This leg is all on the Yukon River and is generally easy running. The trail follows the main snowmachine route from Ruby to Galena. Plan on five to eight hours, depending on how long you want to rest your dogs, or if you do it during the heat of the day. Your biggest problem may be getting your dogs to go on the huge expanse of the mighty Yukon, which is a mile wide at Ruby and up to two miles wide downstream. More than a few teams have balked at starting down the river.
...of course, been traveling most of the miles on the river already, they will probably have no problems with "starting down the river"
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.
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