Klondike 300 kicks off

Frontiersman

KNIK — A baker’s dozen worth of mushers will follow their teams down the trail today during the annual Klondike 300 Sled Dog Race.

Willow’s DeeDee Jonrowe and Knik’s Ryan and Ray Redington headline a group of 13 mushers who will leave the start chute at 10 a.m. today at the Tug Bar, located at Mile 16.5 of Knik-Goose Bay Road.

Race organizer Bert Kleinenberg expects good trail conditions on the trail, which will lead teams from the Tug Bar, to Deshka Landing, up to the Yentna Station Roadhouse on to the Angel Haven Lodge and back.

“It looks like a nice trail this year,” Kleinenberg said on Wednesday. “It was kind of icy, but we got quite a bit of fresh snow.”

The event is made up predominately by Valley mushers. Jonrowe is among five who hail from Willow.

Big Lake’s Cim Smyth won the 2009 Klondike 300, edging Ryan Redington by 13 minutes.

2010 field:

Jason Mackey, Kasilof; Kathleen Frederick, Willow; Jan Steves, Willow; Brennan Norden, Kasilof; DeeDee Jonrowe, Willow; Peter Bartlett, Willow; Kelly Maxiner, Big Lake; Ryan Redington, Knik; David Tresino, Talkeetna; Christina Roalofs, Anchorage; Bob Story, Willow; Misha Pederson, Willow; Ray Redington, Knik.