Just like the regular mail, rain, sleet, snow, and warm weather can’t stop the Sled Dogs from delivering the mail.
The 34th annual Gold Rush Trail Sled Dog Mail Run kicks off today at the Troll Mountain Ski Resort, west of Quesnel, with the swearing in of the Mushers at 11:30, and the First Stage being run at 1 p.m.
“We have just over 20 mushers that are coming up from the local area and from Prince George,” says Ric Raynor, the President of the Sled Dog Mail Run Association.
“We have mushers who have traveled from as far as Oregon. No Skoijers this year that have registered, but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be any that show up at the last minute to race.”
The first day will end with the Association’s banquet at Troll Mountain, starting at 6 p.m.
Raynor says the Mail Run has had to shift to a Plan B for its third and Final Stage, as well as with the trails.
Trail crews have been out over the week to find new trails and shovel snow on them for a smoother journey for the sleds.
The normal Final Stage and Dash into Barkerville has been changed due to icy and dangerous conditions at the Historic Town. But, Raynor assures that “the mail will go through.”
Sunday, February 8’s schedule has been changed to have a second run of the Cornish Mountain Loop, and the Final Dash will now be to the Jack O’ Clubs Pub in Wells.
Raynor also says that despite the minor challenge, this year’s run has already been a success, with all the envelopes that were available to purchase having already sold out.
“We’ve had a great year for envelope sales; we sold out 1500 envelopes,” Raynor says. “Thank you to all of our outlets that sold envelopes for us from Prince George, Williams Lake, Wells, and Quesnel as well. From what I heard, we have mail going out to China, Australia, Japan, and Europe this year.”
According to the mail liaison for the Run, Books & Company in Prince George sold out of its stock of 150 envelopes twice.
The full Schedule of Events of this year’s Sled Dog Mail Run can be found on the event’s website.
Something going on in the Cariboo you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing cariboonews@vistaradio.ca.
