Hugh Neff says race officials forced him to scratch from the Quest Saturday. He says they wanted him to rest his team an extra 18 hours, which he felt was unacceptable.
Neff and his handlers loaded the dogs into their boxes on the truck, and broke down camp Saturday afternoon. Neff says he’s heading home to prepare for the Iditarod, which starts March 4th. 
Michelle Phillips rubs ointment on her dogs’ feet, and fits booties on them before leaving Dawson.
Phillips’s sled sits packed and ready to go.
While Lance Mackey continues to set a blazing pace towards Pelly Crossing, other mushers are still taking their layovers in Dawson City. Meanwhile Hugh Neff scratches and prepares for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Click here to Listen to the report.
Michelle Phillips and her team head out of Dawson on the Yukon River, bound for the climb up King Solomon’s Dome and the race’s second half.
Regina Wycoff’s dogs rest in a tarp-tent made by Wycoff’s handler. Handlers work non-stop in Dawson to care for the dogs—and their musher. Both need sleep and food before hitting the trail again.
For 36 hours, camp becomes the handler’s home.
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