Yukon Quest, Sourdough Rendezvous face warm winter problems

The warm temperatures in Whitehorse this winter are creating challenges for organizers of the Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race and the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous winter festival.

Open water on the Yukon River is forcing Yukon Quest organizers to consider alternative trail routes in both Yukon and Alaska. 

The 1,600 kilometre sled dog race starts in Whitehorse on Feb. 7 and finishes in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Marti Steury, the Yukon Quest's Alaskan executive director, says the race will happen but the route might be tweaked.

"There's a lot of talk in Whitehorse right now about the open water and we just wanted to make sure that people understood that we're having a race," she says.

"We may shift out the race start or part of the routing depending on the weather but it's three weeks before the race starts and so much can change before then."

Fairbanks, like Whitehorse, has been experiencing mild temperatures this winter. Steury says it just recorded its warmest November and December in the city's history. 

But she says at this point the weather for this year's Quest is anybody's guess. Steury says organizers are planning to release a more detailed trail report next week. 

Takhini Hotsprings, about 20 kilometres north of downtown Whitehorse, has served as both an alternate start and finish in past races.

Sourdough Rendezvous snow carving may be cancelled

Yukon snow carver Don Watt is concerned about the possible cancellation of snow carving during this year's Sourdough Rendezvous winter carnival.

Watt says festival organizers don't know if some Rendezvous events can happen because of a lack of snowfall. 

He says he's working with officials to find a way to prevent that from happening. 

"I'm working quite closely with the Rendezvous people to see how much snow do they need, what kind of snow do they need? Is there another method there," Watt says.

"We're probably going to cancel the castle. That will remove a large amount of snow that we require."

Watt says there is one option that could be pursued.

The Sourdough Rendezvous organizing committee is looking at shipping in snow, but they estimate that could cost around $18,000. Organizers will meet Wednesday to make some decisions, he says.

The Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous is scheduled to start Feb. 18.

Iditarod race start could move

South-central Alaska's lack of snow and uncertain weather is also pushing organizers of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race to ponder moving the start of the race from Willow to Fairbanks.

A ceremonial start for the 1,000-mile race is scheduled for March 7 in Anchorage.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports teams usually begin actual racing a day later in Willow.

The trail takes them through the Alaska Range, down the Yukon River and along the Bering Sea coast to Nome.

In 2003, the Iditarod Trail Committee started the race in Fairbanks north of the Alaska Range because of poor snow.

Race marshal Mark Nordman says one big storm could improve trail conditions, but starting the race in Fairbanks is an option.