The Yukon River Quest was declared over today at Carmacks due to smokey conditions and the closure of the North Klondike Highway.
Race organizers announced their decision early this afternoon.
According to a Facebook message posted Wednesday evening, the race had a “brief stoppage this evening when increased fire activity was observed by CASARA at a previous burn site about 18 kms. down the Thirtymile stretch of the river.
“For the safety of the teams, the YRQ comms centre sent text messages to the 10 boats that had made it past Lower Laberge to pull over.
“With support from a patrol boat and a helicopter from Wildland Fire, it was determined that the fire had calmed down and the boats were texted to resume their journey.
“Several boats were held at Lower Laberge in the intervals that they arrived, and have been released. All times will be adjusted in Carmacks where required.”
The Yukon Star spoke with race marshall Stephen Mooney this morning. At that point, he said race organizers were considering paring the race to only go as far as Minto.
“Of course, we want to get people all the way to Dawson, but safety first, and the road closure with the smoke will have to be addressed,” Mooney said.
The issue, of course, was that with the highway closed, there was no way for support teams to get to Dawson City.
This afternoon, the artery was still closed from Pelly Crossing to Stewart Crossing due to smoke from the Wrong Lake fire, MA-006. Pilot car escorts for waiting travellers were possible later on, depending on smoke conditions.
Mooney said a conference call with Yukon Wildland Fire Management was planned for early this afternoon.
Of Wildland Fire Management, Mooney said, “They’ve been super-supportive of the race and giving us information, and they’ve been great, but it’s up to us to make the decision.”
Meanwhile, as of 9:45 a.m. today, according to Yukon River Quest tracking, seven teams had arrived in Carmacks.
First into the Coal Mine Campground at Carmacks was C2 team “Seb and Gates go for a paddle”, Seb Courville and Gaetan Plourde, at 7:53:57 a.m. By mid-afternoon today, they had not been declared the formal winners of the shortened race.
Another C2, “Team Alpha Super Awesome Cool Dynamite Wolf Squadron”, Jake Paleczny and Robert Spinks, arrived in second at 8:15:12.
K2 “Team 132” (their name, not their number – they are team number 21), Bob Ross and Jeff Brainard, came in hot on their heels at 8:17:19.
“Fat Bottomed Girls”, a four-person canoe (C4) with Carmen Gustafson, Bonnie Pankiw, Sophie Coupal and Heidi Vertanen, arrived in fourth at 8:34:22.
“Rudderly Ruthless Racing”, a C2 with Shane Orbin and Crispin Studer, came in at 8:35:40.
“6ix to 6ixty”, a C2 with Tali and Adam Pukier, glided in at 9:27:33.
And the “Belgian bear”, Bernard Moyersoen, in his solo kayak, arrived at 9:34:10.
