Yukon Territory

Hardman dogs, handlers in Whitehorse

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Friday, February 22, 2002

The Ludington musher, who will be flying to Alaska for the Iditarod, spoke to the three Thursday. They told him they were going to stop to watch the mushers and dog teams from the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest finish that race, then the handlers and the dogs would continue on their drive to Alaska.

The Quest, one of two premier long-distance sled dog events in North America, was won on Wednesday by Canadian Hans Gatt. The Quest is generally considered to be a more difficult race than the Iditarod because of the harsh terrain and longer distance between checkpoints. The Iditarod, however, has the honor of being dubbed “The Last Great Race,” and gets more attention from the public than the Quest.

Hardman’s handlers are ahead of schedule in their drive and may make it Alaska before him. If so, they’ll be rested when he arrives and he may take his team on a warmup run Sunday and Monday.

Hardman said they have run a 25-mile trail to and from Hatcher Pass, north of Wasilla. The Iditarod begins with a ceremonial start Saturday, March 2 in Anchorage. The real race start is on Sunday, March 3 in Wasilla.

In Saturday’s Ludington Daily News: Meet the Dogs, a close up look at the four-legged members of Team Hardman and a special commemorative Iditarod poster featuring Al Hardman and a map of the Iditarod race course.