Yukon Quest 2011 – Day 14

It is very possible that everyone will be in Fairbanks for the final banquet, as Hank DeBruin and the Siberians can leave Chena Hot Springs in about 2½ hours. It is snowing, but it will be daylight.

Jodi Bailey was the first of the true rookies to finish, this is her first long distance race, while those who arrived before her classified as rookies have been in the Iditarod.

If anyone out there is considering running in the Quest, do it in an even year the first time. It is much easier to face Rosebud and Eagle Summit with a full fresh team than after a week of running on the trail.

Update at 12:10PM CST: Hank has left Chena Hot Springs, everyone is headed into Fairbanks.

Update at 5:36PM CST: Hank is alone on the trail with about 40 miles to go.

Update at 8PM CST: About 25 miles left.

Update at 10:15PM CST: About 15 miles and Festival Fairbanks has set up a web cam on the finish line. [Oops – standard Fairbanks problem, the resources are too limited]

Update at 1:08AM CST: The Red Lantern is out.

At Fairbanks

7 Jodi Bailey (17)^R
8 Mike Ellis (5)
9 David Dalton (23)
10 Tamara Rose (12)^I
11 Kyla Durham (14)^R
12 Jerry Joinson (21)^R
13 Hank DeBruin (19)^IΦ

The Mushers in bold are former winners of the Yukon Quest, the numbers in parentheses are their Bib numbers, the small “I” indicates a Quest rookie who has competed in the Iditarod, and the small “R” indicates a total rookie.

Note: This post will be updated during the day, and the map changed on all posts to reflect the current situation.

All posts on the Yukon Quest can be seen by selecting “Yukon Quest” from the Category box on the right sidebar.