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Braeburn Lodge Checkpoin -
1st Checkpoint ? 100 miles
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 At
this checkpoint, mushers must take the first of three mandatory
layovers, this one for two hours. Vets will check all the teams
to ensure that the canine athletes are doing well after the
first challenging stretch of trail. This vet check is especially
important for rookies.
By now, mushers will be starting to get into a routine with
their dogs, but they may not be completely settled into the
routine they want. So you may see some mushers struggling
to sort out feeding and dog care activities. In addition,
many dogs will have begun to realize that this is not a training
run, but the real thing. Experienced Quest dogs will be adept
at settling in for a rest at the checkpoint, but younger and
less experienced dogs may find the hustle and bustle of the
checkpoint rather distracting.
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 As
this is the first checkpoint in the race, many teams will arrive
close together – teams won't have started to spread out
yet. Consequently, the dog lot and the lodge will be very crowded.
While race fans can drive to Braeburn and see the teams, there
won't be much chance to visit with mushers. It is important
not to disturb the teams here, as dogs and mushers alike really
need their rest. Race officials cordon off the dog-yard area,
and fans are asked to respect those boundaries. |
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 A
small, popular highway stop, Braeburn Lodge is located halfway
between Whitehorse and Carmacks on the Klondike Highway. Braeburn
is well-known for its dinner-plate-sized cinnamon buns and hamburgers.
Pilots fly into a nearby air strip to pick up the famous buns
and burgers, and Valdy, a British Columbian folk-singer, wrote
a song paying tribute to the famous buns, "Cinnamon Bun
Strip."
The restaurant has only about 10 tables, so there is not
a lot of room. Once race officials and media arrive, Braeburn
is packed and humming. By the time the mushers arrive, the
place is overflowing. |
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