As we welcome in the teams still on the trail (and there are 16 more out there as I write this), there’s time to reflect on the Quest community. A lot has been written about the YQ community–and that’s understandable, as it is one of the more memorable things about a very memorable event.
As you probably know, handling on the Quest means you are hopscotching from checkpoint to checkpoint across hundreds of miles. Perhaps less obvious is that you are greeted by the same 30 people that you just left. It’s like bar-hopping and seeing the same faces every time you open the door (although bar hopping usually involves drinking beer, while handling involves raking straw, not quite the same).
This year, arriving at checkpoints offered opportunities to resume chats with Stephanie about hockey, with Katie about the book that she was reading, with Mark about horses, and with someone who I only know by face about her favorite cheesecake. Taken out of context, these conversations are unremarkable. But the kinship that the YQ community shares–across thousands of miles–is one of the many remarkable experiences on the Quest trail.
And it goes beyond just enjoying each other’s company. Jodi Bailey, who is writing the Armchair Musher column on the Quest site, wrote this about handlers working together:
Also seeing on the Alaska Traveler Info Website, that the Steese Highway is now closed. So until morning when plow trucks come and open Eagle Summit handlers are also camping out and waiting for a window of opportunity. The road closing is not a big deal, and can happen multiple times a winter. But during Quest it means handlers may end up at checkpoints longer than expected, or even miss their musher’s arrival while waiting for the highway to open. This is one of those times the traveling roadshow that is the Quest family really shines. Other team’s handlers take over to meet mushers, help clean, and do what needs to be done to keep teams supported. And at this point you have most likely been road tripping with the same group of dog trucks for long enough to have bonded over the unique experience of living in a dog truck, consuming way too much coffee, raking straw, which is handling for the Yukon Quest. So it is just natural you are going to look out for each other and help each other. Met some of my favorite people in the whole world thanks to this race. Great friendships get made on and behind the scenes on the Quest trail.
Here in Fairbanks, the finish line is another example of the YQ community. When Ryne Olson and team came in tonight in 11th place, she was greeted by a big crowd that included Brent Sass (this year’s champion), Allen Moore, Aliy Zirkle, and Matt.
The race is a competition, no doubt, but it’s also a moving community. Seeing the respect that mushers have for each other, seeing how much the dogs are respected and cared for, seeing and feeling the friendships among the handlers, and feeling the support of this community is pretty moving to me. And if the Quest trail has taught me anything, I know that I am not alone on that.
Frozen Bootie 