Detailed Trail Report from Tom Huntington

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Detailed Trail Report from Tom Huntington

Postby mamamia » Mon Mar 06, 2017 4:54 pm

(As posted to Ken anderson's facebook page)

Attention Iditarod mushers and fans: I've just received this highly detailed trail report from Galena resident, lifetime musher, and all-around good guy, Tom Huntington. Thanks Tom, this is a huge help to all!!

"The trail as I know it. Fairbanks to Koyukuk 2017 Iditarod

​Ok, here goes.
Fairbanks to Nenana; distance of 51 miles, from Pike’s to the Nenana railroad depot. The trail is all on the river. Hard, flat, easy going.
From Nenana on, You’re now following the original 1925 serum run. “ Great Race of Mercy”. 1st a listing of the original mushers is appropriate: “Wild Bill” Shannon, Dan Green, Johnny Folger, Sam Joeseph, Titus Nickolai, Dan Corning, Edgar Kalland, Harry Pitka, Bill McCarty, Edgar Nollner, George Nollner, Charlie Evans, Tom Patsy, Jack Nicolai “Jackscrew”, Victor Anagick, Myles Gonangnan, Henry Ivanoff, Lenard Seppala, Charlie Olsen, and Gunnar Kaasen.
Nenana to Manley Hot Springs; distance of 85 miles. After crossing the Tanana river and climbing the bank on the far side. The original trail begins. It’s 29 miles to Old Minto. All but the 1st two miles is groomed, as it gets traveled a lot. Plus it’s one of the main training trails for the area mushers. It follows the Parks hwy for about two miles, then along the powerline and railroad right of way. At about 7 miles the trail turns left away from the railroad tracks. It’s 22 miles to Old Minto. Follows an old cat trail, then lakes and flats with little portages in between.
After Old Minto, the trail gets narrow (lack of use). It’s 5 miles to Tanana slough, cross to the left and start the portage to the Old Tolovana roadhouse. It’s 18 miles of narrow portage with only a 2 mile long old slough starting at 1.5 miles and a lake about 3 miles shy of the roadhouse. It’s a little technical sled driving right before the roadhouseJ. Immediately after the roadhouse you’ll cross the mouth of the Tolovana river, again to the left and climbing the cut bank on the far side. The 1st mile after is good, the 2nd is not so good. It follows a creek uphill, not straight, maybe a little glacired, and maybe an overflow spot depending on the temperature. It levels off and fairly good going for 8 miles. 10 miles after crossing the Tolovana, you’ll connect to Charlie and Robin Bouldings trail to Manley, a distance of 23 miles. If they are there you can count on this being a well maintained trail.
Manley Hot Springs to Tanana; distance of 66 miles. Manley is home to Joee and Pam Redington. Joee is a champion, and well respected by all. Its back to river running to Tanana. The last time this way the trail followed the Tofty rd. Since it is now open to traffic year round it isn’t available for use. The first 44 miles after leaving Manley is usually a good trail. The lower Tanana can be a wind blown area. While I haven’t been out there this winter, I’d be very surprised if it doesn’t show the effects of the wind. Upon reaching the Yukon river you’ll cross at the “oldmission”. On the road the last 2 miles into town.
Tanana; home of musher name like Erhart, Moore, Roberts, and home of the TV show Yukon Men.
Tanana to Ruby; distance of 116 miles. The trail from Tanana downstream is usually good, but can be a tough go as it was two years ago. At 64 miles is the Kokrine Hills Bible Camp(active). From the bible camp to Ruby is 52 miles. The report this year is that even though the recent Irondog race just covered this section of trail, there has been a lot of new snow so the trailbreakers will be basically a new trail in sections. Lots of snow also means that there might be some overflow to deal with.
Ruby to Galena; distance of 51 miles. Note on Ruby: home of the “Yukon Fox”, Emmitt Peters.
The trail report this year is that it is good. All river running .
Galena to Huslia; distance of 84 miles. Note on Galena: home to the late Carl Huntington, the only musher to be champion to Iditarod, Anchorage Fur Rondy, and the Open North Amercian held in Fairbanks.
The trail leaving Galena follows lakes and old sloughs for about 5 miles then climbs the bank at Crow creek to begin the overland to Huslia. At 10 miles you’ll cross Bear creek, at about 13 miles you’ll cross a very big lake(Hourglass). Lakes and flats to about 19-20 miles then you’ll start travelling through jack spruce country. At 29 miles you’ll cross a small creek (Natlaratlen), at about 33 miles you’ll start getting to more lakes. At 34.5 miles, there’s a shelter cabin. The report is that wood for the stove is being hauled from Huslia. From there it’s more lakes and jack spruce until about 48 miles from Galena, where you’ll come to the Dulbi river for the 1st time. The 3rd time you come to it, you’ll cross and begin the portage to the Koyukuk river. You’re now at 58 miles, you’ll travel upriver for 3 miles climbing the bank on the right. There’s an old shelter cabin there. Wilson Sam’s place. It’s 21 miles to Huslia, all on lakes, flats, and tundra, with small portages .
Note on Huslia; home of the Huslia Hustler’s. Ground zero of mushing legends. Names like Jimmy Huntington, George Attla Jr., Cue Biefelt, Bergman Sam, Bobby Vent, and Warner Vent. Heck, at one time everyone had good dogs here. This towns champions, used only the best of what everyone had. Ask to see some of the private home trophy collections, it’s impressive.
Huslia to Koyukuk; distance of 86 miles. After leaving Huslia, you’ll follow the Koyukuk river downstream. At 8 miles you’ll climb the bank on the right. After lakes and flats you’ll climb to begin the Roundabout Mt portage. At 17.5 miles, you’ll get back to the Koyukuk river, Butch Yaska’s cabin is located here. The report is that wood is being hauled to this cabin as well. You’ll drop onto the river and go upstream for 2 miles and cross to begin the portage to “over the hill portage lake”. 1st leaving the river here is narrow, hopefully the trail crew will cut a few trees out of the way to make it safer. From there it’s about 13-14 miles across tundra, flats, lakes, and swamp to the lake. Leaving the lake at 34 mile, there’s a little climb. You’ll travel through some burnt country, then jack spruce country. At about 47 miles you’ll get to a fair sized lake, at 51 miles you’ll get to a really big lake (Coffee Can Lake). About 4 miles past CCL is Louie lake. This year the reprt is that there may be a wall tent put up next to the trail. If it’s windy out, usually it’s not as bad about midway between the lakes. At 58 miles you’ll cross a small creek, again at 61 miles but you’ll follow it for a little ways and cross. At 63 miles you’ll come to a lake with a shelter cabin on the far side. Leaving here, you’ll portage out to the Koyukuk river at 66 miles from Huslia. You’ll go downstream for almost 3 miles and climb the bank on the left. After a mile you should start following a trappers trail for about 4 miles, coming back to the river for the last time. It’s 10 miles to Koyukuk, all river running.
Note on Koyukuk and Huslia. These two villages are going the extra mile for Iditarod. Please remember that whenever you need an alternate route in the future.
Now, you’re back in country that you know. And I’m now out of my backyard.
Note, river running can be a lot of things; easy going and boring, downright nasty and miserable, calm, windy, drifts. Traveling as they are this year, if it’s windy it’ll probably be from the east or north. Yukon river valley(east) and Koyukuk river valley(east or north).
All this writing makes me want to go out and play. Hopefully, we’ll bump into each other out there somewhere.
Good luck, one and all, Iditarod mushers. My wish and hope is that you all mush within your training and the limits of YOUR teams capabilities and that everyone of you make it to Nome. Live your dream. J"
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Re: Detailed Trail Report from Tom Huntington

Postby mamamia » Tue Mar 07, 2017 7:01 am

Bump
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Re: Detailed Trail Report from Tom Huntington

Postby mira » Tue Mar 07, 2017 7:12 am

This is very useful, so useful I made it a sticky at least until we reach Koyukuk!
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