Two Rivers musher battles conditions, beats field

Jan. 19, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - Allen Moore of Two Rivers survived brutal whiteout conditions to prevail in the Copper Basin 300 Sled Dog Race Monday evening.

Moore crossed the finish line in Glennallen at 9:16 to claim the $5,000 winner's check. He also won the race in 2005.

Whitehorse musher Sebastian Schnuelle finished second, and John Schandelmeier of MacLaren River was third.

Sheep Mountain's Zack Steer, who was leading the race through the first 200 miles, was forced to scratch when one of his dogs died on the trail.

On Thursday, Steer said preliminary autopsy results indicate the dog died from internal bleeding.

&#8220We suspect it was intestinal bleeding,” he said from his lodge in Sheep Mountain.

Ironically, Steer has been working with a team of veterinarians from the University of Oklahoma on a study looking at the issue of intestinal bleeding in sled dogs, which is believed to be the biggest danger facing the animals.

After his dog died, Steer dropped from the race, something he was contemplating anyway as the trail deteriorated.

&#8220I was planning on resting for a long time at Wolverine anyway,” he said. &#8220It was just pushing my dogs too hard, and after the dog passed away, it took any pleasure out of it at all,” Steer said.

Teams were slowed considerably by deep snow and punchy trail conditions, with snowfall of between 6 and 18 inches falling in the Copper River Basin on Sunday and Monday.

&#8220It was really, really slow,” Steer said. &#8220It was a challenge for all the dog teams.”

Only 11 of the 26 mushers who entered the race managed to cross the finish line.

Star-studded field

set for Kusko 300

Three Iditarod champions and four Yukon Quest winners will headline a stellar 19-team field for this year's Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race, which gets underway tonight.

Jeff King, Martin Buser and Gerry Riley are all winners of the &#8220Last Great Race,” while Aily Zirkle, Lance Mackey, Ramy Brooks and King all have Quest titles on their resumes.

Also competing for $100,000 in prize money are a number of other elite-level mushers, including Paul Gebhardt, Jon Little and Ed Iten. Willow's Linwood Fielder, who placed second in the 2001 Iditarod, is also in the race this year after spending a couple years away from competitive mushing to focus on his Juneau-based glacier tour business.

According to race co-manager Staci Gillian, this year's trail is in excellent shape, and the weather is expected to be clear and sunny throughout the event.

&#8220The weather is beautiful,” Gillian said Thursday from Bethel.

Gillian said race officials are thrilled with this year's lineup.

&#8220It's amazing,” she said. &#8220We've got the best of the best here.”

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265.