Hello Pedigree Stage Stop Race Fans,
sorry it has been a few days since the last update…., life got in the way. It is a mere 10 days to race start. Things are getting real. For most teams that means preparations to leave for Wyoming have started in earnest. Some Mushers are already on the road, like Hans Gatt from the Yukon. After a pit stop at Debbie and Terry Streeper they are now training with longtime friends Faye and Don Cousins ( Bud and Lina are also staying there )
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- Cathy Rivests dogs getting some R&R
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- Wyoming or bust !
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- Hans Gatt in Fort Nelson
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- Hans’s dog truck has been a regular sight at many races over the past 25 years.
The Rivest-Malo family has also taken off from Quebec and are nearing their destination. Cathy Rivest is posting some pretty cool videos on her Facebook page. I better get some video editing tutorials from her.
https://www.facebook.com/100000102191252/videos/460279772386288/
Unfortunately race time nearing also means that some teams are withdrawing from the race, for a multitude of reasons. Doug Butler ( dang his jokes will be missed ), Dennis Laboda, Jean Wise, Linda Pierce and Randy de Kuiper will not be joining us is Wyoming this year. That leaves the field sitting at 25 Mushers, which used to be the maximum cap in previous years.
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- Now that IS a trail. Thad McCracken at West Yellowstone
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- Lina and Bud Streeper at Don Cousins place
And here is the second part of the Interview with Thad McCracken, while he was still at home in Mosier Oregon, talking about different training conditions. Have fun listening to him telling the story of having to shuttle his dogs in an air conditioned SUV last summer.
