THE QUEST

Around here, it is known simply as The Quest. 1000 miles. 14 dogs, one person, and lots of cold. As Alaska Magazine calls it, the "other" 1,000 mile dog sled race. For those who follow the sport closely, it is THE toughest dog race in the world.

The 2002 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race kicked off here in Fairbanks this past weekend. For a northern newbie like me, this was quite an experience.

The race started ON the frozen Chena River in downtown and I headed down to take a look and get some pictures. It was certainly something to behold. These dogs absolutely love this.

Disney recently released a film called Snow Dogs. I didn't see it, but I can only imagine. Of course, in a place like this, this film must have been like Twister was to folks like me...99% Hollywood, 1% Kansas, or Alaska in this case.

Well, the story goes that there is a group, somewhat like PETA, that is opposed to dog mushing on grounds that it is cruel to the dogs. They treat the Iditarod like the WTO Conference in Seattle, except they don't smash the windows of the McDonald's. Apparently, they were petitioning Disney not to make this movie, making their threats, etc, etc.

I don't know how many of these folks have been to a sled dog race, because if they had seen what I saw this weekend, they might reconsider their position. Watching the mushers and handlers with the dogs, the love that exists between them, the precautions and care (the little booties!) that are taken with the dogs...it is great.

I was able to "find myself conveniently" in the staging area, or you could just say I snuck in but I like my original wording better. It was neat to see all of the preparation. The dogs were the most fun to watch because each one has just a slightly different personality. One team had the full gamut. A few dogs were barking and yelping to beat the band, a few were nervously pacing, a few of the cool customers were relaxing (obviously racing veterans), and one was even lying underneath the truck, napping amidst the tumult.

And it was tumultuous...nearly 600 dogs, all with the same desire...to run. These dogs looked so bored just standing around. When the sled finally got the go ahead to enter the chute and head for the start, the dogs perked right up. These are work dogs...it is literally in their genes to pull.

Well, if you want to see some of the pics I took this weekend, you can go to my online gallery at http://www.qsl.net/kc0hoj/bmh/gallery.html then look for Yukon Quest.

Yukan follow the race at http://www.yukonquest.com/ Sorry, I couldn't resist that pun, it just kind of happened.

THE YEARNING CHANNEL

Well, I have made a couple of major, MAJOR mistakes in the past few weeks. How could I have been so foolish?!?!?! If I had decided to spend the next 2 weeks being pulled by a dozen dogs across 1,000 frozen miles, I could not have ambushed my Alaskan ambitions any more effectively. I have fallen victim to the dreaded disease known as SDS...Supercell Deprivation Syndrome: a debilitating disease that strikes severe weather enthusiasts everwhere this time of year.

Mistake #1: First, my neighbor, Stacy, said that she wanted to watch some tornado videos, and see some of my video and pictures from my own storm chasing. By the end of the evening, I was very jumpy indeed. I was just itching to see a 60+ degree dewpoint reading, hear the words wind shear, and to feel the rush of grabbing the camera gear and the maps and head out to watch Ma Nature put on a show.

Mistake #2: I agreed to re-establish the Central Nebraska Amateur Radio Spotters WeatherNet with my good friend, Jim Kuehn. 2 years ago, I served as the forecaster by sending out a daily advisory to ham radio spotters, emergency managers, and storm chasers in Central Nebraska.

Mistake #3: I looked at the evening TV listings for last night. The Learning Channel, TLC, had 3 hours of tornado shows on...BIG mistake. By the end of the first hour, I was ready to pack up and head for Texas and Oklahoma.

As wonderful as the aurora is, and it IS wonderful, absolutely astounding, it cannot replace CG, mesocyclone, or rear-flank downdraft. I miss it...badly. There exists a very deep-seeded ache to be on the Plains once again, and a yearning to see a rock-hard Cb tower.

Who knows? Maybe I will make it back for a couple of weeks this spring...

Oh, and just FYI, I am getting closer to opening my weather pictures gallery. It will probably be at a different site, one of the online galleries.

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE

Well, Fairbanks is quickly climbing out of the darkness. We have surpassed the magic 8 hour mark, on our way to 22 by mid June. The sun now rises around the time I get to work, and is setting minutes after I leave, which is a nice change.

INJECTIONS D'HUMEUR

Did you hear about the Buddist who refused novocaine during his root canal?

Yeah, he wanted to transcend dental medication.

Another...

"Doctor...tell me the truth...am I going to die?"

"Well, that is the last thing you are going to do."

And finally...

An Aztec says to the Inca "Hey, Pocapopeptl, how long have you been wearing that brassiere?'

And the Inca says, "Ever since my wife discovered it in my saddlebag!"

How you have a splendid week.

Brian "Yukan Sam" Hartmann