Message from the Race Manager

To all the people who made this race happen i would like to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH for making this race happen. All of the folks at the check points, trail breakers/workers know there jobs so well they only needed help with phone calls and a central go to place. Thank you to all the volunteers who manned radios, checkpoints, snow machines, computers, chainsaws, show shovels, etc., for being so wonderful, patient and self sufficient. I appreciate all you have done for the race and for making my job almost too easy. ROY you are NOT replaceable but with the folks who have been on the organization committee so commited and competent it was an honor to be a part of them.

Thank you to the Mushers who when faced with challenges parking trucks, and parking teams at the checkpoints adjusted with grace, laughter and flexibility. Thank you also to the mushers and their handlers who stepped in when we were short of volunteers to fill in the gaps…without this kind of team work this race could not happen.

I would especially like to thank all the people who donated their time, muscles and equipment to put the Trail in on short notice and variable conditions. They have spent the last week and a half doing work that normally was accomplished over a month or more of time on the trails…Joe May and Jim Kershner are the primary folks who make that trail travel-able… I won’t name all of the volunteers who helped them for fear of missing someone but know that each and every one of you is greatly appreciated…

Lastly, thanks are also owed to the teams who didn’t run, but withdrew to keep numbers down and allow those who needed qualifiers to race. Your generosity has allowed six teams to run the Quest or Iditarod this or next year.

On behalf of the race organizers I would like to say a big THANK YOU to all who helped make this race a success.

Beth wheeler
Feb 2, 2009

Don Bowers 2010

I would like to remind everyone that it is never to early to start thinking about next year. Planning for next year starts almost immediately after the teams cross the finish line. This race is scheduled for the same weekend every year so if you would like to see this race continue, mark your calendars in November to check the website and give the race organizers a call to let them know that you would like to help.

As with any organization, No matter what their ages the folks who year after year have organized this race are starting to wear thin. It is critical to always have a new crop of volunteers eased into the race every year so as time goes by they can ease in and lighten the load of the “old” guard…if this doesn’t happen this race could cease to exist so I encourage everyone who has any time at all to sign up to help in whatever manner you can for next year.. ANY ONE IS WELCOME TO HELP No dog experience necessary…I can vouch for the fact that you get so much more out of being a part of this race than you put into it. I encourage all who read this to get in touch and volunteer.
Thank you,
Beth Wheeler