THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 11, 2010
25
Mike Ellis with his team before the start of the 2008 Yukon
Quest in Fairbanks, Alaska. courtesy Photo
musheR from 24
to Alaska has allowed him
Team Tsuga leaves the starting line in Whitehorse in Yukon Territory in the 2009 Yukon
Ellis elaborated more by more time to train his
Quest. courtesy Photo
saying “This race has very team before the race sea-
much grabbed us and held son begins and he is con- be competitive with Sibe- Ellis had to drop out of the Alaska, who is the only
on. Last year’s scratch was fident that his team will rian Huskies,’’ says Ellis. Gingin race due to high musher in history to win
dreadfully disappointing be even more competitive The Ellis’s trained their winds in minus 60 degree both the Yukon Quest and
at the time, but in many this year. dogs through November weather which strained the 1,100-mile Iditarod
ways, I feel we proved more “I’ve been asked numer- and December and have two of his wheel dogs as Race in the same year.
in our second Quest than ous times since we made been in two long races they fought to keep the And he’s done that twice,
our first. We were moving the decision to move to this year: The Gingin, a sled on course. in 2008 and 2009.
along at a very competitive Alaska if we will switch to 218-mile race in Paxson, But his team was well Mackey is the son of
pace before injuries in- running Alaskan huskies Alaska and the Copper enough to race in the 2009 Dick Mackey, who was
curred on the Yukon River to become more competi- Basin 300. Copper Basin 300, which born in Concord and now
ended our race at Circle. tive. I don’t have to think Ellis’ team finished 5th started in minus 50 de- lives in Arizona and is a
The dogs that remained about my answer. I know in the Gingin race and grees, and complete the former winner of the Idi-
completely healthy were that I still have much to 16th in the Copper Basin course. Ellis was present- tarod race, which will this
strong and moving along learn to become a better which featured a strong ed with the Humanitarian year start on Saturday,
very well. Although I had musher. I still feel I can do field. He said that he was Award in the race’s award March 6 in Fairbanks.
slowed down in the sec- better with my team. We heartened by a nearly 10- ceremony at the Wolverine
ond half of the race after still love the dogs we have hour improvement in his Lodge last year.
leaving Dawson with only and don’t consider them time over last year in the Favorite in this year’s
9 dogs, the team was still interchangeable. I am very Copper Basin Race. Yukon Quest race is Lance
on schedule to finish at happy to stay with the Both races were run in Mackey, 39, of Fairbanks,
least a day faster than in dogs we have and continue extremely cold weather,
2008.’’ to try to do what people but it was warmer this
He says that the move say can’t be done. We will year than in 2009, when
Kindred Spirit Farm
Registered Shetland Sheep, NASSA Flock #1755
www.kindredspiritfarmnh.com
Center Sandwich, N.H. • 603-387-1070
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