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Eagle, Alaska
- 5th Checkpoint - 610 miles
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 A
very small, extremely remote community, close to the Yukon/Alaska
border, Eagle has no winter access except by air. Officials,
vets and media fly into the community, but team handlers do
not usually get into Eagle. They have little time for such a
trip in any case, since they must drive from Dawson City, back
to Whitehorse, over to Fairbanks and up to Circle City. But
before they can leave Dawson, they have to clean up their campsite.
All in all, there is not much spare time for side trips or even
for rest. |
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 Eagle
City was founded in 1897 and was named after the nesting eagles
on the nearby Eagle Bluff. By 1989, the population had grown
of over 1,700. By 1910, however, the population had dwindled
to 178. The community is still very small, but many of the Gold
Rush era buildings remain.
The area is also the historical home to Han Kutchin Indians.
Prior to the Gold Rush, settlers established a trading station.
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 Eagle
is full of old buildings, many of them maintained or restored
to excellent condition.
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 This
checkpoint in Eagle is set up in the 80-year-old schoolhouse,
and the teams are parked in a nearby field. The room is crowded
and noisy, so it is not the best place to rest. In Eagle, there
is plaque commemorating Roald Amundson and his arctic expedition,
so the community has a long association with distance mushing.
Perhaps because of this historic connection, most of the residents
will help or come out to see the teams -- it's a major event
for them at this time of year. Incidentally, Susan Amundson,
a granddaughter of Roald, has entered the Quest several times.
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