麻豆社区

Three decades of the Yukon Quest will go on display to the public tonight at the MacBride Museum.

Museum staff has spent the last month sifting through photos, mushing equipment and other artifacts documenting the past 30 years of the Quest 鈥� often described as the toughest sled dog race in the world.

MacBride's program manager Leighann Chalykoff has pored over the Yukon Territory's history of the Quest while setting up the exhibit.

The depth of the mushers' stories, the bond between man and dog, and the spirit of the trail are the race features that have struck Chalykoff most in her research.

"There are tons of stories involved with the Quest,鈥� she said. "It's much more than a race. You really have to love your dogs.

"It's not just about the winners. We really focused on the mushers here. But it's also not just the mushers. It's so many people who combine to make this race happen.

There is so much preparation that goes on. The logistics are crazy.鈥�

The exhibit gives limelight to all aspects of the race, including veterinarians and the Canadian Rangers, who spend time prepping the trail for the mushers each year.

An entire wall is dedicated to the race route, detailing each of the areas through photos and captions.

Viewers will be able to get a sense of how gruelling the international sled dog race truly is.

"You really get a good understanding of the checkpoints and the community involvement on the trail,鈥� said Marie Belanger, executive director of the Canadian Quest office.

"The amount of people in the communities who have been supporting us for 30 years is unbelievable.鈥�

A handmade dog sled used by RCMP officer Tom Smith until the mid-1960s is on display, as is various mushing equipment donated by veteran mushers such as Frank Turner and Gerry Willomitzer. Two of Hans Gatt's Quest trophies are also on hand.

"The exhibit kind of traces how mushing started ages ago,鈥� said Belanger. "The sled from the turn of the century is quite impressive to me.鈥�

The Yukon Quest began as an idea spawned in a Fairbanks pub.

Four Alaskan mushers 鈥� Roger Williams, Leroy Shank, Ron Rosser and William "Willy鈥� Lipps 鈥� dreamed up the race, named to commemorate the traditional highway of the north 鈥� the Yukon River.

The trail retraces the routes of the gold rushes that put the North on the map.

"The Alaskans wanted to connect to tradition,鈥� Chalykoff explained. "They felt that the snowmobile was replacing the sled 鈥� an iconic image of the Yukon and the North.鈥�

In 1984, 26 mushers competed for the inaugural Quest trophy, which was won by Alaskan Sonny Lindner.

To date, 26 mushers have registered for the 30th edition of the race, scheduled to begin in Whitehorse on Feb. 2.

The exhibit's opening reception will be held tonight, from 5 to 7 p.m.

The public is invited to enjoy a drink at the cash bar, take in some live music from Joe Bishop, and indulge in a cake courtesy of the Chocolate Claim.

Three-time Yukon Quest winner Gatt and fellow Quest veteran Willomitzer are expected to attend.

"It's going to be a party,鈥� said Chalykoff.

Belanger said museum staff has done a thorough job researching three decades of mushing in the territory.

"Those ladies have been unbelievable,鈥� she said. "As far as the Yukon side, they've dug quite deep. I'm quite impressed and I love what they've done with the exhibit.鈥�

The exhibit will be on display until August.