The 2021 Silver Sled dog mushing race was held Jan. 23 and 24 outside Haines Junction with more than a dozen mushers taking part.
Yukoner Ed Hopkins was this year’s winner, finishing with a two-day combined time of six hours, 53 minutes and 40 seconds. He also had the fastest time in each stage.
Split into two stages, the 70-mile (113-kilometre) trail begins outside Haines Junction and goes to Silver City on day one before mushers race the second stage from Silver City back to Haines Junction.
Although typically held later in the year and closer to 100 miles (160-km) in length, this year’s race was adjusted to account for other races happening in the territory and the limited January daylight.
This year, 12 mushers started the 70-mile race with another two electing to run the 35-mile (56-km) first stage as a standalone race.
Behind Hopkins, Connor McMahon finished second with a total time of seven hours, 16 minutes and 56 seconds, and Nathaniel Hamlyn finished third in seven hours, 23 minutes and 23 seconds.
Paul Hamlyn was fourth, Crystelle Houdry was fifth, Fabian Schmitz was sixth, Louvre Tweddell was seventh, Lori Tweddell was eighth and Jonathan Alsberghe was ninth.
Jonathan Lucas, Hans Gatt and Susie Rogan all completed the first stage, but did not race the second stage.
In the 35-mile race, Jacob Heigers finished in four hours, 15 minutes and five seconds with Marcelle Fressineau finished second in five hours, two minutes and 22 seconds.
The race had COVID-19 precautions in place throughout, and utilized the original trail and a start/finish line outside of Haines Junction to minimize community impact.
Contact John Hopkins-Hill at john.hopkinshill@yukon-news.com
