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Dawson City to Eagle, Alaska
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Overview: Dawson City to Eagle,
Alaska |
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From Eagle to Dawson City is approximately 150 trail miles,
much of it along two rivers. The run naturally divides into
three sections:
1. Dawson City to 40-Mile River
2. 40-Mile River to the Taylor Highway
3. The Taylor Highway to Eagle
Throughout the first two sections of river trail, there are
several detours onto bush trails. Meanwhile, some parts of
the river trail tend to be very rough due to the jumbled ice
conditions. Almost every year there are tales of broken stantions,
broken runners, broken brakes, and/or bruised mushers. The
dogs handle this trail better than their human team members.
The third section of trail follows the Taylor Highway, a
summer road that is left uncleared in the winter. A number
of skidoo treks take place on this highway, so it is well-used
in the winter even though it is technically "closed."
On the final stretch into Eagle, mushers cross the Canada/US
border and move into another time zone at the same time. |
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Dawson City to 40-Mile River |
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Once teams leave their campsites in Dawson, they will be mostly
on their own for about 300 miles, since their handlers cannot
drive to Eagle, Alaska, the next checkpoint. Handlers have to
drive all the way to Circle, Alaska, before they can see their
teams again.
Teams begin this part of the race on the Yukon River. A few
miles out of Dawson, teams will pass by the Han First Nation
village of Moosehide, and the old abandoned site of Fort Reliance.
From there, and for the next 50 miles, the trail stays along
the river. The trail crosses the river numerous times on this
stretch, and mushers can expect to encounter overflow and
some open water. Depending on freeze-up conditions, mushers
may also encounter rough and jumbled ice.
Forty miles out of Dawson, to the North- West is Cassiar
Dome. And below that dome, Cassiar Creek flows into the Yukon
River. Once bustling with mining activities, this region is
now sparsely populated by placer miners and trappers. As mushers
pass Cassiar Creek, they also pass the home of Cor Guimond,
a fisher & trapper who often participates in the Quest.
When he does enter the race, he faces the daunting challenge
of having to drive right past his own dog yard.
Just by Cassiar Creek, the trail goes onto a bush trail for
three miles, then back onto the river. Along this stretch,
mushers can see the Ogilvie Mountains to the North-East. These
mountains are part of the range that you pass through on the
Dempster Highway (the road that goes from Dawson City, Yukon,
to Inuvik, N.W.T.).
A few miles beyond Cassiar Creek, at the confluence of the
40-Mile and Yukon Rivers, some amazing hospitality awaits
the mushers. Shelley & Sebastien live in one of the original
cabins. They have a fish wheel set up in the river and drive
to Dawson by dog team in the winter. Each year, they serve
wonderful stews to all the Quest mushers. Most mushers will
probably stop here for their first rest on the way to Eagle.
Although it may be only 6 or 7 hours out of Dawson, it's hard
to pass up the chance to feast on a home-cooked meal at this
point in the race, even if you are very competitive. |
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40-Mile River to the Taylor Highway |
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Mushers now head west along the 40-Mile River, for about 50
miles. A couple of miles up the river, Clinton Creek flows in
from the north. The river runs parallel to the Top of the World
Highway for a long way, going west. To the south, on the musher’s
left, is Baldy Mountain. To the north is 40-Mile Dome. The 40-Mile
River winds westward past the 40-Mile Dome and then turns northward.
Ten miles or so further, at Liberty, the trail turns off the
river onto the Taylor Highway.
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Taylor Highway to Eagle |
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Leaving Liberty, the trail follows the Taylor Highway for 50
miles into Eagle. A seasonal road, the Taylor Highway is maintained
by the government only in summer months. In spite of that, the
Taylor Highway sees a lot of traffic in winter. Several snow-machine
treks go "over the top of the world" between Dawson
City and Alaska, for example. One trek alone brings 200 visitors
and their machines over that highway.
About half-way along the highway stretch, the trail goes
past Wallcutt Mountain, to the west of the trail. There are
many creeks in this area, with colourful names from the Gold
Rush era – Solomon and Queen of Sheba to name just two.
Following this stretch of the highway, rather than the Yukon
River, is effectively a short cut, since the Yukon River winds
in a south-north direction before heading east-west. Following
the river for the entire distance would add many miles to
the trail!
Twelve miles before reaching Eagle, teams must tackle American
Summit, notorious for high winds and difficult sidehills.
The top of the summit is barren and windswept, with gnarled,
misshapen trees that are often thickly covered with snow.
Weather is often very difficult, and mushers often encounter
white-out conditions.
On American Summit, mushers will find one of the more curious
sights along the trail. On the mountain, close to the Canada-US
border, but in the middle of nowhere, there is a liquor store
– and it’s not a joke, it’s a fully operational
store.
Once over the Summit, teams will drop down onto the Yukon
River and into the town of Eagle, Alaska |
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Frank crossing American
Summit, with Buck on lead (1997).
Notice the sparse vegetation and windswept conditions. |
