On the 2006 Yukon Quest Trail with Libby Casey

Yukon Quest 2006
Day 10 (Feb. 20, 06)
On the Yukon Quest Trail with Libby Casey

Lance Mackey’s team

Lance Mackey’s team cruises into Pelly Crossing Sunday as a veterinarian guides them in. They arrived at 9:41 pm Yukon Time and stayed for less than an hour.

Mackey pets and talks to each of his 12 dogs in Pelly.

After snacking his dogs, Mackey went into the Pelly checkpoint and looked at the board of race times to see how his competitors were fairing.

Tonya Mackey watches as her husband eats dinner before hitting the trail again. The Pelly checkpoint is the last chance for handlers and family to see their mushers until the Dawson finish. The last 200 miles of trail are off the road system.

Defending champion Lance Mackey of Kasilof has passed the turn around in the out and back 400 mile course, that's serving as the second half of this year's race. Mackey rested for less than an hour at Pelly Crossing. At 10:32 Yukon time, last night Mackey headed out to run the 200 miles of hill country back toward this year's Dawson City finish line. Mackey's two closest pursuers are 3 time Quest champ Hans Gatt, and longtime race veteran William Kleedehn. Click here to Listen to the report.

Kasilof's Lance Mackey arrived in Pelly Crossing last night. Mackey parked his team for just 51 minutes before heading out of Pelly and back to Dawson, the race's new final destination. William Kleedehn and Hans Gatt were into the checkpoint less than 2 hours behind Mackey, but took extended breaks at Pelly, and left together before 5 a.m. Yukon time this morning. Click here to Listen to the report.

Hans Gatt arrives in Pelly under a wet snowfall. He pulled in at 11:29 Sunday night, and was followed just two minutes later by William Kleedehn. The two have been traveling together since Scroggie Creek.

Gatt’s dogs run in to the Pelly checkpoint. They rested there for five hours before turning around and heading back towards Dawson.

William Kleedehn arrives in Pelly in third position as long awaited snow finally falls. From Pelly, teams make a loop out the Pelly Farm Road, and then return to the Quest trail.