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PUBLIC SERVICE THE YUKON QUEST INTERNATIONAL SLED DOG RACE STARTED ON
FEBRUARY 11, 2001, IN WHITEHORSE, YUKON.  THERE WERE 30 TEAMS AT THE START
LINE WITH 419 DOGS STRAINING TO GET ON THE TRAIL.  THE TRAIL STRETCHES FROM
WHITEHORSE THROUGH YUKON TERRITORY TO FAIRBANKS, ALASKA.  THATS 1023 MILES
OVER WILDERNESS, RIVERS, AND PEAKS RISING TO 3650 FEET.  THE LOGISTICS OF
ONE OF THESE EVENTS IS STAGGERING.  THERE ARE RACE MARSHALS, VETERINARIANS,
CHECKERS, CHECKPOINT MANAGERS, AIR SUPPORT, PICKUPS FOR DROPPED DOGS,
TRAILBREAKERS ON SNOW MACHINES, DOG HANDLERS, COMMUNICATIONS AND A
MULTITUDE OF VOLUNTEERS.  MUSHERS HAVE TO ARRANGE FOR THEIR SUPPLIES TO BE
SHIPPED TO THE CHECKPOINTS.  STRAW BALES ARE SHIPPED TO CHECKPOINTS FOR THE
DOGS TO BED IN, AND FOOD IS ALSO SENT FOR THE INFLUX OF MUSHERS, RACE
OFFICIALS, VETS, FAMILY MEMBERS, TEAM HANDLERS AND MEDIA.  THIS IS AN
INTERNATIONAL EVENT, AND THAT ADDS ADDITIONAL LOGISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS.
THIS YEAR THE TRAIL WAS THE WORST THAT THEY HAD SEEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE
YUKON QUEST, BUT WE HAD REALLY GOOD WEATHER COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN
IN PAST YEARS.  WE DIDNT HAVE SEVERE COLD AND ONLY ONE SNOWSTORM.  THERE
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B BC N9QQB 969 57 17 B AB N9LIA 666 32 18 B ABCD N9MYK 6,600 116 40 Q ABCDE
KA9BXG 2,496 85 24 Q ABD 0 Colorado W6OAL 19,459 181 61 A ABCD 9EFGHI K5GZ
42 7 6 A B N0VSB 22,649 216 71 B ABCDE W0ETT 3,762 82 33 B ABCD Iowa N0SM
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