Enough With The Mushing, Already!!

I can hear the voices from the peanut gallery loud and clear. But the season isn't over yet. The North American Open - the longest continuously running sprint race of its kind - has taken over downtown Fairbanks this weekend. How could I resist? The weather has warmed up considerably (it was above zero all day!) and the sun is shining in a clear blue subarctic sky. The Open is a three day event in which mushers have no restrictions on the number of dogs they start. Friday and Saturday, the course runs twenty miles. Sunday, the distance is bumped up to thirty. Crowds packed the sidelines, espresso and hot cocoa disappearing as fast as the baristas at the outdoor kiosk could brew it. The trappers association auctioned off some fur in a parking lot next to the course. Snow had been hauled in to create the start/finish straightaway on 2nd Street. Some Farbanksians watched from the river instead, lawn chairs set up next to the course on the snow-covered ice, steaming mugs and cameras in hand, packs of kids sledding down the steep banks behind them, screaming with abandon. Spring is in the air, and the town is out to celebrate. So here's your link. Enjoy!