Alaska Skijor and Pulk Association’s 2004 Lee’s Cabin race was held after two years of poor winter conditions. This year's trail from Wickersham Dome Trailhead to Lee’s Cabin provided a wonderful 14 mile course for 6 local skijorers and 14 dogs on a sunny Saturday morning.  Even though the temperature dropped in Fairbanks Friday night to -24º F, the windless +2º F temperature at Wickersham Dome Trailhead was slightly misleading for the masses of skijorers who stayed in Fairbanks.

ASPA’s Lee’s cabin race is a traditional race that provides skijorers and dogs with a social and nutritious break after the first 7-mile sprint.  Noteworthy events made this year special.  Andy Seitz, a newcomer to this race, and his 3-dog team (Yeller, Mabel, Yeti) had a race time of 48 minutes and 28 seconds, finishing in first place with the fastest 3-dog time and second fastest course record.  

In a tight race for second, Cindy Salmon was six seconds faster going out to the cabin, but Mike Malvick was ten seconds faster coming back, which was just fast enough to give Malvick second place by only four seconds.  

Janet Smith was the fastest two-dog team (with Spanky and Rascal), taking fourth place with a time of 1 hour and 42 seconds, beating the only other two dog team Iris Wood, (with Smokey and Granite*) 1:18:51, by 18 minutes and 9 seconds.  We were happy to note that Iris was skijoring with a foster Second Chance League dog, Granite, coming in fifth place.  

In sixth place, with the only one dog team, were Joel Cladouhos and Fischer with a time of 1:42:13. Not only was this Joel’s first time to Lee’s Cabin, it was Joel's and Fischer’s first ASPA race and their first time skijoring hills.  Many of the returning teams had head-on passes with snowmachines, backcountry tourers, and large sleddog teams without incident.

Many thanks to Chad & Amy Carroll, Lisa Stuby, Cheryle Barrett, Nancy Hausle-Johnson, and Chris DuBois for the volunteer race support.

Also thank you to 49er Feeds for this year's race prizes.

And here’s the White Chile recipe that was served at Lee’s Cabin:

White Chile
Serves 7

*The Second Chance League is a newly formed group of mushers and other interested people who are volunteering to help sled dogs be successful and to help reduce the number of huskies that are euthanized at the Fairbanks shelter.  Granite, and other sleddogs, are available for adoption through the Second Chance League.  The League's website is located at: http://members.petfinder.org/~AK17/index.php.