The Yukon Quest is a 1000-mile dog sled race from Fairbanks in Alaska to Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory. It’s regarded by many as the toughest such race in the world. Much of it takes place on frozen rivers. That’s when it’s not crossing mountain ranges. I guess the route could be hiked and pack rafted or canoed in summer. But that wouldn’t be the Yukon Quest. That requires ice and snow.
Travelling the Yukon Quest by dog sled would be tough even
if not racing. Foregoing the dogs and pulling the sledge yourself would be
crazy. But that’s what Dr Mark Hines did and this book tells the story of the
amazing adventure that ensued.
When the author offered me a copy to review I agreed
immediately, very happy to read any story involving the Yukon Territory as I’d
walked it from south to north over three decades ago, a wonderful summer-long adventure
that took me into the remotest, emptiest place I’ve ever hiked. I’ve returned once
to lead a ski tour in the Tombstone Mountains. We only completed half the
planned route. Breaking trail in deep snow and camping in temperatures down to
-25°C where everything
took twice as long to do slowed us down. So reading Mark’s book I had some idea
of the country he was going through -
wild and beautiful - and what travelling there in snow was like – tough, very tough.
The story he tells is one of intense hardship, ferocious cold,
great difficulty, physical exhaustion, as you’d expect, but also one of enthusiasm
and delight. The author’s love of this far northern land shines through. He
conjures up the magnificent wild forests, the wildlife, the rivers, and the mountains
and makes me wish I was there.
A sense of humour about himself and what he’s doing leavens
the obvious tough nature of the journey. It also, I think, masks some of the
extreme risks involved, even though some incidents left my heart in my mouth
despite obviously knowing he survived.
Although he was alone much of the time and had many solitary
camps the author did meet people along the way who provided support, friendship
and places to stay. His kinship with these people shows. This is where he feels
at home.
The book is entertaining, enthralling, intense and, in
places, emotional, a thrilling adventure story. I loved it.
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