Tired and elated, Yukon River Quest paddlers arrive in Dawson City

If there wasn't thunder and lightning, there was rain. If there wasn't rain, there was forest fire smoke.

And if it was sunny out, it started to get too hot.

Such is life for the paddlers of the Yukon River Quest, who travelled by kayak or canoe from Whitehorse to Dawson City this weekend. Forty-four of 58 teams completed the race this year.

With only two breaks over four days, the racers who made it to the finish line reported exhaustion and sore muscles as they climbed out of their boats.

"The absolute worst for me every year is between Fort Selkirk and Kirkman Creek," said Gaetan Plourde, who finished second overall with partner Jeff Brainard in a two-man canoe. "The sleep monsters get me. I can barely hold my paddle, but you just have to keep paddling."

The pair promptly cracked open beers on arrival in Dawson. "I'm going to finish this beer and probably have another one," Plourde said. "Then I'm going to shower and rest."

Solo kayaker Gary Seed of Whitehorse finished the race with sore hands and wrists. "You expect you're going to have some pains, but it's well worth it," he said.

Steve Grenham, a 51-year old former British Marine from Brighton, England, said he was happy not to fall out of his kayak. He and three other former servicemen were paddling to raise awareness of PTSD in soldiers returning from combat.

Grenham said he alternated between elation and exhaustion. "Sometimes, you feel on top of the world and [are] going as fast as you can," he said."Then you're like: 'Get the helicopter in and get me out of here.'"

Kayakers Rumi Kudama and Rhiannon Bronstein said they kept their energy up by talking, singing, yelling and trying to catch up with other boats. Both were first time competitors in the race. They haven't decided whether they'll try again next year.

"We discussed potential voyageur teams for next year. We discussed strategy," Kudama said. "We also discussed never wanting to do it again."