Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer RULE CHANGE

Time to complete course extended to 4 (FOUR) hours

4-6 dog teams will start leaving at 11am (no exceptions - if you don't think your dogs will enjoy being passed take 'em in the Twister a few times, after 15 or so passes per race they'll soon be used to it), 7+ dog teams to leave directly after. 2 minute intervals

Jon and Laura rode their "Iron Dog" over the course with a GPS today and started flagging - orange and green, like last year. It is 23 miles, and climbs 1900', and then descends 1900'. Snow better than last year and no ice up to Jackson Lake. YECL reservoir (Head Pond No.1) track just off Haekel Hill road looks like YECL napalmed it - all brush has gone, trail is a ploughed depression in the ground - it has snow and it is smooth so no real problem, just a bit of a visual shock.

Here's some trail views - loverly

Laura Jane Lucas and Iron Dog at 4500' at the "Top". looking back to Fish Lake and where you are all going to climb up from

"The Far Side" - start of the descent back to the Copper Haul trail

Half way up from Fish Lake

Skijoring in the CHT

Photos thanks to Dave Desmarais at the drop kick corner: Wobbling skijorers make the turn without falling over! Skijorers dominated the H Coyne & Sons Twister finishing 1st and 3rd (have you heard that enough yet) - never fear, you sledders and Drew Spicer ("I don't think it's fair to have skijorers in there, I'd have been second without them") you get an extra dog for a 5 dog team at the Oscar's Electric on Dec 21st. whilst the skijorers stay at 3 (or 2 in Jon's case, cos that's his kennel this season)

Twelve places left!

The starting grid fills up for the Yukon Brewing, Air North, and Hot Hounds Dryland Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer poker-ish race with Trevor Braun, and Luc Twedell (signing up 2 teams) registering today.

Luc will have a drag mat this year, after the course and his wild dogs ripped his claw brake off last year. Luc then had a steep descent or two back to the start line with 10 detached tug-lines and two dogs actually pulling, and no brake apart from the rapidly wearing heels of his boots.

Trail is in better condition now, than at race time last year and still three weeks to go.

Twelve (12) places left!!

Don't forget the First Mate Freight Pull, meeting at 11.30am the same day, whilst all teh fitness fanatics are sloggin' up the hills. 

Oscar's Electric Race Day Sun Dec 21st

Second Race Day in the League, Oscar's Electric, has 3-5 dogs for sleds and 2-3 for skis.

Firepit will again be roaring thanks to a generous donation of firewood from Debbie and Fred Last. 

Debbie, who has never been last in the Twister, is however looking forward to a chance to win the mini-palm sized lantern (no-one said it was red) for the Oscar's race.

Remember it's a pot-luck so bring something to munch and share.

Air North, Yukon Brewing, Hot Hounds Dryland "Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer: Poker (ish) run

is 

FREE

Yehaa!!! Entry still limited to 25 teams, and  no. 10 signed up this afternoon, so 15 free entrant places left.

No cost mushing for an $1100 purse

Race the CHT Org's races, 

where all the cool dogs go

No gambling licence applied for, entrance fee $0; skill testing question on disclaimer. Meet at 10.00am sharp, Icy Waters Ltd, Sunday 14th Dec.

Race Marshmallow Brian McDougall, Asst Race Marshmallows Gene Ennis & Mel Bedard

Retroactive Rule applies - RM/ARM  can create any rule at any time and backdate it to 5 mins before any incident occured

Air North, Yukon Brewing, Hot Hounds Dryland "Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer: Poker (ish) run

Crispin Studer confirms!!

16 places left and counting!!

Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer participant list filling up

Confirmed list  for Sunday 14th 22miler up and over Mt Mac:

Genessee Keevil

Harvey Van Patten

Maren Bradley

Pierre Duc

Laura Jane Lucas

Ray Zaidan

Colin Morrison

Simi Morrison

This leaves 17 places available - it might be free, can you afford to miss $400 and a $100 Air North certificate? let alone your Yukon Brewing T Shirt at the summit!!

Whitehorse Army Cadet Corps 2685 have kindly agreed to come out and man the start line, Jackson Lake and Copper Haul card pick-ups; Pierre from Sunshine Valley Ranch today confirmed their card-drop, and Mike Simon will be up at 4400' with a snowmachine, cards, and a cooler full of Yukon Brewing T shirts - if it's cold he might have worn them all before you get up there so no slouching up that 2200 feet!!

As per Copper Haul Twister, the retroactive rule applies in this race

At 11.30 on the same day we have the First Mate Extreme 1 tonne freight pull at Icy Waters Ltd. First Freight Pull of the season and we'll see who's been training!!

Pooper Scoop

Michelle Phillips cruising round the corners

12-Mile Copper Haul

A look at the official times of this month's Copper Haul doesn't tell the story volunteers saw at the back of the trail. Terraforming has turned the gravel pits into gravel pyramids that pinch the turnaround loop into a figure eight, a corner of which has a knarly drop with a left leaning camber in a right hand turn - Jonathan's drop-kick corner.

Third place finisher Darrell Sheepway broke trail for everyone in the first race of the season, without falling in the Killer Korner, wobbly though it was. Drew Spicer won fourth place in time but first in style; team and driver in perfect harmony. And then came Jonathan Lucas, who won $80 for falling all over the trail and tangling up the mid-pack mushers behind him. Even Lee Kirkpatrick's attempt at misdirection couldn't keep him from first place.

Victim of the tangle, Yukon News sports musher Ian Stewart would have finished five minutes ahead of news writer Genesee Keevil, if he didn't have to wait for the ruedel of teams to clear. Only Marine Gastard found advantage when her team scooted past the knot to chase the first free team.

Kirstie Falkevitch won the Lucky 13 bag of FirstMate feed, and Alexie Ducastle won the red lantern, for which we now have a palm-sized red lantern award.

above: Genesee Keevil's wheel dog smiles for the camera

below: Linda Lewis enjoys a ski on a sunny morning

Kids 5 km Twister
Although Keegan Hopkins and Jeff Diment's teams sprinted around the five k in good form, Erin Spicer took first, with a team that stormed the barricade in the final loop. Fourth place finisher Haley McCloud wins toughest racer for her tumble on the trail.

top: Haley McCloud nears the final bend

bottom: Keegan Hopkins takes a turn

Pet Dog 5 km

Asha won $25, for dragging Jonathan's bruised butt around the course in under 20 minutes. Jonathan won the red lantern for falling 100 yards from the finish line, giving Asha a chance to flop down for a snow bath. Somebody please give them competition next month.

posted by Jessica Simon

H. Coyne Race Day Official Finishes

12-Mile Twister

all 4 dog sleds except as noted

1. Jonathan Lucas, 2 dog skis 56:45
2. Kyla Boivin 59:14
3. Darrel Sheepway, 3 dog skis 59:47
4. Drew Spicer 1:03:30
5. Maren Bradley 1:03:31
6. Katie Young 1:06:05
7. Michelle Phillips 1:08:09
8. Linda Lewis, 2 dog skis 1:08:53
9. Marie Claude Leroux 1:10:06
10. Marine Gastard 1:10:35
11. Genesee Keevil 1:11:08
12. Ian Stewart 1:12:38
13. Kirstie Falkevitch 1:14:23
14. Kate Weeks 1:16:56
15. Alexie Ducastel 1:34:09

Racers also took home prizes from Aurora Booties, Dazhaw Du ointments, Midnight Sun alpaca boot liners (mmmm, warm) and T-Shirts from Yukon Agriculture Association and Yukon Brewing.

Kids 5 km

1. Erin Spicer 13:51
   
2. Keegan Hopkins 15:01
3. Jeff Diment 16:13
   
4. Haley McCloud 18:45

Pet Dog 5 km

1. Asha 19:46
   

Next month's Copper Haul is December 21, Oscar's Electric Race Day, Registration 9.15am, Musher's Meeting at 9:30 a.m. 

Don't miss Yukon Brewing, Hot Hounds Dryland, and Air North's Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer race up and over Mount MacIntyre on December 14, and First Mate's Freight Pull on Dec 14th also (whilst all the tough people are sloggin up that hill - not me says Jon, me n Asha (well Asha really) are doing the Freight Pull!!

posted by Jessica Simon

H Coyne & Sons Race Day rated "major success"

Beautiful weather, great trail, excellent volunteers and 20 teams heralded the season premiere of the Yukon Brewing Copper Haul Twister League.

Colin and Simi Morrison of Pinocchio Springs kennel tended the firepit and popular simmering Chilli; Race Marshmallow Brian MacDougall, ably assisted by R M/mallow Deputy Gene Ennis and Timer Heather Desmarais kept  everyone in line and things moving smoothly. Out on trail Dave D snagged top photo spot at the drop kick turn, that apparently only Jon Lucas stumbled at, whilst Jessica Simon, Amanda, Stephan, Eilidh, Larissa, Simi, and Lee guided the mushers round the subtly twisted course.

Snowpigs came storming home in two classes:  Flying the Snowpig and the Jolly Roger, Asha the Rottie breezed home 1 st in the Pet Dog (no, actually I am not going to explain that she was the only entrant....), who cares, that was a nice $25 for Jon and 10 points in the bag for the League; in the 12 mile ASSMAN & EMMA charged the course, knocking 4 mins of their previous best training time and took first in the 12 mile dragging hapless Jon "I do know how to skate ski, I think, honest, oops another crash" Lucas, almost 2.5 mins ahead of second placed Kyla "yeah, well, I could have won if my dogs didn't keep stopping to poop, or I hadn't stopped to admire the view so often" Boivin with 4 dogs and a sled, herself just a few seconds ahead of hard-driving Darrell "I'm gonna train very hard now" Sheepway with 3 dogs on skis.

In the kids race "Dogged Pursuit" jockey Erin Spicer took first by just over a minute from Keegan "mine's a Coke" Hopkins, closely followed by Jeff Diment and stalwart Haley McCloud running just 2 dogs.

Great day out for all, plenty of passing, plenty of twisting, plenty of good humour - good mushing fun. Photos and official times to come.

Many thanks to Aurora Booties, Dazhaw Du Chiropractic Clinic, Midnightsun Alpacas, Icy Waters Ltd, First Mate Dogfoods

Trail Report - Saturday 22nd November

Jessica and Mike Simon, Gene Ennis, and Jon Lucas set out the snow fencing and pallet/stake supports on the trail this afternoon. Kyla Boivin flew past on a sled with 16 dogs and a cry of "Beautiful trail, see ya tomorow!" - that about says it all.

All set, looks good, see you all at 9.15am tomorrow!

The Masked Weatherman : RACE IS ON!!

Guest Weatherman shows off large apparatus indicating the temperature is relatively mild, and with no rising or falling temperatures forecasted for the weekend, the H Coyne & Sons Race Day is ON!!

Thank-you anonymous Guest Weatherman for stepping forward, after The Weatherman was inadvertantly delayed in his second job.

Applications for the post of Weatherman may be sent to Race Officials Laura Jane Lucas, Gene Ennis, and Mel Bedard, who will inspect the applicants credentials.

See you all at Icy Waters Ltd, km 4.2 Fish Lake at 9.15am on Sunday!

Snow Is Falling...

...On the hard packed trail. Another 1" fell last night and it's still coming down. Harris Cox of the KSA is grooming on Friday, and Jon and Gene Ennis (Race Marshmallow) are out on Saturday getting the new snowfencing (thank you KCIBR) in place ready for the volunteers to set out on Sunday.

Looking good.

Sadly the Weatherman will be unable to show himself off for this race, however if anyone else wants to send in photos of the temperature, please do so!

Great prizes for H Coyne & Sons Race Day

Apart from the very welcome cash from H Coyne & Sons, split as follows

12 mile CHT

1st - 50

2nd  - 40

3rd - 30

4th - 20

5th - 10

Pet dog and Kid's Race

1st - 25

2nd - 20

3rd - 15

4th - 10

5th - 5

Top five positions also get +20% of respective entry fees of each category,

ie if 20 teams enter the Twister, this is $200, and each of the first 5 positions increase by $40.

Prizes also kindly donated by  - Yukon Brewing: glass wrapped T shirts; Yukon Agricultural Assocn: T shirt (no really, a T shirt); Aurora Booties: Dog Collars; Dazhaw Du Chiropractic Clinic - Traumeel ointments; First Mate  - 1 bag of dog food for the lucky 13th place; and of course every entrant gets a block of heads and racks for their dogs, and every volunteer a couple of Arctic Charr fillets from Icy Waters Ltd.

What a marvellous day out, for $10 - remember the potluck, and bring a bowl and spoon for Simi and Colin's Chilli!

One Tonne First Mate Dog Food Arrives!

First Mate's one tonne of dog food for the Dec 14th Freight Pull has arrived, shipped by Icy Waters Ltd.

Dec 14th all set for a festival of dog sports - they might even be legal if DPSAY can get the Gambling Licence!!

H Coyne & Sons Twister Sunday 23rd Nov

Luxury is assured this Sunday as Colin and Simi of Pinocchios wooden assembly Springs Kennel will ensure the firepit is roaring with Mike Salvisburg's generously donated firewood with a cauldron of simmering chilli - so bring your own bowl and spoon!

Now where is the Weatherman and his amazing photo?

Genessee Keevil FIRST to sign up for Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer

That's right, competition hots up for the remaining 24 places for the second outing of this notorious "poker" run. DPSAY are applying for a gambling licence to make us all legal, otherwise I'll have to refund all your entry fees and you'll have to answer a skill testing mathematical 4 step question - whatever happens, it'll be a larf and three monkeys will be walking (hopefully - naw, it's not that steep - no skijorers allowed though) away with $700 cash and $400 Air North certificates.

Remember it's 22 miles, and 15 of those are up 2000 feet, 3 of them are down 2000 feet and 4 are nice and level.

Email llucas@yknet to register and send a crisp crackly $20 to Jon (for the entry fee, the CHT is incorruptible)

Trail Report - Monday 17th

Jon skijored the 12 mile again and fell over more often  - very very firm. If the public would stop driving wheels over it it would help, but hey, they really pack it down and if the skis can get in a tyre track it's almost like skating on ice (erm just hang on and keep going).

Looking very nice for Sunday - Pinocchios Long Nose Springy Kennel (what a quaint name) - Colin and Simi Morrison are bringing a big pot of Chilli and Colin might not realise it just yet but he is in charge of the firepit with firewood supplied by Mike Salvisburg's "Mike's Firewood" company. It is a potluck day, so please bring some goodies to share around. Coffee as always supplied by Icy Waters Ltd so don't be shy about putting a brew on.

Rumour has it Hans Gatt might be out again on skis - c'mon here's your chance to beat a Quest Champion, although Jon (Wot's a brake, drag pad, hook?)and Assman know they have to battle arch-rival Susie (I swopped my skis for a sled in the Junior Percy) Rogan and "Total Teeth Tundra".

We look forward to the return  of "the Weatherman" on Friday, with the pre-race temperature prediction, and don't anyone argue with Race Marshmallow Gene Ennis (I had a bad night and are you looking at me?).

It's $10, it's fun, why spend $50 on gas to do the Canol road (again...and again... oh yes, and again) come and get some thrills and spills (ah... spills... take note, the new end turn is a sight to behold and Dave D has already bagged the photo opportunity - naw, it's not that bad, Jon keeps falling over there, but that;s cos he expects to - anyway, it's nothing like THE POST - long ago fed into someone's stove, thank you, nameless vandal)

See you all Sunday, at the new, later time of 9.15!!!

Trail Report - Sat Nov 15th

Jon skijored the 12 miles this morning. Very nice, firm trail. A good covering of snow with enough cushioning for the occasional tumble. Trail is back to the Season 1 route (more twisted than last season) and lots of fun.

Please remember this was originally set up as a training race, to accustom the dogs to all the wild and wacky things that can occur, in a friendly and sharing environment, so that we can learn from the experiences in a safe(-ish) situation. You gotta expect novices, people trying new stuff, plus the usual other inputs from the public: that was the point of the race.

Merry training

CHT Org Race Schedule

Sunday 23rd November

H Coyne & Sons Race Day, Yukon Brewing Copper Haul Twister League: 

12 mile sleds 2-4 dogs, skis 2-3; 5km Kids sleds 2-4 dogs, skis 1-2 dogs; 5km 1 Pet Dog

Registration 9.15am Icy Waters Ltd, Km 4.2 Fish Lake Rd

Sunday 14th December

Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer Poker Run - 22 miles, 2000' climb, 2000' descent.

(Sponsors Air North, Yukon Brewing, Hot Hounds Dryland Racing)

4-12 dogs; ENTRY LIMIT OF 25 TEAMS - turn up on the day, or email llucas@yknet.ca to register and pay $20 to Jon at Icy Waters Ltd before Race Day. DPSAY applying for gambling licence - if no licence available entry fee refunded on race day and skill testing question will be added to disclaimer.

Meet 10am at Icy Waters Ltd

First Mate Extreme Freight Pull, meet 11.30am, Icy Waters Ltd. 1 tonne of First Mate Extreme dog food to be won - whilst the energetic souls climb Mt Mac, the freight pullers battle it out at Icy Waters in Lightweight (0-60lbs), Mediumweight (61-100lbs), and Heavyweight (1o0lbs+) classes.

Register on the day at IWL, $20 entry fee.

Sunday 21st December

Oscar's Electric Race Day, Yukon Brewing Copper Haul Twister League:

12 mile sleds 2-5 dogs, skis 2-3; 5km Kids sleds 2-4 dogs, skis 1-2 dogs; 5km 1 Pet Dog

Registration 9.15am Icy Waters Ltd, Km 4.2 Fish Lake Rd

Sunday 24th January

Alpine Vet Race Day, Yukon Brewing Copper Haul Twister League:

12 mile sleds 2-6 dogs, skis 2-4; 5km Kids sleds 2-4 dogs, skis 1-2 dogs; 5km 1 Pet Dog

Registration 9.15am Icy Waters Ltd, Km 4.2 Fish Lake Rd

Feb and March races (Chocolate Claim; Duffy's Pet and Tanzilla Harness Supply; Icy Waters Ltd) date to be determined.

Growler 1-Mile 1-Pet Dog

Gibt mir die Schnauze. Who can resist a clammy black nose? Fabian and Wilson hook up to run.


Asha and Jonathan, who's all ears

Thanks to photographer Stefan Wackerhagen, timers Gene Ennis and Mel Bedard, and race sponsors Icy Waters, Yukon Brewing, Eagle Pack foods, Aurora Booties and Dazhaw Du Chiropractic Clinic. And special thanks to Jonathan and Laura Lucas for organizing a grizzly league!

Growler 1-Mile 1-Sled Dog

Bikejorers Irie and Wendy Morrison. Timers Gene Ennis and Mel Bedard at the Start Line. Go Team!


Dino and Jocelyn

Thanks for the pictures Stefan!

Growler 2-dog 2-Mile Pictures

Dino and Little Otis team up for Jocelyn


Crispin and his magic team - Banshee and Witch

Stefan Wackerhagen photos

Growler Formula One

Pia and Levi lead Dave's 10-dog Formula One team

Cruising through the backwoods. Check out Jonathan's tentacle toque.

photos by Stefan Wackerhagen - Thanks Stefan!

H Coyne and Sons Race Day - Looking Good

Yukon Brewing Copper Haul Twister League

Sunday 23rd November, Icy Waters Ltd, km 4.2 Fish Lake Rd, 

Registration 9.30am, Mushers Meeting 9.45 am, Race Start 11am-ish

1st Race - 12 mile CHT: skijor 2-3 dogs, sleds 2-4 dogs; mushers 14+years

2nd Race - 5 km Kids: skijor 1-2 dogs, sleds 2-4 dogs; mushers 5-13 years

3rd Race - 5km, 1 Pet dog: skijor, sled, run (feet), bike, scooter, whatever, so long as it's not motorised, and the dog is attached to you.

Exiting new "twist" to the CHT trail at the turnaround, watch out for the "pyramids".

Entry Fee all races $10. Cash Prizes from H Coyne & Sons; merchandise from Aurora Booties, Dazhaw Du Chiropractic Clinic, First Mate Dog Food, Yukon Brewing, Icy Waters Ltd.

Trail nice just now (Nov 3rd), watch this space for trail updates; thanks to Klondike Snowmobile Association fro trail grooming.