Mushers in Knik 200 face a good problem - lots of snow

Jan. 5, 2006

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - Weather conditions in the Mat-Su area have mushers signed up for the Knik 200 Joe Redington Memorial Sled Dog Race asking questions race organizer Bruce Braden hasn't heard for years.

&#8220This is the first time in five years where people have been saying, ‘are you going to be able to break the trail?'” Braden said Thursday.

The most recent storm brought a foot of snow to the Knik area, leaving Braden and his volunteers the task of breaking trail for the race, which starts Saturday at Knik Lake. It's a problem Braden is happy to have, as recent snow-poor years have forced many races to be contested over uneven trails or even delayed or canceled.

&#8220I was just out getting gas for the trail breakers,” he said. &#8220They'll leave first thing (Friday) morning.”

The first dog team will leave Knik Lake at 11 a.m. and mush to the Skwentna Lodge, where teams are required to take a six-hour layover. The race is seen by many mushers as a good training run for those planning to compete in the Iditarod, as it closely follows the opening stretch of that race.

As of Thursday afternoon, approximately 28 mushers had signed up for the race, although Braden said he expects a few more to enter today, including two of mushing's biggest names, Jeff King and DeeDee Jonrowe.

Braden said King called and asked about trail conditions Thursday, and the reigning Iditarod and Knik 200 champion was excited with the answer he got.

&#8220He said, ‘Well, I'll see you tomorrow,” Braden said.

Former Iditarod champion Dean Osmar also is likely to make the trip up from Clam Gulch, although Osmar had not officially signed up as of

Thursday.

In addition to the late arrivals, a number of familiar names have signed up for this year's race, including Melanie Gould of Talkeetna, Paul Gebhardt of Kasilof, Gerry Willomitzer of Whitehorse, Sebastian Schnulle of Whithorse and Ray Reddington, Jr from Two Rivers. Also in the field is Fairbanks Micah Degerlund, an 18-year-old who won last year's Junior Iditarod.

As long as there is not any more snowfall to slow the mushers too much, Braden said this year's trail is looking as good as he's seen it. He said only real overflow on the trail that he's heard of is at a well-known point on the Yentna River, and the race trail should be well-groomed by Saturday.

&#8220It's in about as good of shape as we can ask for,” he said.

Contact Matt Tunseth at

352-2265 or matt.tunseth@

frontiersman.com.