If you want to follow Kristy and the other mushers during this year's Yukon Quest, you have a couple of options.  We recommend trying the race-sponsored GPS trackers first, as they offer a trail overlay map and details on all mushers.  The info can be found by visiting Track Leaders.  Kristy's own personal SPOT GPS tracking info will also be here on our site on our GPS Tracker page.

If you watched the YouTube clip from our prior blog post with Kristy at the banquet, you might be curious about the SPOT GPS devices the mushers carry with them on the trail.  The device Kristy and Anna have (and is likely the same or very, very similar to those provided by races like the YQ) is pictured left.  The infamous "Help" button is hidden under a small cover on the left of the device. 

Kristy got a chance to visit with a group of kids visiting from St. Paul Island in the Bering Sea today.  Both Kristy and Paul spoke with the kids for a while on sled dog racing and caring for the dogs. 

Although Kristy allegedly prefers to wear an odd-numbered bib, she doesn't mind having drawn the #2 spot for this year's Yukon Quest.  Kristy is one of 24 mushers slated to take the field this year.

You can view all the banquet footage that goes with this picture by visiting YouTube.  There's neat quotes from several mushers, but the info specific to Kristy starts around the 2:25 mark.  You can also find a couple other pictures from the banquet on Flickr.   

Check out this article from KUAC's Emily Schwing with quotes from Kristy as her team goes through the mandatory vet checks.  You can access the article by clicking here.

Alaska is having a very robust winter this year, even by Alaska standards!  Temps in Anchorage have averaged 2.7 degrees F during January, one of the coldest on record.  The nearby communities of Cordova and Valdez have seen record snowfall (the latter having gotten over 26 FEET of snow since November).  And right now, Kristy and the other YQ mushers in Fairbanks are getting an early taste of what they can expect out on the trail with air temps dropping to nearly 50 degrees F below zero.

You can read more in an article from this weekend's Fairbanks Daily News - Miner. 

Kristy packed up all her gear and her dog team and left Kasilof for Fairbanks today.  After the 500+ miles of driving, she will have a few days to get settled in and make last minute preparations.  Wednesday, Feb. 1st is the Start & Draw Banquet, when Kristy will draw her starting position and bib number.  If you'll be in Fairbanks, try to catch the Meet the Mushers event on Thursday, Feb. 2nd at Alpine Lodge.  And then there's not much but nervousness and excitement separating Kristy from the 11am Alaska time race start on Saturday, Feb. 4th.  

To help you get geared up for the race, check out this article in the Chicago Tribune:
   http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/ct-trav-0129-yukon-dog-race-20120127,0,5598110.story