The trail for 2007 runs 100 kilometres along actual historic gold rush trails through gorgeous mountains and over frozen rivers. 

The 25th, I am busy getting everything ready and having a meetup with all the other mushers and packing up the truck.

The first official day of the event I will be going  40 kilometres with my team of 8 dogs to the checkpoint at the site of an overnight campout. First thing in the morning however, I get sworn in as an official Canadian postal carrier. ("Kid" and my friend "E" are too, though they only run the last day). We have a community dinner this night. I am not sure what I am taking yet to contribute to the meal. It is always fun and "Kid" and I take our flashlights as the community hall is run on a generator and it went out several times last year. We must be self-sufficient and prepared for winter camping…..in past years the overnight temperature has been -30C and that was my first experience with sleeping outside in the winter. I have run this section a couple times, but due to my injury of a fractured back last year, I declined to do this section in 2006.  

The second day is trail is a distance of  25 kilometres and it is nearly all uphill. This was my most brutal day last year and the reason I lost most of all the toenails on my feet as I had only been walking 3-4 months when I did this. Courage or stupidity to do this last year? I am not sure. . It took me 6 hours to do this stretch with a team of 4 dogs last year and I had been told it was the easiest day. They were SO wrong. The day starts out with a picnic breakfast at 7 am and last year it was weird (and not weird) with 50-60 of us sitting out at the picnic tables in a blizzard eating our pancakes, eggs and sausage. It had started a heavy snow around 2am as I heard it coming down on the tent and it never let up. Any traces of track from the teams that passed me on this day last year were gone within minutes. This section of the trail is different as it follows a series of interconnected trails and logging roads to a resort where we have a marvelous banquet and awards that night. In the afternoon there are contests for mushers and their dogs including a lead dog contest, a weight pull as well as a skijoring clinic and demonstration. Then there is the crazy but fun "Triathlon" which includes snowshoeing, building a fire, making bannock and tea as well as a few other dying arts. This contest is judged and bribing the judges can be part of the rules. The intent is to offer the public some insight into the world of sled dogs and the general public are invited to come to watch the dog teams.

The third day begins on Sunday morning with a pancake breakfast, then we have to truck the dogs 10 miles, as there is not a good safe trail between this camp and the trail head. Then we get to go through the most gorgeous country and it is my favorite section of the trail. It is also the most historic. We get to run the dogs through alot of ghost towns from the 1860's, though they are covered in ALOT of snow at this time of year, so if you don't know, you would not even guess the history you and your dogs are going through.  The remains of old trapper and gold mining cabins do show up every few miles now and again. This section is 25 kilometres. There are lots of hills and tight turns on this sections as well as a couple of creek crossings. This also took me 6 hours to complete last year. This section my friend from Washington State is mushing with me this year. I am breaking my team of 8 into two teams of 4, and she is driving her sled and I am driving mine. By the way, none of this is a race, we are carrying real mail which will be put back into the regular postal service when we get done with the next "race". It is just a fun event for the whole family. 

That said above about this event not being a race, though most of this is not a race, just a family event, the last 9 kilometres IS a race. It is very much like the KeyStone Cops. We take a break after the morning part of the run and we rest and feed the dogs. You can have your dogs already harnessed, but not hooked up to your sled. When the horn sounds, you race to get your dogs hooked up, grab your mail bag/s find a passenger and toss them into your sled and Goooooooooooo!!! This is a fun race for teams of three to six dogs. "E" and I will be running 4 dogs each, though "Kid" will be my driver and I the passenger. This event is open to all participants, dog teams, skiers, skijorers, snowshoers and even cyclists. Every participant contributes a prize and the "Race" will end at the parking lot 9 kilometers away, where dog trucks will be waiting, prizes will be awarded, and the mail will be turned over to Canada Post. Last year I was the last one to come in.. it was horrible to 'wade' through the thigh deep powdery snow. When I (we) got done, I went to sit in the middle of all my dogs (and was pretty much in tears from emotion and exhaustion) and hug them to pieces and thanked them for all their hard work and dedication for getting us through. 

The trail is beautiful but tough! This event used to be a qualifier for the Iditarod.  The starting elevation is approximately 970 metres (3,182 feet above sea level) and up to about 1200 metres (4,000 feet above sea level). Most of the route runs through forest, some of it is on logging roads...some of the roads may be ploughed, some aren't.  I must plan my equipment carefully, bring snacks for the dogs, dishes to water them, booties if any of the dogs need them and first aide for them as well and all the camping gear and food needed for cold weather camping for 4 of us.. At all times, I  have to carry in my wool Army pants .. matches & lighter, a knife, a disposable survival blanket in case I loose the dogs and sled (it happens to all of us eventually-though it tends to be my passengers which are the culprit *L*). It is not uncommon for the temperatures to be -20C and on some years, it has been -40C during this weekend. Basic safety equipment is valuable and even if you don't use it, your sled will look cool! At all times, I have to have on my on sled..  an axe, change of clothing, suitable warm-weather parka and footwear,  a sleeping bag, emergency food and water, food and feeding equipment for dogs, a headlight and batteries, extra dog equipment for repairs (or if something breaks) and a first aid kit for self and dogs and snowshoes.  

My dogs this year are "Tess" (12 yrs old and my best leader), "Tasha" (5- leader in training), "Soda"(4), "Taku" (4 - sister to "Soda"), "Sirius" (borrowed from Amy- 1 yr old farm dog), "Bulldog" ("Kid's farm dog- almost 2 yrs old), "Scout" (Wheel dog 12-14 yrs old) and "Dutch" (2 yrs old and also a wheel dog). Yes, we are a motley crew. But they are a good team with great heart.