EDUCATIONAL

THE 2007 SERUM RUN UPDATES

We will be covering the 2007 Serum
with daily reports stay tuned!

2006 FINISH INTO NOME!!!

At Camp "Nuuk"	Misha crossing Safety Roadhouse	Teams arriving...
Wagon train of teams	Thank you sponsors & friends	Group shot
Arriving into Nome	Loading the dogs onto the Evert's Cargo plane Musher Kurt Jokela & the kids in Kaltag	SPECIAL THANKS TO AP&T/GLOBAL STAR

Listen to Sourdough Pete tell the story of the 1925 Serum Run as he hits Nome
Click Here


ORDER YOUR COMPLETE SET OF THE SOURDOUGH PETE 1925 SERUM RUN CD
CLICK HERE

DAY 20 FRIDAY MARCH 10, 2006 NOME-WARD-BOUND
This is it.... only 18 miles from Nome. Pack'em up & move 'em out for the final push to downtown Nome. Where a crowd of spectators will cheer the group into Nome for their accomplishment! A a dog team & snow machine journey across 768 miles of Alaska's harsh weather, frozen rivers, tundra and sea ice from Nenana to Nome.

Upon arrival to Nome the serum will be handed to the NSHC CEO and mayor of Nome. Local resident Loraine Landers has arranged a "Meet & greet" the Serum Run group where kids can get autographs and talk to the group about their journey. Free fry bread for everyone at the finish. A "End of the trail" banquet will follow.

SARAH & HER NEW PUPPY

Into Safety March 9, 2006
Trail breakers arrived at the "Nuuka" Youth Camp near Safety
at 1 pm Thursday afternoon March 9, 2006. Skies are clear, highs around 5 below. North winds to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

DAY 19 THURSDAY MAR 9
(2nd attempt)
WHITE MOUNTAIN TO SAFETY 55 MILES
  

  KURT JOKELA WHITE MOUNTAIN - 1
 TRAIL BOSS KENT KANTOWSKI AT WHITE MOUNTAIN -2



 Listen to Sourdough Pete tell the story of the 1925 Serum Run as he hits Safety
Click Here

TEAM IN HEADWINDS

This can be one of the most dangerous stretches on the trail when the wind blows or a storm hits. It can make or break travelers. Mushers have nearly died within what would normally be a few hours' easy running to Nome. In reasonable weather, this is a pleasant five- to eight-hour run; in the worst conditions, it can be impassable.

The Serum Run uses the main snowmachine trail to Nome. It is well marked, but inevitably many markers are knocked over or blown down. Some parts have been permanently marked. Markers are absolutely critical for this leg because visibility can be near zero in storms and ground blizzards.

The trail leaves White Mountain on the Fish River for about three miles, and then leaves the river to cut overland to the southwest, crossing low, rolling tundra and several streams before reaching the Klokerblok River. It runs up the river and across some low ridges, and then crosses into the drainage of the Topkok River.

SAFETY ROADHOUSE

The trail then turns west and climbs over a series of barren ridges to a 400-foot saddle just northwest of Topkok Head, overlooking the coast. It then descends sharply to the beach, reaching the Nome Kennel Club shelter cabin at the foot of the hill, 30 miles from White Mountain.

For the next 12 miles the trail runs along or just behind the dune line and the "driftwood line" on the shore. This stretch is wide open and is subject to winds of more than 80 miles an hour from the north, as well as blinding whiteouts. The trail will join the Nome-to-Council road (not plowed in the winter) at the Bonanza Ferry bridge and then follow it for the last 12 miles to Safety.

NOME KENNEL CLUB SHELTER CABIN

Trail conditions on this leg can range from excellent to abysmal, and usually include glare ice, overflow, drifted snow, bare tundra, sand, and exposed gravel on the road. You MUST check the weather carefully before leaving White Mountain; you may want to wait it out, stop at a shelter cabin, or at least convoy with another musher (preferably someone who has run this stretch before).

One consideration is that the wind will most likely die down right after sunrise (if it's going to die down at all), but will probably come back up by noon and continue to blow through the afternoon and evening. In such situations, it is best to ask the locals at White Mountain or call Nome. All other things being equal, try to leave White Mountain about three hours before sunrise, so as to be heading up Topkok to catch any lull in the wind plus have daylight for the worst part of the run.

(MUSHER HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THE NORTON SOUND "NUUK" YOUTH CAMP JUST OUTSIDE OF NOME THE LAST NIGHT ON THE TRAIL)

TRAIL UPDATE:
MARCH 8 - 2:30 PM AST  
The Serum Run has had to return to White Mountain due to high winds and severe wind chills. The people in White Mountain have been wonderful to the group, offering them accomodations for another day at the White Mountain School gym. Thursday morning the Serum Run will head for Safety, camping at the Norton Sound Youth Camp Thursday night and then onto Nome Friday afternoon, weather pending.

Trail Boss Kent Kantowski reports from White Mountain 1pm

Morning report from Kurt Jokela in White Mountain

SAFETY ROADHOUSE

DAY 18 WEDNESDAY MAR 8
WHITE MOUNTAIN TO SAFETY 55 MILES   
SOURDOUGH PETE 1925 SERUM RUN TO SAFETY

This can be one of the most dangerous stretches on the trail when the wind blows or a storm hits. It can make or break travelers. Mushers have nearly died within what would normally be a few hours' easy running to Nome. In reasonable weather, this is a pleasant five- to eight-hour run; in the worst conditions, it can be impassable.

The Serum Run uses the main snowmachine trail to Nome. It is well marked, but inevitably many markers are knocked over or blown down. Some parts have been permanently marked. Markers are absolutely critical for this leg because visibility can be near zero in storms and ground blizzards.

The trail leaves White Mountain on the Fish River for about three miles, and then leaves the river to cut overland to the southwest, crossing low, rolling tundra and several streams before reaching the Klokerblok River. It runs up the river and across some low ridges, and then crosses into the drainage of the Topkok River.

The trail then turns west and climbs over a series of barren ridges to a 400-foot saddle just northwest of Topkok Head, overlooking the coast. It then descends sharply to the beach, reaching the Nome Kennel Club shelter cabin at the foot of the hill, 30 miles from White Mountain.

For the next 12 miles the trail runs along or just behind the dune line and the "driftwood line" on the shore. This stretch is wide open and is subject to winds of more than 80 miles an hour from the north, as well as blinding whiteouts. The trail will join the Nome-to-Council road (not plowed in the winter) at the Bonanza Ferry bridge and then follow it for the last 12 miles to Safety.

Trail conditions on this leg can range from excellent to abysmal, and usually include glare ice, overflow, drifted snow, bare tundra, sand, and exposed gravel on the road. You MUST check the weather carefully before leaving White Mountain; you may want to wait it out, stop at a shelter cabin, or at least convoy with another musher (preferably someone who has run this stretch before).

One consideration is that the wind will most likely die down right after sunrise (if it's going to die down at all), but will probably come back up by noon and continue to blow through the afternoon and evening. In such situations, it is best to ask the locals at White Mountain or call Nome. All other things being equal, try to leave White Mountain about three hours before sunrise, so as to be heading up Topkok to catch any lull in the wind plus have daylight for the worst part of the run.

(MUSHER HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THE NORTON SOUND "NUUK" YOUTH CAMP JUST OUTSIDE OF NOME THE LAST NIGHT ON THE TRAIL)

DAY 17 TUESDAY MAR 7:
LEAVE ELIM TO GOLOVIN (26 Miles) THEN PUSH ON TO WHITE MOUNTAIN
(18 Miles)


ELIM TO GOLOVIN:
This is one of the more interesting legs on the race, with quite a variety of trail and terrain in a very short distance. Moreover, there is always a possibility of two extremely different routes for the first ten miles. Whichever route is taken, the race follows the main snowmachine "highway" from Elim to Golovin and it is usually well marked and packed.

The trail usually heads back out onto the sea ice from Elim and runs a mile or two offshore to a cabin at Walla Walla, on the coast eight miles south of Elim. In some years, when there is open water just offshore, the trail may stay hard up against the cliffbound shore on the fast ice (sea ice that is "fast" to the shore) or may even go overland on the old Elim Mail Trail.

WALLA WALLA CABIN

At Walla Walla, the trail turns inland and climbs over the Kwiktalik Mountains with a series of long, moderately hard grades. The final summit is 1,000 feet at Little McKinley, about eight miles past Walla Walla and ten miles from Golovin. This is considered the hardest climb on the last half of the race.

The trail then makes a fast descent to Golovnin Bay, running northwest along the bay ice for the last five miles to Golovin. (The bay was named for Captain Golovnin of the Imperial Russian Navy in the early 1800s. The bay and lagoon behind the town retain the original spelling; the town's name has been changed over the years.)

Plan on three to four hours for this leg. If the weather is bad, the trip over the mountain can be a long, hard one because it is almost all above timberline and exposed to the wind. The trail over Little McKinley can range from icy and windswept to soft and punchy.

GOLOVIN TO WHITE MOUNTAIN:
This is normally a yawner (unless the wind is blowing or it's snowing). The trail follows the main snowmachine route, running straight as an arrow for ten miles across Golovnin Lagoon, then winding gently around (with some gentle ups and downs) to cross the delta of the Fish River. The last few miles are on the river. There is sometimes overflow on the lagoon or river. Plan on two hours for the trip, perhaps three if the wind is blowing.


MONDAY NIGHT - ELIM AUDIO REPORT by Lee Bolt Click Here

(NOTE: MAP WILL NOT LOAD UNTIL ENTIRE PAGE IS LOADED)

DAY 16 MAR 6 
Koyuk to Elim  
Elim Population 281
Lat / Long: 64.37 N 162.15 W

Todays trip is 48 miles. This leg always seems longer than it is. Plan on five to seven hours, more if the wind is blowing. The trail follows the main snowmachine trail to Elim and is usually well marked. However, the wind can blow hard in the Moses Point area and the trail can drift over very quickly. From Koyuk, the trail runs southwest just offshore on the sea ice for about 12 miles and then cuts inland to the west across the wooded peninsula behind Bald Head, a prominent cape.

DAY 15: KOYUK
Heading to Island Pt. Cabin 15miles then onto Koyuk (across Bay) 28 miles, they are now 597 miles from Nenana.

AUDIO FROM SHAKTOOLIK FROM ALAN PECK
CLICK HERE

There is only one thing to say about this leg--bleak, flat, and deadly monotonous. Locals say the actual distance is under 50 miles, and on a map it seems to be barely over 40, but it always seems like a hundred. There is not so much as a shrub on this stretch, most of which is over the sea ice of Norton Bay. Plan on five to nine hours for the crossing, more if the wind is blowing hard.

DAY 14 SHAKTOOLIK
March 4, 2006
45 Miles
LISTEN TO SOURDOUGH PETE 1925 AT SHATOOLIK PART 1
THE EXCHANGE - PART 2


AUDIO INTERVIEW FROM BARBARA TROST IN UNALAKLEET

The actual distance on this leg is usually about 37 or 38 miles. (As with some other legs, the official distance sometimes reflects the longest possible routing, or old routings.) The trail follows the main snowmachine trail to Shaktoolik. It is normally well traveled and well marked. The first 25 miles cross a mix of woods, taiga, open areas, and exposed ridgetops; the last 12 miles are completely in the open on the barren coastline. This leg usually takes four to six hours, but can be much longer if the weather is bad.

The trail leaves Unalakleet northbound and runs just in from the beach, turning inland after five miles to pass behind rocky 850-foot-high Blueberry Point. It comes almost back to the shore at the fishing camp of Egavik before climbing up the Blueberry Hills, reaching the thousand-foot summit at the 18-mile point. At the top the trail turns west and makes a three-mile drop back to the beach, then follows a slough and the dune line northwestward for the last 12 miles out to Shaktoolik.

The primary concern on this leg is the weather. Shaktoolik is windy even in good weather, but under some conditions the winds can blow from the north at more than hurricane force, with temperatures well below zero and chill factors worse than minus one hundred. If the winds are howling, the trail from Unalakleet to the top of the Blueberry Hills will be relatively sheltered (except on the ridgetops), but the last 12 miles out to Shaktoolik can be extremely difficult with drifts and ground blizzards.

WINDS CAN BE TOUGH

DAY 13: OLD WOMAN TO UNALAKLEET:
March 3, 2006
45 Miles
SOURDOUGH PETE IN
UNALAKLEET 1925 SERUM RUN

As soon as you leave the new Old Woman cabin, the trail will run on the open tundra, staying a mile or two south of the greenbelt along the Unalakleet River. The new mile markers will steadily count up toward Unalakleet, which is Mile 700. You'll cut through some straggly treelines along creeks flowing in from the south, but mostly you're out in the open. This stretch of trail (all the way to Unalakleet) is notorious for wind and drifts and sudden snowstorms. There are also some patches of light overflow and glaciering. Watch carefully for the markings, which are fastened on wooden tripods every few hundred yards.

At night you should be able to pick out the flash of the Unalakleet airport beacon (green, then white), or at least its reflection. As long as you can see the beacon flash, you'll know it's not snowing between you and Unalakleet.


DAY 12: KALTAG TO TRIPOD CABIN TO OLD WOMAN 45 miles
MARCH 2, 2006
      
SOURDOUGH PETE 1925 SERUM RUN KALTAG
You'll leave Kaltag toward the airport (which lies a mile west of town) and then run along the right (north) side of the runway for a mile. The trail then works southwest up the valley of the Kaltag River through woods and occasional open areas, slowly climbing. After about ten miles the trail begins to climb more steeply in places, eventually angling up the south side of the valley to the summit of the portage, 800 feet above sea level and 15 miles from Kaltag. There may be some narrow stretches with some sidehill in the last few miles to the summit, along with a few moderate grades, but normally nothing too serious. This stretch of the trail has been hit increasingly hard by Iron Dog snowmachine racers. In 2000 much of the trail from Kaltag to the summit was badly mogulled and rutted.

KALTAG PORTAGE

Once past the summit you'll drift southwestward along the north side of the valley, slowly descending. The trail will pass through a mix of wooded areas, taiga, and open stretches, occasionally dropping down to cross small streams (all of which should be well frozen). At about the 20 mile point you'll head across a two-mile open area. This is the divide between the Yukon drainage and that of the Unalakleet River. Shortly afterwards you'll enter an area of pothole lakes and the trail will go over what appear to be sand dunes. At 25 miles you'll come out onto a long, gently sloping flat area; this is Tripod Flat.

At the far end of Tripod Flat will be a standard wooden BLM sign pointing to the Tripod Flats cabin, a hundred yards off the trail in the trees on the left. The access trail makes a loop for easy-off, easy-on. The cabin has a good stove and bunks and is open to all comers. If you stop there, just be sure to replenish the firewood before you pull out. (This is basic Bush etiquette--the next person to use the cabin may need fire RIGHT NOW!)

Immediately after the Tripod Flats sign, the trail will cross a bridge over a 12-foot-wide, 6-foot-deep gully with open water. There are no railings on the bridge, so try to stay in the middle. The bridge reportedly collapsed during the 2000 race, but will probably be repaired for 2001. After the bridge the trail runs up and over several ridges in generally open country. You'll notice the Unalakleet River flowing in from the right (north). It will swing southwest and will become the chief river in the portage valley you're following.

The trail will stay on the south side of the river, running across low hills and ridges and dipping down to cross some side creeks and rivers. About five miles after leaving Tripod Flat you'll dip sharply into the treeline of Ten Mile Creek for a quarter mile of tight, twisting trail. Be careful here--you can wreck badly.

A few miles after Ten Mile Creek the trail will run fairly straight along a low bluff close above the Unalakleet River. In this area you'll begin to see Old Woman Mountain, with its distinctive flat top. The trail will slowly work its way down toward the river, where it will swing around the base of a low ridge to the left. Watch for a hundred yards of overflow and glaciered ice up to a couple of feet thick. This can be a tricky area.

OLD WOMAN CABIN

The trail will then start back up over some gentle ridges directly toward Old Woman Mountain. After a few miles of short hills and generally open running, you'll drop onto a series of beaver ponds and looping sloughs of the Old Woman River. After about a mile, the trail will jump sharply left off a slough into the trees--don't miss this turn, because the slough joins Old Woman River just ahead and there is almost always open water at the junction.

Once in the trees, the trail winds tightly for a hundred yards and crosses in front of an old plywood shack. This is the original Old Woman cabin, 15 miles past Tripod Flat and 37 miles from Unalalkeet. It's still usable and has a good stove, although it's a bit the worse for wear and has been mildly trashed over the past few years. If you stop here, make sure you leave something (such as food) for the Old Woman when you leave. You don't want her ghost chasing you to Nome and throwing bad luck your way. TODAY'S AUDIO by musher Lee Thompson talks about "Phil" fixing his sled brake in Galena.



DAY 11:Nulato To Kaltag
March 1, 2006 approx 36 miles
This is another run on the Yukon on a well-traveled snowmachine highway. Plan on three to five hours. The trail passes several well-defined islands and crosses the river a couple of times before finally reaching Kaltag. The Yukon runs south-southwest all the way to Kaltag with no major bends. The right bank of the river will be a series of thousand-foot ridges and hills, with a few gaps for streams to flow into the Yukon. The east bank will generally be low and wooded, opening onto a vast area of swamps to the east.

UPDATE 02/28/06:
Three mushers & one machiner have dropped from the group today. For personal reasons i.e. trail and trip tougher than expected, dogs not up to it or dogs in heat. They are Blake Matray, Sheri Stephens, David & Joanne Klumb. It's a tough decision to make. But if you are thinking about dropping, Galena is a great location to evaulate where you are, how your team is and how things are going for you, logistically it is an easy place to fly out of if you need to drop out. The rest of the group hated to see any of them them drop out but they understood and the Serum Run moved on to Nulato.

Three machiners stayed in Galena awaiting minorrepairs to their snow machines.

Here is a quick audio from Lee Bolt who called to say he was still in Galena this evening. Sarah Rule and Phil Pryzmont were with him. They plan to catch up with the group by midnight tonight near Nulato. Temperatures tonight are expected to be one of the coldest at minus 40 f.
LEE BOLT ~ Galeana talks about the trip



DAY 10: GALENA TO NULATO:
Tuesday Feb 28th, 2006
approx 48 miles.

SOURDOUGH PETE 1925 SERUM RUN

This leg is all on the Yukon River and normally presents no real problems. It is a major snowmachine highway maintained by the locals and is well used all winter. Plan on four to six hours for this run. It can be cold, as can all river runs, and all the usual river hazards can be present, including overflow, rough ice, and open water. When the wind blows, the trail can become obscured very quickly, but it should be well marked. The trail can swing back and forth across the river several times on this leg to cut across bends.

Leaving Galena the river runs generally west. Fifteen miles from Galena the trail passes the fishing camp at Bishop Rock, a prominent landmark on the north bank of the river. Ten miles later it passes the mouth of the Koyukuk River, a major tributary, flowing in from the north, with the village of Koyukuk on the northwest bank. Five miles past Koyukuk the river swings south and the right bank becomes a low range of mountains rising to a thousand feet above the river. Nulato is eleven miles past the big bend to the south, on the right (west) bank.
(reprinted from Don Bowers notes)

DAY 9: No Travel Monday 27 Feb 2006 Serum Run will be spending 2 nights in Galena.

INTO GALENA FOR 2 DAY REST!
AUDIO FROM GALENA by Blake Matray & Mathieu
(MP3) | BLAKE MATRAY | MATHIEU PART 1 | MATHIEU PART 2 |

TEAMS HEAD INTO THE WIND

DAY 8 : ON THE TRAIL - GALENA: Sunday 26 Feb 2006 Ruby To Galena approx. 50 miles
Those sneaky little mushers & snowmachiners mananged to make it to Ruby safely late saturady evening and will shoot for Galena by sundown today. Trails are wind blown and well marked.

Today' Weather:
Snow showers. Additional snow accumulation to 3 inches. Highs around 5 above. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Over hills...winds gusting to 30 mph with low visibility in blowing snow.

INFO : 4th day of travel on the Yukon. Nearing Galena the trail may veer off the river to avoid overflow. It is not uncommon to encounter overflow approaching Galena. You have to cross roads and travel a short distances on roads. Watch for traffic! Snowmachiners should be available as road guards. The plan is to spend two nights in Galena. Meals should be available from the Culinary Arts School. Hot water is available in utility closet of center. Snowmachiners would be helpful in hauling water.

AUDIO UPDATE FROM RUBY
by MUSHER KURT JOKELA CLICK HERE (MP3)

RUBY WEATHERFOR SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Highs 10 to 15. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph.

Okay let's all imagine for a moment, 27 people who haven't had a shower in days, crammed into a one room trapper cabin.
Now smile that you didn't go with them.

TRAIL UPDATE: 12 noon Feb 25th
AUDIO UPDATE from musher Nancy Marty at Trapper Cabin
CLICK HERE


Today's Weather:
Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 3 PM AST this afternoon...
Snow changing to snow showers by mid morning. Snow accumulation 1 to 3 inches. Highs 10 to 20. Southwest winds 15 to 30 mph. Gusts to 40 mph over the hills with poor visibility in snow showers and blowing snow.

TRAIL UPDATE:
9 am Feb 25th, a brief call from team leader, Scott Chesney this morning indicates they are in white out conditions with winds gusting to 40 mph, making traveling hazardous. At this point the group is remaining at Trapper Cabin to wait out the storm. Weather should calm down by 3 pm today and they can resume their travels toward Ruby. We will keep you posted.

DAY 7: TRAIL - RUBY: Saturday 25 Feb 2006 
Trapper Cabin To Ruby Approx. 35 miles. A short day on the trail!
Snow likely. Snow accumulation of 2 inches. Highs 15 to 20.
South winds 10 to 25 mph.
RUBY TRAIL DESCRIPTION FROM 1925 SERUM RUN BY SOURDOUGH PETE:
CLICK HERE

WHAT TO EXPECT IN RUBY: . Ruby dog lot is an open lot across from Community Center. (Possibly school)In the Community Center you will have heat & floor space (Possibly school gym) Plan to cook your own meal or raid the local store. Laundry facility has showers. Water availability at Community Center. DROP BAGS ARE AT THIS CHECK POINT Third day of travel on the Yukon.


TRAPPER CABIN:
Friday 24, February 2006

LATE NIGHT UPDATE: Well folks, it's 11 pm Alaska time. It looks like we are not going to get a call from the gang tonight. That simply means that they are in a area where the single just doesn't pick up. Not to worry. Tomorrow they will arrive in Ruby and if the signal isn't good there on the satellite phone they can call us on a land line.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: Bone Yard Cabin To Trapper Cabin is approx 45 miles. Dog lot will be located in the woods around the cabin. Approach to cabin is through alders. This will be a small cabin and tent camping. Camp cooking. Water availability is by melting snow. Second day of travel on the Yukon River. The cabin is not visible from the river; it sits behind alders on the right bank. The slough downstream of the cabin access often generates overflow at its mouth which can migrate to in front of the cabin area.

TRAPPER CABIN AREA DESCRIPTION FROM 1925 BY SOURDOUGH PETE:
CLICK HERE (NINE MILE CABIN)


INTO BONE YARD CABIN:
Thursday 23 Feb 2006
BONE YARD AREA DESCRIPTION FROM 1925 BY SOURDOUGH PETE:
CLICK HERE

They have all arrived safely at the Bone Yard cabin. White out conditions followed them most of the day. Listen to our audio report for the rest of the story.

AUDIO FROM SCOTT CHESNEY AT BONE YARD:
CLICK HERE (4.36 MP3)


Tanana To Bone Yard Cabin approx. 42 miles. The cabin is located up a steep bank. This is an old cabin with floor space, or tent camping. Camp cooking. Melt Snow for water. The first full day of travel on the Yukon River.

THE GIFT OF QUILTS: Each year the CHETEK LUTHERAN WOMEN OF THE EVAGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AMERICA hand makes quilts for the Serum Run to give to the center at Old Minto.This year they managed to make 20 quilts. The ladies get material scraps from all over, some donated, some they purchase themselves. They works all year round. They work on the squares at home then bring them to their circle meetings and tie and sew the backing and batting. They are already working on next years batch.

THE BLANKET GIRLS - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTOS

MUSHERS & SUPPORT ALL INTO TANANA FEBRUARY 22: Everyone has arrived into Tanana this evening with all their fingers and toes. A great run, with no problems. All smiles after 55 miles in below zero temperatures...what a crazy bunch.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION FROM 1925 BY SOURDOUGH PETE: TANANA (MP3)

AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH SARH RULE
CLICK HERE

AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH SCOTT CHESNEY
MUSHING VS. SNOW MACHINE
CLICK HERE



Tanana which is accessible by air and river transportation. Temperatures have dropped and trails are in good shape for the 55 mile stretch.

Tanana is located about two miles west of the junction of the Tanana and Yukon Rivers, 130 air miles west of Fairbanks. It was a traditional trading settlement for Koyukon and Tanana Athabascans long before European contact. The City of Tanana (population: approximately 345) was incorporated in 1961. It maintains 32 miles of local roads, and operates the State-owned Ralph M. Calhoun Memorial Airport. Cars, trucks, snow machines, ATVs and riverboats are used for local transportation.
MAP

MANLEY HOT SPRINGS

DAY THREE FEB 21: Manley Roadhouse

TODAY'S AUDIO REPORT
FROM MATHIEU BONNIER
| THE TRAIL & THE WEATHER | ALASKA PEOPLE |
| MESSAGE IN FRENCH |
Mathieu is our ski jour friend that has joined the group with his dog "TICO"

Manley Hot Springs is at the end of the Elliott Hwy., 152 miles from Fox. About 100 people live there, along with a handful of dog teams. The village has one hotel, laundromat with showers, a gas station, school (UAF rural adult education classes available), post office, a museum, well house, landfill, and a grocery store. There is also a public campground (several actually, one with boat ramp, covered picnic shelter and playground) near the bridge over Manley Slough, maintained by the Manley Hot Springs Park Association. There is also a maintained airstrip and hangar (a 45 minute flight from Fairbanks).

LISTEN TO SOURDOUGH PETE :
Trail description back in 1925

DAY TWO Feb 20 - Our call today was from Beaver Point Lodge:
Musher Lee Thompson called in joking and in very good spirits, Lee reported that the weather was mild, skies were clear today. The trails are hard pack and teams as well as machiners moved fast. All participants are doing well, machiner Sarah Rule had some damage to her sled, the group was working together to get that fixed. The dogs are looking real good, all the dogs are happy and enthusiastic to be on the trail. Our skijoring friend, Mathieu is also doing very well, arriving in the middle of the pack of mushers today at the Beaver Point lodge.

Next stop - Manley Hot Springs a distance of 45 miles.
LISTEN TO SOURDOUGH PETE :
Manley Hot Springs trail description back in 1925