Hugh Neff’s lead widens as Yukon Quest mushers deal with weather, cold

CIRCLE — It’s getting harder and harder to catch Yukon Quest leader Hugh Neff.

Neff and his team of 13 dogs made it into Circle City at 10:20 p.m. Saturday as temperatures dropped to 35 below zero. He continued to hold on to a 10-hour lead over rookie Dallas Seavey, the second musher to leave Slaven’s Roadhouse, at 8:10 p.m. Saturday.

Most of the top seven, including Ken Anderson, Hans Gatt, Brent Sass, Sebastian Schnuelle, Allen Moore and Dan Kaduce, had made it into Slaven’s Roadhouse — about 60 miles from Circle on Saturday night. Most were expected into Circle by this afternoon.

However, the back of the pack was still making its way toward Eagle on Saturday. The final five — Tamara Rose, Jerry Joinson, Didier Moggia, Kyla Durham and Hank DeBruin — had all made it in to the Fortymile Hospitality stop Saturday morning. None had left by 10 p.m. Saturday.

Checkpoints along the Steese Highway were preparing for mushers Saturday afternoon. At Mile 101, a remote group of cabins just off the highway, volunteers were packing down dog parking lots, using two tires to push the snow.

In Central, the next checkpoint, 74 trail miles from Circle, trail blazers were checking out the trail, noting that there was some overflow in the creeks near Medicine Lake, but nothing too out of the ordinary.

In Circle, it looked like they were gearing up for a little romance. Tablecloths adorned with hearts lined covered the tables serving food at the checkpoint. Mardi gras beads were laid on the tables, for anyone who wanted to appear a little more festive.

But not just checkpoints are getting ready. Veterinarian Annette Kriller said it can get tough for vets on the Alaska side. Many vets don’t continue past the Canadian portion of the race.

That can make it harder, especially if the mushers are streched out, because it each vet has more work. But right now, with Neff so far in the lead, plus fewer mushers, they’re getting all the rest they can.

“In the beginning when we have the 300, it was all quite tight, but now there’s usually sleep in between,” she said.

Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Hugh Neff’s lead widens as Yukon Quest mushers deal with weather cold