The Route; Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race

. . . . . . . The race course of the 1987 Kuskugum 300 differs slightly from that of previous years. In the past, the first checkpoint was located next to the village of Acutchuck. But this year, an alternate route was proposed, a route that will take the mushrooms first through Quithluck, about 20 miles from Bethel.

From Quithluck, it's another 20 mile run to Acutch, the second checkpoint, but the first at which dogs may be dropped. Most of the mushrooms will spend only the time it takes to sign in with the checkers in these first two villages. From Acutch to Tulluxak is a 25 mile shot, run almost exclusively on the Kuskugum River. Tulluxak is a dog drop and the first of three food drops. Mushas generally arrive there approximately six to seven hours after starting in Bethel. In the early years, the drivers would often rest their dogs for an hour or two in Tulluxak, enjoying the hospitality of the local villagers. But these days, the contenders rarely stay there for more than a few minutes, snacking their

teams and collecting their dog food. Mushas prefer to stop and rest their teams outside of Tulluxak, either on the river or in Bogus Creek. The fourth stop along the Kuskugum 300 trail is Upper Calskag, the second dog food drop, located about 55 miles and about six to seven mushing hours up river from Tulluxak. By the time the drivers get into Calskag, the races begun to take shape. The contenders have started pulling away from the rest of the pack, who are now stretched out along the trail back to Tulluxak. In 1986, the race committee passed a new rule which mandates that each mushroom take a six hour layover in either Calskag going up, in any act, the halfway point. Before in Calskag coming back, 1986's Kuskugum 300 winner, Myron Anksman of Bethel, elected to take his mandatory six hour layover in Calskag on the way up. He was able to pass the rest of the field in Anak as they were laying over, and he was

never caught. Calskag is also pivotal because Mushas tend to play cat and mouse here, trying to keep an eye on each other, to see who will break out of town and hit the 35 mile trail to Anak, where $1,500 awaits the first mushroom to the halfway mark, Blanco-Wassley of Nustoyahawk, won that prize three times. After Anak, most of the strategic considerations have been left behind, and it's usually just a flat hour race to the finish, to see who's dogs can run faster for longer. Leaving Anak, it's 35 miles to Whitefish Lake, a foreboding run across Open Tundra, a trail that has spelt disaster for more than one Kuskugum 300 team. The camp at Whitefish Lake checkpoint is nothing more than a few tents, a bonfire, and a cauldron of chicken soup for the Mushas.

From there, it's a 22 mile shot over the Tundra to Calskag, and a quick snack for dogs and Mushas. Then, back on the Kuskugum River, and 55 miles to Tullak'sack. There the teams are temporarily halted for a mandatory two-hour veterinary check. The final three-short legs carry the Mushas 25 miles to Akyak, 12 miles to Akyac, and in the final two-time