End of 2010 Race updates

Asha - "awww do I have to do Freight Pull again, I wanna Reach for the Sky and try on a Yukon Brewing T-shirt, c'm'ooon"

Alpine Vet Race Day - race on - Jon packed the trail this evening and more snow is falling. The drag moved most of the skijor-damaging cobbles out of the way at the affectionally known "Abyss" section (don't worry, you don't go into it...unless you really want to...and you are mad) and he'll be running 9 dogs along it tomorrow. You'll see how successful that was on Sunday by counting the bruises. We welcome Gene Ennis back as Race Marshall, so don't even think of arguing. We are still under the DPSAY banner (just) so you do have to join DPSAY if you are not a member - a snip at a mere $15 membership fee. Cash from Alpine Vet for positions 1-5 in the Twister, Pet Dog, and Kid's Races - but never fear, most of the merchandise prizes for all the other positions are worth more than your entry fee and you get a block of Icy Waters Arctic Charr Heads and Racks dog food for finishing! Thanks in advance to Mike & Jessica Simon for being trail volunteers!

Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer Poker Run - Matthieu Renner is the first Mt Mac loop trail blazer tomorrow, followed by Jon on Tuesday - therefore race is ON, Dec 5th - FREE ENTRY (cos DPSAY didn't get their act together to get a Gambling Licence), 30 places, Gennesseee Keeevill just beat Harvey Van Patten to sign up first, followed by Peter Fleck (Hugh Neff dogs) and Ray Zaidan (running Snowpigs), so 26 places left - apply via the comments section! - Air North $400 Flight Certs; Yukon Brewing $300 cash; Hot Hounds $550 cash up for grabs to be split amongst the 3 best poker hands! 4-12 dog teams.

First Mate Freight Pull - Dec 5th - bring your Lightweights, Mediums (Asha will be there), and Monsters (hi Puck!) (Heavyweights) to win First Mate Dog Food, whilst the mushers are climbing 2,000 feet up Mt Mac to try on a T-shirt at the top!

OSCAR'S ELECTRIC RACE DAY - 19th Dec, 2nd CH Twister of the season Sleds 2-5, skis 2-3 dogs, with guest jockey Engineer (apprentice) Eilidh Lucas running the Snowpigs sled!

SNOW! 5" fall on Copper Haul today

Race trail looking good for Sunday - definitely good for sleds (6 dog sled team ran it this afternoon), still one small rocky section for skijorers - but you can take off your skis and canicross that 50m! Keep checking for trail updates.

Anyone want to bring a snowmachine out and pack it? Or shall we race "au naturale'?

Aurora Booties - Can You Help?

Cindy Carey of Aurora Booties has solidly supported with a significant amount of merchandise prizes the CHT since its start four seasons ago, and also four seasons of summer Hot Hounds racing.

Last year, Cindy was the victim of a horrific road accident and was unable to work, ie make booties, collars, dog jackets, fur and leather work - and now the insurance company is playing the tune of "well, how do you know you lost any earnings, who was going to buy your stuff last year, and how much were they going to buy?"

So, if you placed, or were even planning to place, an order with Cindy last year, please email her at aurorabooties@northwestel.net reminding her what you were going to order - it's the least we can do for such a staunch supporter!

Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer Poker Run + First Mate Freight Pull 2010

Josh Clark of Air North confirms $400 of Gift Certificates! + Yukon Brewing Confirms $300 cash - just waiting for DPSAY confirmation of cash from Hot Hounds races to finalise purse.

Race Date either Dec 5th or 19th, tbc depending on snow conditions

First Mate Extreme Dog Food have supplied 720lb for the Freight Pull Purse, held on the same day as the Poker Run.

CHT Trail Report

Nov 11th - another inch fell today and the 10.5 mile race loop looks better. Snowpigs' 2 x 5 dog teams ventured onto the 18.5 mile loop to Sima and found it passable, with slight roughness right at the end, and although worn, armour was not required. Jon was reminded that unlike in skijoring, where your team remains attached to you at all times, this is not the case in sledding. Consequently messing around behind the sled during a break is not recommended as when the hook is popped you have further to run to catch up - Jon can sprint when he has to...apparently.

Oh yes, black saloon EXE 73, please don't drive on the Trans Canada Trail and park on the Mt Mac Rd -it's against City By-Law and damages the trail, and to the owners of the light turquoise SUV that nearly ran the leaders down on the Mt Mac rd - get out and walk, it's non-motorised at this time of year.

Merry training

Copper Haul Trail report

Snowpigs sent two 5 dog sled teams from Icy Waters Ltd to the Mt Mac Road and back, 11 miles (so 10.5 from the start line) - Snow not deep but fine for a small team and sled, you can even get the hook in. Not yet passable for skijorers (even Jon won't try it), as three short stretches do have some rock/iced gravel showing, and needs another couple of inches of snow.

The new gates on the trail at the start line should prevent too much motorised trail vandalism this year, and they pose little problem if you are starting in the parking area there, however if approaching from the other side of Fish Lake rd and going towards Mt Sima exercise extreme caution on the approach, there is a way round on the right but it is flanked by hard concrete blocks and the camber for easy balancing is all wrong.

Merry training!

CHT Org

CHT Race Events (provisional) till Jan 1 2011

Asha says "It's time to rock n roll!"

(photo, Laura Jane Lucas)

Mark your calendars for:

Sunday Nov 21st, 10am mushers meeting - Alpine Vet Copper Haul Twister

10.5 mile, 2-4 dog sled/2-3 dog skijor; 5km Kids Race 2-4 dog sled/2 dog skijor; 5km 1 Pet Dog race

Sunday Dec 5th, 10am mushers meeting, Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer Poker Run

From Icy Waters Ltd, 22 miles up n over Mt Mac (2000 ft climb - enjoy) and back to Icy Waters Ltd, 4-12 dogs, 4 hour time limit

Sunday Dec 5th, 11.30am - FIRST MATE FREIGHT PULL, Icy Waters Ltd

Sunday Dec 19th, 10am mushers meeting - Oscar's Electric Copper Haul Twister

10.5 mile, 2-5 dog sled/2-3 dog skijor; 5km Kids Race 2-4 dog sled/2 dog skijor; 5km 1 Pet Dog race

All events meet at Icy Waters Ltd/Eagles Eye Estates, km 4.2 Fish Lake rd, Whitehorse

CHT Org