) was taking the hot meal to said campsite.
As I said, I didn’t witness whatever perfect handler treatment you seem to reference but it sounds a bit like a violation of race rules.
Anyway, glad you enjoy your new camera.
-Evan
Evan Decker
I realize I have a few typos but I have fat fingers on my phone and I can’t figure out how to edit it. Apologies.
Richard A.
Oh man those dogs are cold! All that ice on them and on the musher, wow!