Chocolate Claim Race Day - Sun Dec 6th - Looking good

Meet 10 am Icy Waters Ltd -

5km 1 pet dog - race on skis, run, bike, or simply take your dog for a walk for a chance of Pet Dog glory - and some crisp cash of course;

5km Kid's race - 2-4 dogs for sleds, 2-3 for skis;

and the new and twistily improved CHT 8 mile adult race with 2-5 dogs for sleds and 2-3 for skijorers.

Cash from the Chocolate Claim, goodies from Yukon Brewing, Yukon Ag Association, Icy Waters Ltd, Midnightsun Alpacas, Drury's Elk farm, Yukon Grain Farm, First Mate Dog Food, and Yukon Honda.

and.....don't forget the

It's a poker run - speed is not important, so long as you can complete the 22 miles in 4 hours (that's 5.5mph) and collect the cards, you've got a chance to win all that luverly cash and Air North flight certificates - and we have applied for a Gambling Licence, so we're legal (honest), and there is a $20 entry fee!

First Mate Extreme Freight Pull Competion also on the 13th - details to follow

November Pooper Scoop

Alpine Vet
8-mile Twister
Out on the trail, things always look a little different than at the musher's meeting. Here's why.
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In case the squiggle on the whiteboard looks daunting, the CHT committee festooned the forest with flagging. If the mass of orange streamers are on your left, go that way. On the right - gee.





Jon's odd drawing of a moose (top, centre) marks nighttime sightings. Mushers are reminded to be alert for wildlife on the trail. This curious coyote watched five teams pass.














With nine volunteers for the season opener, the 18 teams that started in near perfect conditions had little trouble finding their way to the Whitehorse War Eagle Pit landfill. And, with the raven flock alarm at the dump, everyone had their ears up and eyes open at the live electric fence. In the final loop, Janet Keller was one of many to call out, "way more fun than last year!"


Judging from race results, the new course with its tight corners and hills, should level out the imbalance between skis and sleds. Above, Jonathan Lucas demonstrates the Greenland Fan formation.





Although there aren't many opportunities for head-on passing on this route, a few teams found a chance.

Skijorer Darryl Sheepway found the 8 mile trail more challenging than last year's 12. Watch him in the clip below, as he paces Kyla Johnson:

5-k Pet Class
Pippa Lawson and Tiramisu were true sports of the trail when they went out after winning the 5 k to give Leanne Kormos' dog, Pongo, a reason to pull her GT. Watch Pongo "lay chase" here:






5-k Kids Class
Grateful as mushers and teams are to be off the truck track terror, kids and pets ran the standard 5 k course. Although Louve Tweddell won the first meet of the season, her sister Lori earned the Iron Musher when her team tangled with Louve's, then ripped the sled out of her grasp. Undaunted Lori ran down the trail to where a volunteer had snagged the runaways and held them down.






The Chocolate Claim Race Day is set for Sunday, December 6 at 10 a.m. To volunteer for a reward of human-grade arctic char, and also qualify for league standing, meet at Icy Waters Ltd., Km 4 Fish Lake Road. Win cool prizes from our traditional sponsors Yukon Brewing, Midnight Sun Alpacas, First Mate Dog Food, Yukon Agriculture Association, and Aurora Booties, as well as goodies supplied by our new sponsors Drury Elk Farm, Yukon Honda, and Yukon Grain Farm.

posted by
yukonwriter@lycos.com

Chocolate Claim Race Day - Sun Dec 6th

Yes, it's 2-5 dogs for the sleds, and 2-3 for skis - the sleds' chance for victory!!

and...we welcome Drury Elk Farms, Yukon Honda, and Yukon Grain Farm as merchandise sponsors of the CHT - what an opportunity - racing for eggs, elk, potatoes, beer, skidoo oil etc, alpaca socks, fish, dog food - race enough times and you won't have to go shopping! Alternatively, simply forget all that training and racing and just go shopping from the sponsors, laze on the couch, watch the telly, look at the cold outside through the window by the hot stove (and that's enough disincentivising from Snowpigs, thank you - ed)

RR100 (beep beep) Sponsorflash 2!!

Arctic Backhoe and CKRW join RR100 sponsors!

Use these companies when you have the opportunity!

RR100 (beep beep) Sponsorflash!!

WHITEHORSE MOTORS puts in $1000 to RR100 purse.

With $1000 from Icy Waters already in the purse we're at $2000 and growing

Thank-you WHITEHORSE MOTORS - buy a Ford, you know they're good, and they didn't take a bail-out!

The Official Alpine Vet Race Day results

Race photos courtesy of Nikolai - thanks Nikolai!!


Marcelle Fressinau racing towards her prize of half a doz fresh free range eggs from Grizzly Pigs Farm...ironic that she has a flock of 40 chickens....

Luc Tweddell rides the brake pad down the final hill, not yet knowing that his daughters have already won him 6 tasty Yukon Brewing T shirts due to a unique set of circumstances!

Alexandra Rochat and team calmly enjoy the run. Good to see some booties in use.

"Grizzly! Grizzly! Get Luckas, he's up there! Charge! Gettim Gettim!" - an uncompetitive and relaxed Darryl Sheepway skijors calmly through the woods
An intensely concentrating Wendy Morrison exhibits a perfect snowplough behind her airborne team
"Uh-Oh! Bluto! Bluto! straight out, stay Oooouuut!" as Jon Lucas's Snowpigs "arrowhead" formation starts to resemble a pre-crash three dog fan

Crispin Studer "Now, I'm sure I put a sandwich in here somewhere"

The new, and twistier, Twister 8 mile course was thoroughly enjoyed by 18 teams - 11 sled teams and 7 skijor teams. The skijor teams won on both the number of falls, and each fall's individual technical difficulty (as in " how do people bend like that and not break?"), but more importantly 3 skijorers finished in the top 5. This is not too surprising, as the sleds were limited to 4 dogs, just one more than the skis.

Next race may be a different picture as the sleds increase to 5 dogs, and the skis stay at 3.

A pleasant day at around -15'c, with some cloud and occasional light snow, just covering a hard, often narrow, well packed trail that wound through the trees from Icy Waters Ltd up above the old War Eagle Pit, before an excellent one mile glide downhill with just one corner to upset all the male skijorers before a sharp left hander along the new dump fence and about 10,000 dog distracting Ravens to the end loop and a return run along the cut line before more woods and a delightful sidehill downhill before the inevitable climb back to the finish line. 17 teams followed the trail marking and volunteers; erm, 1 team confused some trail marking and did a shorter course, but everyone got back safely, some didn't get any bruises!

Jon Lucas showed he isn't ready to give up the trophy just yet, posting a 2 minute lead over second place Luc Tweddell. Luc put on fresh runner plastic immediately before the race, and Crispin Studer is sure that's how Luc beat him into third by 1 second. Expect to see more of Trevor Braun, finishing in 4th, as he's moved a lot closer than Braeburn where he was based last year, and Darryll "Wheeze, cough, splutter, I am so out of shape" Sheepway finished in the points to take 5th.

Kyla Boivin showed there was little between her A and B teams, as she finished 6th, with guest monkey Kyla Johnson bringing the B team in 7th just 1 min 46s later and ahead of Fabian "Leon" Schmitz (recipient of the incredibly warm Midnight Sun Alpaca socks - most excellent stocking stuffers for Christmas - see the RM to order, and your loved ones' toes need never be cold again) who pushed (well not literally) skijoring Linda Lewis (who drove in all the way from Destruction Bay - and presumably back after the race - what dedication! As she had to leave early, she said "give my prize to the Kids race" - She wasn't to know, but it was some glass packaged Yukon Brewing T shirts) into 9th. Alexandria Rochat was 10th in 37:51, 9 seconds ahead of Moe Boksa of "Moe Better Kennels" (presumably that isn't referring to speed), who finished 54 seconds ahead of unfortunate Cynthia Corriveau who short circuited the course and earned herself a 10 minute penalty from the understanding, yet formidably firm, RM. (Cynthia though really had her day made for her when the random allocation of prizes assigned her the YAA T-shirt as a prize, it was XXXL, she can't even use it as a nightshirt - she might get lost in there! ... erm ... as well). Marcelle Fressinau came in lucky 13th, although not as lucky as Olivier Peligry who's 14th pace landed him 6 smaller sized refreshing glass wrapped T shirts. Deb Knight, in her inaugural Twister landed 15th, 30s ahead of Claudia Wickert, herself 13 minutes ahead of Wendy Morrison and 21 mins ahead of Red (well, miniature sandy coloured) Lantern winner Janet Keller and her freightpulling Siberians.

The Kids race was a sisterly battle between Lori and Louve Tweddell, Louve won, as Lori lost her sled, but the real winnner was Dad Luc, who picked up Linda Lewis' generous donation to the Kids race.

Newcomer Tiramasu pulled skate skier Pippa Lawson to victory in the Pet Dog, with Asha ("Why do we do this? I get lots more treats and you get better prizes in freight pull - you'll have to ski faster if you want to win, this is just tedious") the Rottie and Jon Lucas taking second and Leanne Kormos working very hard with Pongo and a GT racer in third.

Results at a glance

8 mile CHT

all 4 dog sled unless otherwise stated

1--Jon Lucas - Snowpigs - Bluto - 3 dog skis - 28.50

2--Luc Tweddell - Echoes - Hotshot & Goose - 30.54

3--Crispin Studer - no name - Banshee & Storck - 30.55

4--Trevor Braun - no name - Shipton & Bella - 3 dog skis - 33.06

5--Darryll Sheepway - Smokin' Paws - Polar & Grizzly - 3 dog skis - 33.30

6--Kyla Boivin - Doggone Racing - Pebble & Chaos - 34.10

7--Kyla Johnson - Doggone Racing - Posee & Kanga - 35.56

8--Fabian Schmitz - no name - Hydro & Swamp - 36.37

9--Linda Lewis - Chettyna - Naghay & Dlua - 2 dog skis - 37.41

10--Alexandra Rochat - no name - BigBear & Suomi - 37.51

11--Moe Boksa - Moe Better - Tux & Velvet - 38.00

12--Cynthia Corriveau - no name - Nahanni & Raven - 2 dog skis - 38.54

13--Marcelle Fresinau - Alayuk Adventure - Jade - 40.00

14--Olivier Peligry - Alayuk Adventure - Apache - 42.00

15--Deb Knight - Jesaris - Willow & Vegus - 43.50

16--Claudia Wickert - no name - Maddy & Klein - 2 dog skis - 47.00

17--Wendy Morrison - The Zoo - Wilson & Dude - 2 dog skis - 60.00

18--Janet Keller - Grizzly Blizzard - Ringo & Kuzma - 68.00

5km Kids' Race

1--Louve Tweddell - Echoes - Tayo & Minto - 18.55

2--Lori Tweddell - Echoes - Ozzy & Phantom - 26.35

5km Pet Dog Race

1--Tiramasu - Pippa Lawson - Tiramasu - skis - 13.56

2--Asha - Jon Lucas - Snowpigs - skis - 17.37

3--Pongo - Leanne Kormos - Doggone Racing - 39.00

Many thanks to all the volunteers, it's not possible without you, please come back for the Dec 6th Chocolate Claim Race Day; the Reach For the Sky and Take the Beer Poker Run and First Mate Extreme Freight Pull, both on the 13th Dec.

Also thanks to Yukon Brewing, Alpine Vet, Icy Waters Ltd, Midnight Sun Alpacas, Grizzly Pigs Farm, First Mate Dog Foods, Yukon Agriculture Assocn and Aurora Booties for all the prizes!

See you all on Dec 6th!! 10am, Icy Waters Ltd. Sleds 2-5 dogs, Skis 2-3 dogs.

Race Results are IN

Jon Lucas is unable to update due to his fine internet service that goes wonky when the weather gets kooky, so here they are. The results come via Dave Demarais (who also has different, but similarly wonky internet service tonight) to the cozy cabin full of dogs here at Chaos Kennels. No internet problems 70km out of town! Ha!

So here we go!

18 teams turned out for the main race, what a great turn out for Race #1!! Apparently the new hilly and twisty trail was a big hit and even more enjoyable for spectators and trail volunteers. 2 teams entered the kids race, and 3 in the pet dog for a grand total of 23 teams! Complete results to follow when Jon-the-race-guru is back online. :)

Kids - 5km

1. Louve Twedell
2. Lauri Twedell

Pet dog - 5km

1. Pippa Lawson - -Tiramasu
2. Jon - Asha
3. Leanne Kormos - Ponjo

Main Event - 8-mile race

1. Johnny F. Luckas: 28:50
2. Luc Twedell: 30:54
3. Crispin Studer: 30:55
4. Trevor Braun: 33:06
5. Darryl Sheepway: 33:30

Alpine Vet Race is ON!!!

Trail was good and ski friendly last night; to be packed (again)/checked and flagged tonight.

Temp prediction : between -14 and -19.

Bring potluck stuff (oh, and dogs and sleds, skis etc), and see you all at 10.00 Sunday.

Trail Report - Thursday 19th Nov

8 mile skijored with 3 dogs tonight: S-L-I-C-K, well packed and good fun.

Due to Yukon Electric Co Ltd Ploughing the first 400m of the trail, special rules apply for Sunday:

all sleds must have drag/pad brake

use of claw brake in first and final 400m prohibited - there isn't enough snow cover for it to work anyway.

See you all Sunday!

Snow, Snow, and some more....snow!

Eight Mile trail shaping up nicely, with good packing. Intrepid ATVs and 4 x 4 trucks are having a very selfish (but thoroughly enjoyable, I'm sure, for their drivers) time carving up both this and the CHT Kid's and Pet Dog Loop, but presently the snow is soft amd moist enough to be continually repacked by snowmachine and adapted pallet.

If anyone wants to help pack, and get to know the course, call Jon at 667 4138.

It's all go for the funtastic:

ALPINE VET RACE DAY, Sunday 22nd Nov

8 Mile, Twister, Sleds 2-4 dogs, Skis 2-3 dogs, Age 14+

5km Kids, Sleds 2 -4 dogs, Skis 2-3 dogs, Age 5-13

5km 1 Pet Dog, 1 erm Pet dog, anything goes (unmotorised :) )

Meet - 10am Icy Waters Ltd, Km 4.2 Fish Lake Rd, Whitehorse; Dog Truck parking - usual place at the MacIntyre Marsh Gazebo lookout. $10 entry fee, each race.

Race Marshall - Carolynne Campbell - the Race Marshall only needs the one rule: The RM can make up any rule at any time for any occurance and backdate it to 5 minutes before the occurance took place - everyone be nice to the Race Officials and Volunteers.

Volunteers always needed and appreciated - Arctic Charr fillets as a thank-you, and of course a chance to win a delicious glass wrapped packet of 6 mouth watering T-shirts from Yukon Brewing.

Next races

- Dec 6th : Chocolate Claim Race Day

- Dec 13th : Reach For the Sky and Take the Beer: Air North, Yukon Brewing, and Hot Hounds' Hill Climbin' Poker Run. Purse $1200; and at the same location -

- Dec 13th : First Mate Extreme Freight Pull: 36 Bags First Mate Extreme up for grabs!

Happy training...or happy tumbling into the rocky bits you Snowpigs!

New route! CHT breaks new ground!

The CHT Org has changed the direction of the CHT - now we will be riding West (no, not into the sunset, we're starting at 10am - don't forget). Parking area, and meeting place is the same - the MacIntyre Marsh lookout and Icy Waters Ltd - but we will be starting on the other side , just like we do for Yukon Brewing and Air North's Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer Poker Run.

This is a far more "interesting" trail - climbing a bit up Haekel Hill, then turning off through the woods onto the Trans Canada Trail, then gently climbing on a narrower section of the Copper Haul till some short steep climbing to get above the old dump (with a marvellous view I might add - and that's what's important in a sprinty race), before about a 1 mile downhill glide with some real fun turns ending at a (relatively wide) 90' left (that's "haw" or "HAW! HAAAAW!" for all you dogs reading this - Ivy, Loki) turn at the new dump fence (it's electric, don't touch, or touch and re-energise - look at the thrills the CHT Org finds for you!), then it's off towards Trails North, but we turn and loop back before reaching there, running back along the new dump fence with some super head on passing opportunities before diving (the operative word) back into the woods for some twists and turns before re-emerging on Copper Haul above Icy Waters and there's simply a gentle sidehill swoop down and gentle rise back to the start/finish line - and its only 8 miles! 8 smiles of fun trail :)

Seriously: it's been packed, it sees very few trucks, it's narrower, twistier, and has a a much better view than the relatively boring wide Copper Haul we used to run on, and Jon's skijored it with 3 dogs and only fell over a bit - but then that's to be expected. Additionally C & C Dirt and Gravel havn't locked a giant metal gate across it, like thay have on the funnest part of the old CHT trail.

Annnnd, the first race is just 4 dogs for sledders, if you have a brake pad you'll love it. If you don't, it'll be really fun for any spectators!

So - park as usual, meet as usual, please volunteer as usual (with Arctic Charr thank-yous as usual), then run the new unusual trail:

ALPINE VET RACE DAY, Sunday 22nd Nov, 10 am Icy Waters Ltd, $10 entry fee. 8 Mile CHTwister sleds 2-4 dogs, skis 2-3 dogs; 5km Pet Dog, and 5 km Kids Races same route as the past 3 seasons.

Remember the Pot Luck round the firepit - see you there!

Glory Hounds

Give your dogs all the credit - I'll be posting monthly Pooper Scoops again this season, including photos and video clips. Send pix and poop to yukonwriter@lycos.com . I'll be somewhere around the pyramids.

After the race, I'll be signing From Ice to Ashes for the winners of the Hot Hounds finale, among others. I remember Janet Keller and Darryl Sheepway each won a copy, but I forget who the others were. Cash in your voucher on the 22nd.

See you at the SHINY NEW GATE.
Jessica Simon

posted by yukonwriter

SEASON 4 - RACE DAY ONE - ALPINE VET RACE DAY

The snow is here, it's being packed, and whilst there has been some terraforming at the 12 mile turnaround (no drop-kick turn anymore - oh I can sense the disappointment), the season is ready to roll...or sled...or ski.

ALPINE VET have kindly put up the cash prizes for the top 5 positions in the 12 mile CHT, the 5km 1 pet dog, and the 5 km kid's race; other merchandise prizes have been donated by Aurora Booties, Yukon Brewing, First Mate Dog Food, and Icy Waters Ltd. Please note although every competitor will receive a block of dog food from Icy Waters Ltd, the organisers cannot guarantee a prize for every place - if that's the case the available prizes will be randomly allocated to finishing positions before the bib draw. We do have some environmentally friendly Red Lanterns for the 12 mile this year though!

Still, at $10 entry fee (which goes back to those top 5 places), held at $10 these past 3 seasons, and a $5 block of dog food, it's still just $5 for a race and a chance to win some superb merchandise or cash - if you've been training (which lardy Snowpigs havn't, having put on 9lb lying on a beach for two weeks in late Oct.)

So, get out there and get training, especially those Snow(Beer)pigs and meet at the socially acceptable time of 10.00 am, Sunday 22nd November at Icy Waters Ltd - park as usual at the Gazebo at the MacIntyre Marsh lookout and walk down. Please be on time, bring stuff for a potluck whilst we wait for the results, and, oh yes, don't forget the skis, sleds etc and 2-4 dogs for sleds, and 2-3 dogs for skijorers in the 12 mile CHT - don't worry, you sledder monkeys get more dogs later in the season; one pet dog race - erm, bring one pet dog; and the kids 2-4 dogs for sleds and 2-3 for skijorers.

See you there, 10.00am (note that please, Kyla, Janet, you know who you are : ) ) Icy Waters Ltd, Sunday Nov 22nd

FIRST MATE does it again!!

Today the CHT Org received confirmation that First Mate will again Sponsor the FIRST MATE EXTREME FREIGHT PULL in December. 36 bags of First Mate Extreme are up for grabs for the best pullers across the light, medium, and heavy weight categories.

In the last two years, for the December and Summer Freightpulls, and CHT League, First Mate have donated almost 4 tonnes of dog food!

It's good stuff - as Asha the Rottie will tell you! and available year round at Duffy's Pets and Tanzilla Harness Supply.

So, let's get training. Sunday Dec 13th is the date - whilst those mushers are climbing 2000+ feet in their "Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer" Poker Run (purse $1200), the freightpullers and their incredibly hard working monkeys (as if they do any of the work!) will be competing for First Mate's most excellent EXTREME Dog Food!