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4 articles
What does it actually take to breed a dog capable of surviving — and thriving — across 1,600 kilometres of Arctic wilderness? The answer is part genetics, part gut instinct, and part ongoing ethical debate. We went deep into Canada's sled dog breeding community to find out what separates a Quest contender from the rest of the kennel.
They weren't the favourites. A few of them weren't even sure they'd make it to the start line. But these four first-time Yukon Quest finishers crossed 1,600 kilometres of wilderness on willpower, stubbornness, and the kind of quiet courage that doesn't make headlines until it absolutely has to. Here are their stories.
They don't drive sleds or chase finish lines, but without them, the Yukon Quest simply couldn't run. Meet the volunteer veterinarians who spend weeks in the Arctic cold making life-or-death calls about the dogs at the heart of the race — and why they keep coming back.
The Yukon Quest doesn't start at the starting line — it starts in the mud of a BC summer or the dry hills of a Yukon autumn. We followed four Canadian mushers through their off-season routines to find out what it really takes to prepare for 1,000 miles of Arctic wilderness.