Work group hopes to reboot Canada's Yukon Quest

Earlier this month the CBC reported that Canada's Yukon Quest board had disbanded and the race in 2026 would not take place. The reason? Essentially volunteer burnout. 

But today, a band of long-time Quest volunteers announced they were planning a work group to reboot their beloved race - with the hope to make a 1,000mile race fully in Canada. The original message traveled the rounds on facebook in Yukon Quest group pages. 

"THERE IS going to be a Spcial General Meeting of the Yukon Quest on Feb 17 at 6:30 PM at the new Hyatt Place in Whitehorse, in The Yukon Territory," Harry Kern wrote on Facebook. "This meeting will welcome all who are interested in The Yukon Quest, and who wish to know what the heck is happening with this event, and who want to maybe become members, board mermbers, and/or work on a committee."

This post met with almost immediate questions on who was putting this on, how it would work, and all the standard questions trying to vet the information and make sure a scam wasn't in the works. Kern was good to answer questions for much of the morning.

"At present there is no board. They have all resigned. There is now a ‘working committee’ of very dedicated volunteers who have been putting together the pieces required to have a new board of directors in place so that we can plan for another race in 2027," Kern responded to one person's request for information.

Kern encouraged any and all to join the meeting - and pay for a membership to give them voting privaleges. At the Feb 17 meeting they will form an organizing board and committees that will have what Kern says will be a very short term - only until August when they will then hopefully vote a permanent plan and board.

In another comment Kern responded to fans wanting the race to go back to being 1,000 mile race that crosses the Al-Can border. "You cannot plan a thousand mile international race with a thousand volunteers and a million dollar budget and have it sunk by mad cow, covid, or politicians at a ‘whim’," he wrote. "There are opportunities for a thousand miler right here in Canada, and that’s what we aim to do."

As news started to spread there were mushers and fans who were excited and more who were ready to watch with interest but hedged bets. (Sounds like the early 70s and another race.) 

Now, the information appears on the Quest's website and their official social media - giving even more weight to at least the initial plans. Time will tell how far this goes and how successful this work group is.

Meanwhile, the 750 Yukon Quest Alaska is set to start out of Fairbanks on February 7, 2026.

Thoughts on the news out of The Yukon Quest today? Do you think it's possible to right the ship? Comment below!

Dear dog mushing...

I apologize in advance for this rambling mess of thoughts. The last few weeks have been tough. For many the last year has been rough. No matter where you fall on any number of subjects - at least in the US - things have been tough for so many. Emotions are running high. There's emotional burnout happening to hundreds if not thousands of people.

No matter what or why... it's come for us all. 

The last few weeks has been hard for me. My heart has been heavy. I've felt guilty that because of where I live I have the privelege of being physically removed from most of the turmoil. I must not be alone because last week I had many community members (actually the last month or so not just last week) come into where I work and just immediately say ugly, hurtful, angry things. Not a thing to trigger it, it was like people were just walking around raging.

And I was tired. I was spent. I was apathetic.

But because of this sport that I have been on the outskirts of my entire life because of a family committment to a legendary race, neighbors with recreational teams, a college job that had me rubbing elbows with greats (and future greats) in the sport.... I got into this weird fangirl thing of talking about the sport - rambling, just like now, really - online to anyone who would listen. Socials and then blogging. It got me a job for a while, and when that job dried up I missed it and came back to it on my own.

I'm not a musher, never claimed to be and certainly never tried to be. But I'm part of this community. There are different levels to it, sure, but this niche community is so diverse on so many levels. And we each bring something to the table.

That's why when the world is in chaos like it's felt like these last few years, I've at least had the community to nerd out about sled dog races. 

And then this weekend happened. A perfect storm in the world as well in teh sport of dog mushing. Four major races in one weekend is insane. It was impossible to keep up. There was so much excitement. I just wasn't feeling it leading up to it. The only reason I even cared to get blog posts up ahead of the race is I feel an obligation to all of you who take the time to read the blog. It is insane to me that I'm not just talking out into a void and that people don't just expect these posts but they ask for them! It is humbling every stinking time that is brought to my attention. 

So thank you, dog mushing. You gave me a reason to stop doom-scrolling. You got me out of my thoughts. My frustrations. My fear. Living in that 24/7 is not healthy for anyone. Self-care is the only way to combat burn-out of anykind - especially emotional burnout. Apathy is a cancer of the soul. 

The races this weekend were a break that was desperately needed. Reconnecting with fans all over the globe who, like me, love the dogs and the people who run them. Reconnecting with musher "pit crews" who love to give out little tidbits. To mushers who sat the races out but were excited and reached out to chat or to vent or whatever.

This community is like many niche communities, but the diversity means it's anything but boring or predictable. And for that I am thankful - because I've learned and grown so much through this community.

But this is really a thank you for this weekend. This weekend that was sheer chaos of information. Chaos of dogs screaming to GO GO GO! Chaos of trying to keep mushers and races and hashtags straight (which I failed at several times). Chaos of no sleep (good training for tracker watching in March). 

Thank you, dog mushing. For a little while you let me shut all the noise out and to just FEEL again.

Thank you (but please, let's keep these four race weekends to a very low minimum).

Eddie Burke Jr wins the 2026 Knik 200

In a race that started off fast and is finishing just as quickly, Eddie Burke Jr. took a commanding lead from the get go and didn't look back. The man who used to "put money down" on races is now one puts money down on while racing. 

Burke won the race in 2023, running a team from his mentor Aaron Burmeister. The team was the one Burke worked with to learn how to mush and would run his rookie Iditarod with. Eddie would completely catch the bug as success came and he branched off on his own with his own kennel. He would run the Knik the next year with his own team before taking time off in 2025 to rebuild his team and be a "new dad" for the second time. 

Before this year's Knik race the musher took to his socials announcing that his team was pretty young and named several yearlings to his team. There was talk that he would go a bit slower because of their age, most onlookers expecting him to maybe take it easy. However, the trail was hard and fast and ones Eddie and team have been running on as of late. His team looked good - so he let them compete.

And compete they did.

Eddie took off down the trail and dominated most of Saturday. It shocked very few when he was first into the finish.

The Knik whizzed by this weekend with what seems like all teams off the trail (the trackers are glitchy and show mileage number instead of FIN). The award banquet is happening now so official standings and awards won will be announced later Sunday.

Kaiser dethrones King as winningest Kusko musher

Screengrab of video taken by Iditarod Outsider.

As stated in the previous update - in a world of chaos and unknowns one thing has remained constant: if Pete Kaiser is running the Kusko 300 he's most likely going to finish in lead. And finish he did. Peter Kaiser came into the finish chute on the river outside of Bethel Sunday morning winning his record making tenth win.

The record held for years of Jeff King's 9 wins was thought to never be broken. It was the record that helped King proclaim himself the "winningest musher in the world" in the late 90s. King was, well, King of the Kusko. But, as Pete Kaiser won nearly year after year (taking second place just a couple of times in the last 12 years or so) it was obvious that there was something to the magic the hometown hero was brewin'.

Kaiser was welcomed home by a raucous crowd of fans who braved the freezing rain and wind to cheer on history. Peter immediately went to each dog to give pets and kisses to each one before hugging family and friends. The musher snacked his dogs before returning to his sled to have a final gear check and be signed off the trail.

He answered questions by the media, including the ever on everyone's mind question of Iditarod to which he slyly smiled "still undecided". One look at his dogs suggests they could be a formidable team in the thousand mile race, but with Iditarod just about a month away it would seem unlikely that the 2019 Champ will be returning this year.

But Iditarod Outsider hasn't dubbed him "Slippery Pete" for nothing and he could fool us all with a very last minute entry.

There are still twenty-two teams out on the trail with Riley Dyche the next to cross the finish line. A quick peek at the tracker has Dyche about 2.5 miles out. The red lantern is fan favorite Anna Berington who said before the race began she would run a very conservative schedule for her first Kusko, she's about 14 miles away from the final checkpoint and a four hour rest so the race is far from finished.

Catch all the action on the Kusko's official website.

Pete Kaiser first out of Tuluksak

In a world of uncertainty there is a constant. If Pete Kaiser is running the Kusko he will most likely leave the final checkpoint in first place. Kaiser did just that at 5:47am AKST. 

The nine-time champion did as he always does and carefully, methodically, picked off teams one by one Saturday afternoon and into late evening. The team came into the final checkpoint and their mandatory rest a full 17 minutes ahead of the second place team of Riley Dyche.

If you feel a sense of Deja Vu, thats because the two battled it out at the end last year. Difference is this year Riley approached this race in much the same way as Pete. It wasnt full throttle out of the gate. He waited and picked off teams once he hit the inbound trail.

It is not yet a lock for who will cross the finishline first. We've seen the lead be lost in the final stretch. Pete's been here so many times, and it's the trail he grew up on. It will be a tough challenge for Riley - time will tell.

Outbound Pete ran this section in just over five hours. It was a crisp night with no wind at the start. This morning they are hit by wind which could slow some teams down.

Start looking for the champ at about 9:20am AKST.

Michelle Phillips claims the win in the Two Rivers 200

Michelle Phillips and team kicked it into high gear Saturday afternoon to take a commanding lead that only grew as the day wore on. Phillips ran a stellar race this weekend, but really outdid herself in the last leg. It looked like it would be a tight race between Phillips and eventual second place finisher Deke Naakeboren, but late in the day Michelle made a final push that put nearly 8 miles between the teams, and she continued to gain miles on the chase pack.

Deke along with his kennel partner Jonah Bacon led for most of the race, with commanding runs from the very beginning. They maintained their speed for most of the race, but it proved too much once Phillips decided to kick it into race mode.

Teams will continue to finish throughout the night.

Beals rests in Kalskag inbound as chase pack closes in

Travis Beals made a move earlier today when he elected to breeze through Aniak and run straight to Kalskag inbound. The veteran musher stayed just long enough in Aniak to snack his team and grab supplies before continuing down the trail. The team still had three hours of mandatory rest to complete and with his exit in Aniak every musher now knew his strategy - putting miles between his team and theirs before taking a long rest.

Mike Williams Jr. and team have been flying up the trail and were the first into Aniak Saturday. The hometown hero is running a nearly flawless race so far and chose to take the remaining mandatory rest for his team in Aniak. He's currently in the chase pack running third on the tracker, but is really in first as he is the furthest along the trail with all of his rest. It will be interesting to see how long Williams will rest in Kalskag before heading back onto the trail inbound.

Cody Strathe reached Kalskag nearly an hour behind Beals, with 2 hours of mandatory rest in the CP ahead of Strathe and his team of Squids. This puts both Beals and Strathe leaving within minutes of each other. Both teams have had their most recent Kuskos land them in third place (Strathe last year, Beals the year before). Cody won't have a lot of time to chill before other teams make it in. (As this blog is being typed Williams and Dyche came into the CP and left immediately after.)

Emily Robinson and Peter Kaiser should be next in and both have taken their mandatory rest. They are running close together. It's at least a four team race to the Tuluksak inbound checkpoint where every team must complete their final four hours of mandatory rest. Reports on the outbound trail said the trail was "punchy" due to the many "post holes" left by moose punching through the snow as they walk on the trail. Moose sightings have also been reported.

Never a dull moment on the Kusko!

2026 John Beargrease musher roster

(Nothing like waiting until the 11th hour to get this up, but here we are. 4 major races in one weekend is too much of a good thing!)

The John Beargrease Marathon, 120, and 80 mile races are set to take off Sunday morning. After not being able to have their 40th race last year due to lack of snow, everyone has been able to breathe a sigh of relief that the race is on! Of course, most of the Lower 48, including the trails of the Beargrease are dealing with crazy negative temps this weekend, but it seems that things are warming up for the teams tomorrow.

Because this post is so late we're not going to spend a lot of time jibber jabbering. The rosters this year are quite big with a lot of exciting names on each. To get all of the info on the race you'll want to check the race's official website and facebook page. They normally throw one heck of a party for the start, so make sure your computer is ready for more livefeeds (if you aren't already bogged down with all the livefeeds from the three races in Alaska). 

Let's get straight to the rosters, now, shall we!

Marathon

Bib	Musher	Kennel	Link	Link	Link
2	Peter McClelland	White Wilderness Kennel	Website	Facebook
3	Anna Hennessy	No Kennel Name		Facebook	Instagram
4	David Burge	Dogwoods		Facebook	Instagram
5	Nathan Schroeder	Schroeder Mushing	Website	Facebook	Instagram
6	Blake Freking	Manitou Crossing Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
7	Erin Altemus	Sawtooth Racing	Website	Facebook
8	Colleen Wallin	Silver Creek Sled Dogs			Instagram
9	Erin Aili	Miles Ahead Racing	Website	Facebook
10	Thomas Bauer	Otter River Sled Dogs	Website	Facebook
11	Kevin Mathis	Go the Distance Mushing		Facebook
12	Mary England	On the Land Sled Dogs	Website	Facebook	Instagram
13	Garrick Schmidt	Eagle Ridge Sled Dog Kennel		Facebook	Instagram
14	Jesse Terry	On the Land Sled Dogs	Website	Facebook	Instagram
15	Shawn McCarty	Hauling Dogs Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
16	Rob Greger	Anduril Kennel/Morrison Racing Kennel	Website	Facebook
17	Ryan Clegg	Bear Ridge Adventures		Facebook
18	Redman Glisson	TSA Kennels		Facebook
19	Andy Heerschap	Paws on Patrol Racing		Facebook
20	Ryan Anderson	AnderTier Racing Kennel		Facebook	Instagram
21	Wade Donaldson	Bear Ridge Adventures	Website	Facebook	Instagram
22	Katherine Langlais	Chenil akkada Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
23	Mary Manning	DoodleDog Kennel		Facebook

*Roster as of January 14 @ 6:30pm AKST.

120 Mile

Bib	Musher	Kennel	Link	Link	Link
101	Kendra Anderson	Sawtooth Racing	Website	Facebook
102	Scott Edgett	Running Edge Kennel		Facebook
103	William Sima	Bandit Creek Kennels		Facebook
104	Nick Turman	Team Turman		Facebook
105	Elena Freking	Manitou Crossing Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
106	Alyssa Sabatino	Schroeder Mushing	Website	Facebook	Instagram
107	Melissa Mendelson	Flight Risk Mushing	Website	Facebook	Instagram
108	Lucy Howe	Michigan Tech	Website	Facebook
110	Alex LaPlante	Dark Sky Kennel		Facebook
111	Caleb Briggs	Michigan Tech	Website	Facebook
112	Joanna Oberg	Stoney Creek Kennel		Facebook
113	David Hicks	Cast Outdoor Adventures	Website	Facebook	Instagram
114	Luke Schieffelbein	Lost Creek Kennel		Facebook
115	Kirk Weber	Drifters Mushing		Facebook
116	Rita Wehseler	Stoney Creek Kennel		Facebook
117	Eva Kolodji	Meander Mountain Huskies		Facebook
118	Monroe Mondor	Eagle Ridge Sled Dog Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
119	Hannah Bart	TSA Kennel
120	Rémy Leduc	Chenil akkada Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
121	Sean deWolski	Bouncing Bumbles	Website
122	Dallin Donaldson	Bear Ridge Adventures	Website	Facebook	Instagram
124	Sarah Smith	Silver Creek Sled Dogs

*Roster as of January 24 @ 6:30pm AKST.

80 Mile

Bib	Musher	Kennel	Link	Link	Link
405	Nicole Freking	Manitou Crossing Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
406	TJ Squires	Chasing the Wolves	Website	Facebook	Instagram
407	Danny Edmonson	Lakeview Kennels
408	Tracy Jansen	Lakeview Kennels
409	Robin Sue Fisher	Meander Mountain Huskies		Facebook
410	Brian Bergen	Gone to the Dogs Racing
412	Bille Diver	??	??	??	??
413	Julia Cross	Criss Cross Racing	Website	Facebook	Instagram
414	Erin Schouweiler	Otter Run Kennel	Website		Instagram
415	Eva Robinson	Diva Dogs Racing	Website	Facebook	Instagram
416	Mike Gleason	3Huskies
417	Jim Ward	Dark Sky Kennel		Facebook

*Roster as of January 24 @ 6:30pm AKST.

Will you be watching or have you hit your limit of trackers? Who do you expect to take the win on each race? Comment below!

This blog has always been a hobby and will continue to be - and this list is more for myself than anything - if you can spare a few dollars to help keep this blog running I wouldn't say no. Please do not feel obligated, but know that all support (in every form, not just financial) is greatly appreciated! Click here to "buy me a coffee".