After the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the cancellation of last year’s Yukon Quest sled dog race — a first in the race’s 37-year history — some wondered whether it was the beginning of the end for the iconic annual event.
The previous year’s race had already seen a smaller roster of mushers than years before, there had been some internal squabbling and resignations over race rules, and some mushers were not happy with the board’s decision to cancel the 2021 race.
“There were some problems in the past. We all know that, and it sure looked like the Quest was going to go completely downhill,” said Hans