The Junior Yukon Quest (JYQ) is a distance race for youth mushers age 14-17. The race covers approximately 120 miles (190 kilometers) over two days. The 2004 race began in downtown Fairbanks on Saturday, February 7, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. Mushers travel through the boreal forest on the Chena River and woodland trails to the halfway checkpoint at Twin Bears Camp on Chena Hot Springs Road in the Chena River State Recreation Area, returning by the same route on the following day. (Information taken from the Junior Yukon Quest website)

Steve and I went down to the staging area to see the teams before the race started. There are 14 teams participating in this year's Jr. Yukon Quest. One of those teams belongs to Jan DeNapoli - the musher Steve and I had a blast meeting last fall, when we visited her place in Two Rivers. The team was being driven by Hilary Schwafel - a 17 year old from Fairbanks.

I snapped a few photos at the staging area before the race, and then drove onto Fort Wainwright to watch the racers come around the bend of the Chena River by the MWR (Morale, Welfare & Recreation) building. Within about 15 minutes, the first sled came around the corner. I watched for Hilary's purple sled and blue ski suit.

Jan DeNapoli

Start/Finish line at sunrise
Hilary and Jan in staging area


What a beautiful face!


Supplies in the sled

 

Hilary's Sled
Ready to run!

Hilary and team on Chena River

Some of the team
Photographs ©2004 Susan L. Stevenson