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The first teams arrive at the checkpoint shortly after 4 p.m. The sun is low in the sky as they run into the camp at Annie Lake Golf Course.

Yuka Honda is first to pull in followed closely 鈥� not even a minute later 鈥� by Gerry Willomitzer.

As the mushers attempt to anchor their teams in the checkpoint, they quickly discover there鈥檚 not enough snow to stick and race organizer Maren Bradley begins leading teams in an arc behind camp to get them properly situated through a copse of trees on which the sleds can properly be tied off.

Bradley takes it in stride, as do the mushers. Par for the course at a local race 鈥� run by mushers, for mushers. As more teams arrive at the Mount Lorne Christmas Classic checkpoint, Bradley whips out a tiny notebook from her jacket and scribbles down the arrival times. Soon, she鈥檒l transcribe them to a bright green posterboard recording race times in the checkpoint鈥檚 camp.

A cluster of camp chairs sit nearby, next to a pile of supplies 鈥� food, straw, clothes 鈥� the mushers have left at the checkpoint for their arrival.

The mushers take every change in stride and are quick to get their teams settled.

They鈥檙e thankful to have a local checkpoint race before January to test their teams and build their mileage heading into the heavier racing season come 2017.

Bradley鈥檚 partner and the other race organizer, Magnus Kaltenborn is fourth to arrive in camp.

Bradley greets the team, settling them into the trees near Willomitzer.

Kaltenborn immediately gets to work preparing his team for their five hours of mandatory rest.

The sun has sunk below the tree line and the inky air is illuminated by his headlamp as he checks each dog over and prepares their meal.

In its second year, the Mount Lorne Christmas Classic is already growing.

Last year鈥檚 race had nine teams, this year, there are 11.

鈥淚 just wanted to have a race for the local mushers and I think there needs to be more dog races in the Yukon,鈥� said Kaltenborn, who lives along Annie Lake Road.

鈥淪ometimes we go to Alaska and compete in races there. They have the opportunity of going to a lot more races.鈥�

He wanted the Yukon mushers to have the same opportunities to train their dogs with an early-season race and get them used to things like resting at a checkpoint alongside other teams.

For returning Christmas Classic champion, Willomitzer, the race is a welcome addition to his training schedule.

At his home near Lake Laberge, there鈥檚 not enough snow to run sleds and he is still using an ATV.

The dogs he is running 鈥� he also brought a B team run by another musher 鈥� are young, two- and three-year-olds.

鈥淭here鈥檚 hardly anyone been anywhere or has done any experience,鈥� he said, while eating on his sled as his dogs rested. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a real learning experience for them and they seemed to settle in pretty good. You put them on straw and they get the message that it鈥檚 sleep time.

鈥淲e鈥檙e just raising a whole generation of dogs and preparing for bigger stuff.鈥�

Willomitzer raced in the inaugural Christmas Classic last year, when teams did a run Saturday, went home, and came back for another run Sunday.

鈥淚 said, 鈥榳hy don鈥檛 we instead of going home overnight, just do another run, and two rests around it?鈥� So that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e doing and it worked out pretty good.鈥�

A few metres over from Willomitzer, Rob Cooke is bedding his team down.

鈥淚鈥檓 really pleased that we got enough snow that this can actually go ahead,鈥� said the musher, who brought a mature team to prepare for the Yukon Quest.

After a slew of early-season鈥圓laska races were cancelled due to low snow, Cooke was thankful to be able to run his dogs at the local event.

An hour into his mandatory rest, Cooke said he was looking forward to the night loops.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be nice running at night,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping it gets colder. The dogs definitely perform better at night.鈥�

At 9:11 Saturday night, Willomitzer is the first to leave camp en route to Alligator Lake for his second 50-mile loop.

He builds on his lead over Honda and the rest of the field over the next two laps and remaining five-hour rest to finish first in 25 hours and 22 minutes and claim the modest $225 winning share.

Honda is next to arrive in 26:11 and Thomas V茅rin is hot on her heels one minute later to round out the top three.

As the sun鈥檚 rays hit camp midday Sunday, more mushers finish.

Results:

1st Gerry Willomitzer Total time: 25 hrs 22 min
2nd Yuka Honda Total time: 26 hrs 11 min
3rd Thomas V茅rin Total time: 26 hrs 12min
4th Magnus Kaltenborn Total time: 26 hrs 21 min
5th Kristina: Total time 27 hrs
6th Alex Rochat Total time 27 hrs 47 min
7th Rob Cooke: Total time 27 hrs 55 min