Comments on: Yukon Quest 2017 – The Trail

By: JuanitaM

JuanitaM — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 17:38:22 +0000

🙂 I see.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 21:28:29 +0000

Given his medical history, it was definitely not considered a big possibility, so I doubt any ‘stuff’ was considered necessary.

By: JuanitaM

JuanitaM — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 18:43:31 +0000

Based on friends and family, they do not keep you young Well, it seemed a bit unlikely to me, too, but he must have thought it was a good idea for some reason. After all, these days we have stuff to stop that. :-)

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 02:08:50 +0000

Hugh finished the mandatory at Carmacks and can disappear for a while. The question is – can his puppies sustain the pace? As long as the temps stay low, I think they can, but Brent and Allen probably disagree.

Small children are wonderful when you are an uncle and can leave them after you have them all revved up, but they are not for people with low energy levels. Based on friends and family, they do not keep you young 🙂

By: JuanitaM

JuanitaM — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 01:23:46 +0000

Yeah, I see the graph. Good grief.

It’s 8:17 pm EST, and it looks like Hugh is in the lead again, going about 8 mph.

Didn’t realize that Lance was a father again. I’ve never had children myself (so maybe I don’t understand), but I can’t imagine wanting to start over again at his age. Maybe it will keep him young. Lol.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 04:01:08 +0000

On the live Tracking page that red graph just below the map is actually a side view of the trail showing the climbs. The blue ‘bubbles’ are the teams on the trail. The Quest is anything but flat. Hugh has jumped out to an early lead but it won’t last.

Lance has had circulation problems with his hands which caused a difficult infection. He needs consistent medical attention for the problem, and the lack of circulation would contribute to frostbite on the trail. He also has a new child to enjoy.

By: JuanitaM

JuanitaM — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 01:52:47 +0000

Oh, I get it. They alternate the start location each year, so odd years puts the climb when they are fairly exhausted!

Looking at the winners the past several years, Hugh wins on even numbers. Allen has won both back to back, and Lance Mackey won several years in a row!

Speaking of Lance, he apparently withdrew from the Iditarod this year. Have you heard anything about his health? I can’t imagine anything else stopping him, but I haven’t taken the time to poke around the internet and see if anything comes up about it.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 21:17:04 +0000

You climb 3200 to the top of Eagle, descend 1400 to Mile 101, and then climb back up the 1400 to the top of Rosebud. That is the test of your team in odd years, because it comes at the end of the race.

By: JuanitaM

JuanitaM — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 19:05:22 +0000

I never noticed the steep ascents until you just mentioned them. 3200 feet from Central to Eagle Summit. Dang. Dogs are amazing. I consider it exercise to climb the big hills behind my house.