Nancy Marie Steuer:  

In January 2012 I decided that I wanted to go to Fairbanks, AK the first week-end of February for the start of the Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race (1,000 miles) from Fairbanks, AK to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, it is the most difficult dog sled race on the planet, Goes from Fairbanks, via the Chena River for long distance, to Two Rivers, via Fox, AK to 101 mile Steese Hwy, over Eagle Summit to Central, AK 73 miles via Birch Creek and on to Circle City, AK where the trail goes on the Yukon River many miles and continues up and over American Summit and then into Canada. A friend and I drove to Fairbanks in -20 below weather to attended Meet and Greet the Mushers, tour the Yukon Quest headquarters and the start line. Due to high winds on the way to Central we did not stay in Fairbanks, but traveled the Steese Highway to Chatinaka Lodge, where my brother Fred suggested we stay over night and get up and follow the snowplow over Eagle Summit to be sure and be able to get thru safely to Central which is 133 miles from Fairbanks. We had a successful trip to Chatinaka Lodge, got up early the next day and drove to 101 Mi Steese Hwy which is a check point for the race. Got there shortly to the plow coming over the pass, we jumped in the car and headed up the road behind the plow. Very little wind, huge herd of Caribou, beautiful scenery, and into Central where my brother Fred C. Steuer owns property and Mike Scott formerly of East Jordan had purchase the old Steese Roadhouse and now know as Central Corners (Central Checkpoint for the Race) located at the Junction of Circle Hot Springs Road and the Steese Hwy that goes another 33 miles to Circle City Checkpoint for the Yukon Quest located on the banks of the Yukon River. My friend Vicky and I volunteered at the Central Check point, checking the mushers in as they arrived. It only got down to -30 which was 24 degrees warmer that the previous year. I see that I've not updated my profile since 2/2011. 3/2011 went to Nome, Alaska for 12 days as a volunteer at the end of the trail for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Had a great time, took helicopter trip from Nome to Safety which is the last check point before reaching Nome. The winner of the race John Baker was between Safety and Nome, got to land along the trail to take pictures. Upon departure from there we went over Cape Nome and I got to observe a heard of Muskox, which was exciting for me to see them in the wild. As went on towards Safety watched Rayme Smyth running behi...Expand for more