Mike Ellis Siberian Huskies pass under the Nordale Road Bridge on the Chena River about 17 miles into the start of the 2018 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race

Tags:   Fairbanks Alaska Chena River Nordale Road bridge dogteam Siberian Husky dog race Yukon Quest graffiti Mike Ellis dog Drozda little dog laughed stories

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I've been kissed by a dog!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq9hBEvFNlM

Tags:   Fairbanks Alaska sled dog Alaska Husky dog team Laura Neese Yukon Quest Nature's Kennel dog kiss peanuts Snoopy triptych Drozda

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Laura Neese sets off at the start of the 1000 mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, February 3, 2018 in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska.

Once again I had the joy of hosting Laura at our house along with her handlers and 15 beautiful Alaskan Huskies in the days leading up to the start of the Quest.

The fella in the blue coat with his hands in his pockets is Bill Cotter, a mushing legend in Alaska. Bill ran the very first Yukon Quest in 1984 and he won the race in 1987. Back in those days it was more of a camping trip than a race.

Late last night (Feb. 9) Laura left the halfway mark where mushers and dogs take a mandatory 36 hour rest in Dawson City, Yukon Territory on their way to Whitehorse. It's been a cold race with temperatures consistently hovering at -40 and colder, and wind chills on exposed stretches of the Yukon River recorded to -90F.

Laura is doing great under these tough conditions. You can live track the race here: www.yukonquest.com/race-central/current-standings/live-tr...

Tags:   Fairbanks Alaska Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race 1000 miles Fairbanks to Whitehorse starting line Laura Neese Nature's Kennel dog team dog race dog mushing 03 February 2018 start chute crowd media photographer Drozda

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Allen Moore and Aliy Zirkle in downtown Fairbanks just prior to the start of the 2018 Yukon Quest. Allen and Aliy are partners (husband-wife) in Skunk Place Kennel of Two-River's Alaska.

Allen came in first in the 2018 Yukon Quest, his third win in the race. Aliy is the only woman to have ever won the race.

Tags:   Fairbanks Alaska Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race pre-race Allen Moore Aliy Zirkle Skunk Place Kennels b&w dog mushers dog mushing Drozda

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Laura heads out the start chute through a gauntlet of photographers and media persons. I kept this large so you can look at all the faces in the crowd, some obscured by the vapor of their own breath.

Fairbanks, Alaska. February 3, 2018.

Tags:   Fairbanks Alaska Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race 1000 miles Fairbanks to Whitehorse starting line Laura Neese Nature's Kennel dog team dog race dog mushing 03 February 2018 start chute crowd media photographer Drozda

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