Yukon Quest: Spirit of the North Final Script Image Time Narration Start
zoom hit “run” as dogs emerge from snow shot 00.06 Through killing cold, over sixteen hundred
kilometres of sub-Arctic winter wilderness, weary and sore, they run. “musher
and dog” on the tilt down man to dog 00.22 During
the Yukon Quest sled-dog race, the far north of America tests each musher and dog
to the limit. Joran
Freeman ptc 00.34 WHEN
YOU’RE OUT THERE WHERE THERE’S NOTHING BUT ICE AND SNOW AND
DARKNESS YOU’VE JUST GOT TO DEAL WITH IT Bill
Steyer ptc 00.44 ALL
PART OF THIS RACE THAT’S WHY IT CAN BE A TOUGH RACE YOU’RE NOT ON
A GROOMED HIGHWAY Suzan
Amundsen ptc 00.52 THIS
IS THE TOUGHEST SLED DOG RACE ON EARTH. IT IS THIS RACE. THIS IS AN
UNBELIEVEABLE RACE. After
ivs 01.04 Those
who endure the Quest’s hardships see and feel this land as few do.
They touch the spirit of the north. Title 01.09 YUKON QUEST – SPIRIT OF THE NORTH Musher Suzan at home 01.18 IT’S A MAGIC OUT THERE – IT’S JUST
SOMETHING THAT’S AN ADDICTION AND I’VE MISSED IT. HEY
LILLYWHITE. After “…Lily White.” 01.28 Three times Suzan
Amundsen has tested herself and her dogs in the Quest. Her team is past its
prime, but she can’t resist the adventure. Suzan 01.39 THE POINT OF THE RACE FOR ME IS TO TRY AND GET THE
MAGIC BACK THAT THE QUEST OFFERS … THE CAMPING THE CHALLENGE THE PEOPLE
… SPENDING THE TIME WITH THE DOGS…. YOU’RE SO FOCUSED ON YOUR TEAM AND SAVING YOUR
LIFE. EVERYTHING YOU’VE GOT IS IN THAT SLED BAG.
YOU’VE GOT TO MINIMISE, YOU’VE GOT TO CONSERVE YOU’VE GOT
TO BE SMART YOU’VE GOT TO STRETCH THE LIMITS Suzan dogs running sequence 02.07 Suzan’s training her veteran racers alongside
young, untested dogs she found in the newspaper –
‘free-to-a-good-home.’ It’s going to be tough. Suzan 02.17 OH YEAH THERE’S
LOTS OF CHALLENGES IN THIS RACE – DEFINITELY – NOT FOR THE FAINT
OF HEART. Start on cut to Bill 02.28 Like Suzan, Bill Steyer’s raced the Quest
before – but his dogs are in their prime. Bill Steyer 02.35 IT’S TERRIFIC TO BE OUT THERE WITH YOUR DOGS
– YOUR BEST COMPANIONS – GETTING THEM THROUGH DIFFICULT OBSTACLES
BOTH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL AT CERTAIN POINTS ON THE RACE AND WORKING TOGETHER
AS A TEAM. Pan across vet check
shed cut to Bill 02.54 A week before the race, Bill takes his dogs for
their obligatory nose-to-tail medical check. Margy checks dogs 03.00 Head veterinarian
Margy Terhar and her team will watch over the health of every dog throughout
the Quest. Bill watches 03.15 Bill hopes that by keeping his dogs in top form,
he’ll outlast the opposition. Joran at vet check 03.23 Last year, Joran
Freeman amazed everyone by finishing fourth in just his first Quest.
He’s a serious competitor, despite owning barely enough dogs. Joran 03.32 I HAVE A SMALL KENNEL I PICK THE DOGS THAT I HAVE
AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT GO I DON’T REALLY HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF ALTERNATIVES SO SOME OF THE DOGS AREN’T NECESSARILY REALLY
CAPABLE OF GOING ON THESE LONG TRIPS BUT THEY LIKE BEING OUT THERE AND I
TRAIN WITH THEM SO THEY GET TO GO. THANKS A LOT Graphic 1 zoom in from North
America to race route 03.59 The Yukon Quest runs between Alaska
and Canada, sixteen
hundred kilometres from Fairbanks over four
daunting summits and along the frozen Yukon River to Whitehorse. After tilt down to start 04.14 Race day in Fairbanks.
It’s twenty degrees below freezing – a normal day for winter in Alaska. Five hundred and seventy dogs in forty-one teams
begin a journey many will fail to finish. Even experienced mushers like Suzan are nervous. Suzan 04.35 SO ONCE I GET GOING DOWN THE TRAIL I’LL BE OK
BUT RIGHT NOW I HAVEN’T HAD MUCH SLEEP AND I’M THINKING DID I
PACK EVERYTHING AND ARE MY KIDS GOING TO BE OK – ALL THESE THINGS
– I’M A SINGLE PARENT SO IT’S A TOUGH DEAL. SO ALL OF THIS TOGETHER IS A CHALLENGE BUT I LOVE IT AND SO SINCE IT’S IN MY BLOOD TO
DO ‑ I LOVE TO DO IT ‑ THIS IS MY SIXTH BIG RACE ‑ I COULD
NOT HELP BUT SIGN UP. In after Suzan line. 05.02 For the swiftest, there will be prize money. But
the Quest celebrates other kinds of winners. Margy Terhar and her veterinarian team judge the
highly-respected vets’ choice award for the musher who best combines
good racing with good dog care. On c/up rope straining 05.26 At two-minute intervals, the mushers abandon their
everyday lives for the trail – and the adventure begins. After man falls over dogs and sled goes. 05.55 The winter north will
test each team differently. Just before cut to Suzan’s dogs 06.00 Suzan’s challenge is to get as far as she can
towards the finish with her untried combination of old and young dogs. Suzan 06.08 I DON’T COMPETE
TO WIN I THAT’S NOT MY GOAL (HIKE HIKE HIKE HIKE HIKE) MY GOAL IS TO DO
THE BEST I CAN WITH WHATEVER I’VE GOT Bill slides up to the mark. 06.17 Bill Steyer hopes to improve his personal best
fourteenth place. His dogs are as keen to run as he is. Joran tilt to dogs 06.31 Joran Freeman wants to win. But his team is already
at a disadvantage. (PAUSE) Each sled is allowed fourteen dogs. Today,
Joran can muster only thirteen. Departure sequence 06.51 For two weeks and sixteen hundred kilometres,
mushers and dogs must rely on each other to survive the hardships of the
north. Team pass under bridge 07.02 At first the Quest follows the frozen Chena river.
Although the whole trail is marked, little of the journey will be this easy. Aerial 07.16 Mushers’ strategies vary. Most run their
teams for four to six hours, then rest them for the same time. Others run
longer and rest longer. Passing 07.28 Race etiquette requires an overtaking team to call
‘trail’ and the slower team to let them pass. End passing 07.42 The lead dog sets a team’s pace. Mushers
change speed by putting faster or slower animals in front. First sled into checkpoint. 07.54 Fifty kilometres out is the first of the
race’s dog drops – places where mushers can offload sick or
injured animals. (PAUSE) They also shed the numbered bibs that identify them
to spectators. Soon the watchers will give way to wilderness. “But …” on the cut to foot wrong
way 08.20 But one sled is going the wrong way – back to
the dog drop. The north has struck an early blow. It’s one of
Suzan’s dogs. Suzan 08.32 I CAME BACK. OH WELL SHE WAS RUNNING A LITTLE FUNNY
AND JUST COMING IN HERE SHE FELL SO NO, KNOWING WHERE WE’RE GOING
IT’S NOT FAIR. SHE’S A REALLY GOOD DOG TOO SO IT’S
UNUSUAL – SO SOMETHING’S NOT RIGHT. In after Suzan 08.56 The loss of a lead dog so early is hard on Suzan,
and increases the load on the rest of the team. Each dropped dog narrows the margin for errors
– and the race has hardly begun. INFO ONLY 09.16 Part 2 Opening anonymous race running. Communities on sign shot 09.23 The annual Yukon Quest is a major event in the far
north. Despite the cold, remote Alaskan communities turn out in support
– but even their generosity is subject to rules. After they’ve grabbed muffins. 09.40 Any help ‑ even muffins ‑ can only be
accepted if it’s available to every team. Dark roadside 09.49 In February this far north, there’s barely
eight hours of daylight. The Quest continues round the clock, each team
following a rhythm of running and rest. Sleep will be rare and precious. After road crossing wide 10.06 At night the temperature drops to minus thirty. But
sled-dogs run hot. They’re so attuned to the cold that even winter
sunshine can make them overheat. They can run harder at night. Wide arrival 10.24 At the first checkpoint, a hundred and sixty
kilometres from the start, every team must stop for at least two hours. See Bill walk to cam 10.37 Here Bill Steyer collects pre-dropped supplies
— food, batteries and dry clothes. Straw c/up 10.47 There’s also straw for his weary dogs to sleep
on. Wide dogs standing around 10.53 At the end of the first day, the vets examine every
dog for injury or stress. Melanie works 11.01 This is the third time vet Melanie Donofro has
volunteered to check dogs at the Quest. Melanie 11.08 I TRY TO DO IT VERY
SYSTEMATICALLY SO I DON’T MESS UP WHEN I’M REALLY TIRED. I
ALWAYS CHECK MY FEET … SO I’VE CHECKED MY WRIST, ELBOW, AND
SHOULDER … AND THEN I’LL JUST WORK MY HIP A LITTLE BIT. WHEN
THEY’RE LAYING DOWN I HATE TO MAKE THEM GET UP BUT IF IT’S SORE
THEY’RE GONNA TELL ME Team arrived at checkpoint 11.33 Alaskan huskies are
bred to race. Far north vet Nathalie Fortier knows what to look for. Nathalie in straw smooching dog 11.43 WHAT THEY WANT IS GOOD FEET, A GOOD APPETITE UNDER
ANY CONDITION, A DOG THAT HAS A NICE GAIT ATHLETIC GAIT, A NICE TROT BECAUSE
THAT’S THE MOST ECONOMICAL GAIT. SO THEY’LL BREED THE DOGS THAT
HAVE THE CHARACTERISTICS THAT THEY LIKE THAT’S WHY YOU GET ALL THE
VARIETY OF COLOURS AND LOOKS BUT THEY’RE ALL PRETTY SWEET. I’M GONNA SHOVE YOU IN MY POCKET AND TAKE YOU
HOME…. Sleeping dog 12.06 Suzan’s team has moved up three places despite
dropping a dog and getting tangled on the trail. Suzan to camera / dogs being sorted at checkpoint
line 12.14 THEY WANTED TO GO THE
ONE WAY IT WAS FULL OF WATER SO I SCREAMED AT THEM TO GO LEFT AND THEY GOT
WRAPPED IN THE TREE SO I HAD TO RUN IN THERE AND TRY AND UNWRAP EVERYBODY SO
I WAS IN THE WATER THERE AND THE ICE FOR I BET YOU HALF AN HOUR Straight after Suzan 12.31 Mushers and dogs need all the rest they can get. An
hour up the trail there’s a dangerously steep climb. Graphic 2 shows first quarter of race 12.40 The Quest’s first four hundred kilometres take
mushers across exposed mountain summits towards the Arctic circle and the
mighty Yukon river. Aerial Rosebud 12.51 The summit of Rosebud Ridge rises almost eight hundred
metres in just sixteen kilometres. Team up hill from in front 13.00 As they climb, the
temperature drops. And the wind bites deeply into musher and dog alike. Musher encourages dogs profile 13.17 Mushers try to keep their teams moving. If they
stop, they may not start again. And this is no place to rest. Red man pushing 13.28 Rosebud
tests the fitness of mushers as much as their dogs. Sequence blue hatted man’s team climbs R to L. 13.39 Experience tells on the climb. Veterans sacrifice
their own comfort to lighten their load beyond the survival gear they all
have to carry. 13.51 Rookies who pack too much pay dearly for it. Connie HIKE HIKE HIKE On cut 13.56 But Connie Frerichs is no rookie. This is her twelfth Quest. 14.07 She’s only finished four times, but she keeps
coming back. 14.15 The climb pushes musher and dogs to the edge of
exhaustion, but their spirit keeps them going. At top 14.39 At last, the summit. Descent shots 14.47 But descents are more dangerous than climbs. If
mushers fail to slow their sleds, they could run down their own dogs. Over ice 15.01 The valley floor offers no respite. Thin ice plagues
the racers. When we see him out in front. 15.13 Bruno Baureis checks
the ice in front of his dogs. If he falls into water, he’ll need to
light a fire quickly to dry out before the cold numbs him beyond self-help. Joran crossing ice 15.28 Joran Freeman spreads his weight across the ice as
much as he can. He’s moved from fortieth place to fourteenth, but
he’s dropped two dogs. Mushers can’t replace dogs, and must have
at least six to continue. Joran’s already down to eleven. Into Bill’s words 15.49 At the next dog drop a relieved Bill Steyer stops to
rest. Cu dog 15.58 His dogs have come over Rosebud well – better
than their musher. Bill 16.03 IT’S FUNNY BECAUSE I RUN A LOT AND I VIEW
MYSELF IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE – BUT GOD – JUST GETTING UP SOME OF
THOSE STEEP SLOPES ON ROSEBUD … IT’S LIKE WHOA … I
DON’T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF I WASN’T IN HALF WAY DECENT
SHAPE. After Bill talk and into aerial Eagle. 16.21 Bill and his team can’t relax. Ahead lies
Eagle summit. At eleven hundred metres, it’s one of the Quest’s
most dangerous challenges. And to make matters worse, a blizzard is blowing
in. Below summit sled rank 16.40 The racers fear winds that can blow a team off their
feet and snow so thick they won’t be able to see their lead dogs. But most of them decide to tackle Eagle before the
full fury of the storm strikes. Into Suzan line. 17.09 Along with her veteran dogs, Suzan Amundsen knows
what to expect. Suzan 17.11 OH EAGLE SUMMIT ALWAYS MAKES MY STOMACH KINDA CHURN
… IT’S DANGEROUS AND IT’S EXCITING AND IT’S A
NIGHTMARE IS WHAT IT IS. On pull back 17.30 By travelling into the teeth of the storm, Suzan and
the others risk getting snowed in. But there’s nothing to be gained from
waiting. The Quest never stops for bad weather ‑ no matter how
treacherous. On c/up dog jackets 17.49 Neither dog jackets,
fur, nor human clothing takes the bite out of a northern blizzard. The only
hope is to keep going. Disappearing over the summit after cheering 18.22 Finally, the storm passes. (PAUSE) Bill, Joran,
and Suzan make it over the summit and down to the safety of the next
checkpoint. Into Suzan’s words 18.32 But Eagle pushed Suzan to the brink. Suzan 18.35 WELL I GOT IN AT THREE THIS MORNING I NEEDED TO GET
SOME SLEEP SO I GOT THREE HOURS SLEEP THAT’S THE FIRST THREE HOURS IN
THREE DAYS I’VE HAD ACTUALLY I FEEL QUITE GOOD I’M A LITTLE STIFF IT WAS TERRIBLE GOING UP THERE WERE JUST GLACIERS,
EVERYBODY WAS SLIDING AROUND ON THE ICE, THE DOGS, I HAD TO PUT BOOTIES ON
BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY ROCKS UP THERE THIS YEAR. SO THEY SLIPPED AND SLID – OH IT WAS JUST IT
TOOK US THREE HOURS TO GO FIVE MILES UP OVER THE SUMMIT AND THAT’S CRAZY IT’S TOUGH IT’S REALLY TOUGH. I WAS
REALLY DISCOURAGED. I ALMOST SCRATCHED I THOUGHT I DON’T NEED TO DO
THIS FOR ME OR FOR THEM BUT THEN I THOUGHT WELL I’LL GIVE IT A GO AND
I’M GLAD I DID. 19.30 Suzan’s dogs all made it down the mountain. One musher wasn’t so lucky. For head vet
Margy Terhar, this is the job she dreads. Margy 19.42 LAST NIGHT WE HAD A DOG DIE DURING THE RACE. HE WAS
COMING DOWN WITH HIS TEAM OFF OF EAGLE SUMMIT
WHICH IS A TRICKY SPOT AND IS VERY STEEP AND LONG … Before we hear him. 19.52 A veteran of two Quests, race judge Joe May knows
Eagle well. I/v Joe May 19.57 IT’S SO STEEP IN PLACES ON SOME OF THE PITCHES
THAT THE SLED IS YOU CAN’T STOP THE SLED. HE’S SLOWING THE SLED
AND HE’S NOT ABLE TO STOP THE SLED. APPARENTLY HE GOT SLACK IN THE
TOWLINE AND THE DOGS WERE TANGLED…. I/v Margy at plane 20.13 THERE WAS A TANGLE WITH THE DOGS AND THIS ONE
APPARENTLY GOT CAUGHT IN THE NECKLINE AND ASPHIXIATED RATHER QUICKLY…. Plane taking off Margy i/v 20.21 WE ARE SENDING HIM TO FAIRBANKS TO THE UNIVERSITY WHERE THE
PATHOLOGIST WILL DO AN AUTOPSY AND WE WILL FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. IT’S A REALLY SAD THING WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND
IT’S VERY HARD ON THE MUSHER IT’S LIKE LOSING A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY I/v Joe May 20.38 ONCE IN A BLUE MOON SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS
… AND YOU CAN ONLY SIT IN THE STRAW AND CRY WITH THE GUY. Music break When we see Bill. 21.30 Circle City checkpoint. Bill Steyer is one of few
mushers still with all fourteen of the dogs he started with four hundred
kilometres ago. But his sled isn’t faring so well. Voice off 21.45 WHEN DID YOU BREAK YOUR SLED? Bill 21.46 IT’S BROKE? JUST NOW. DAMN. 21.54 Race rules require mushers to make their own repairs
without outside help. Bill 21.59 I’LL FIX IT. 22.02 But the job will eat into Bill’s precious rest
time. End on c/up spaghetti on plate. 22.11 The tiny Yukon river
settlement of Circle welcomes the Quest with shelter, warmth, and food. 22.20 But the racers’ bodies are screaming for
sleep. Joran on floor 22.28 Joran Freeman’s keen sense of competition has
helped him catch the leaders. But even the most driven of mushers has to
rest sometime. Bill out with dogs 22.41 Bill Steyer’s
making sure his dogs get all the rest they need. Bill with dogs 22.47 RIGHT GOOSE? IT’S KINDA THE POINT IN THE RACE
WHERE THEY MIGHT FEEL A LITTLE ACHY. EVERYBODY LIKES A MASSAGE AFTER DOING A LOT OF EXERCISE. IT’S A GOOD WAY TO WARM MY HANDS UP TOO. Bill with dogs WHEN YOU’RE OUT THERE WITH THEM FOR TWO WEEKS
YOU REALLY DEVELOP A GOOD BOND WITH YOUR DOGS AND IT’S A SPECIAL
EXPERIENCE. Diane on shot in which we see her. 23.25 By now the teams are spread out along the trail.
It’s the next night when rookie Diane Allen finally arrives. Vet
Nathalie Fortier checks Diane’s dogs, and the news is not good. Nathalie 23.47 SHE REALLY HAD HER ACT TOGETHER. SHE GOT IN AND GOT
HER STOVE GOING HER DOG CARE IS GOOD
THERE’S NO PROBLEM WITH THE DOG CARE SHE JUST HAD PROBLEMS IN THE
ROUTINE AND RUNNING AND HOW OFTEN TO SNACK THEM AND THAT SORT OF THING
… Diane 24.02 I HAVE THREE DOGS THAT ARE TOO SKINNY TO CONTINUE
AND ONE OF THEM IS MY MAIN LEADER – I WON’T BE ABLE TO GET ENOUGH
GROCERIES ON THEM EVEN IF I STAY FOR 24 HOURS ‑ SO I’M DONE FOR
THE YEAR. SNIFF AND YEAH IT’S TOUGH Suzan scrapes sled 24.23 Suzan understands Diane’s heartbreak. She
once scratched just two hundred and fifty kilometres from the finish. Suzan 24.31 WHEN THEY GO THEY GO, YOU HAVEN’T GOT ANY
CHOICE. I’VE BEEN THERE … YOU CAN’T PUSH
TOO HARD – THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS. SO I AM NOT PUSHING TOO HARD I
CAN GUARANTEE IT. I’M THE ONE THAT
HAS NO SLEEP. THEY’VE BEEN DOING REALLY WELL … Woman puts dog in truck 24.47 After Circle, there’s no vehicle access to the
race for five hundred kilometres. Joe i/v 24.53 OH LOGISTICALLY
IT’S A JUMP OFF POINT. IF ANYONE HAS ANY DOUBT ABOUT BEING ABLE TO
MAKE IT TO DAWSON
TO THE NEXT ROAD
CONNECTION THIS IS THE PLACE TO PUT THEM IN THE TRUCK. IT’S A GOOD PLACE TO
CALL IT A DAY IF YOU DON’T WANT TO DO THE REST OF IT. Suzan 25.13 THIS IS THE TIME YOU THINK WELL IF I’M GOING
NOW I’M IN IT TO DAWSON
SO FIX WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO FIX ANYWAY SO … Suzan leaves 25.26 Suzan is one of the last mushers to leave Circle.
But the team led by Marcelle Fressineau hasn’t even arrived. Ham radio 25.42 Ham radio operators
know when she left the last checkpoint, but now she’s disappeared. Wide Nathalie dressing. 25.49 Vet Nathalie Fortier joins a search party. Nathalie 25.53 IT’S MOST LIKELY THE DOGS HAVE QUIT ON HER ON
THE TRAIL AND SHE’S WAITING FOR THEM TO GET UP … SO WE’RE
JUST GOING TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE SHE’S OK Pilot 26.13 I’M GOING TO FLY DOWN THE TRAIL AND SEE IF WE
CAN FIND THE LOCATION OF THE MUSHER AND THE DOG TEAM WE SURE HOPE THAT THIS IS ALL FOR NAUGHT WE HOPE
THAT IT’S JUST TAKING A LITTLE EXTRA TIME INFO ONLY 26.18 COMMERCIAL BREAK 2 Part 3 Plane 26.19 Marcelle
may be stranded, lost, or injured. Officials have to find her. Mel Besharah race judge reiterates the story 26.24 SHE LEFT CENTRAL 36 HOURS AGO AND BECAUSE SHE LEFT
LAST WE HAVEN’T GOT ANYBODY BEHIND HER TO FOLLOW UP AND FIND OUT
WHAT’S GOING ON AND SHE HASN’T SHOWN UP WE SENT AN AIRPLANE OUT
TO LOOK FOR HER AND SEE IF WE CAN SPOT HER FROM THE AIR Graphic 3 showing route from Circle to Dawson 26.41 While officials backtrack for Marcelle, the race
follows the Yukon River into the wilderness, heading for the halfway point in
Dawson City. Aerial over broken ice. 26.54 Suzan 26.59 THIS IS AN UNBELIEVEABLE RACE. THE CONDITIONS THAT
WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH ARE REALLY QUITE HORRENDOUS. THERE’S SOME REALLY REALLY BAD CROSSINGS ON
THE RIVER AND THE JUMBLE ICE SO I TRY AND SHOOT THROUGH THOSE CROSSINGS AS
STRAIGHT AS I CAN MANAGE MY SLED AND NOT BANG INTO THOSE ICE CHUNKS OH
IT’S LIKE HITTING PARKED CARS WITH YOUR SLED HEY NOTHING MOVES THEM. Suzan 27.25 I HAVE TO KEEP SWITCHING LEADERS IT’S A
CONSTANT LEADER SWITCH IS WHAT I’M DOING JUST TO KEEP THEM GOING. I
BURN UP A LOT OF ENERGY JUST TO KEEP MY TEAM
GOING WHICH IS DRAINING ME. THIS IS THE TOUGHEST SLED DOG RACE ON EARTH. IT IS
THIS RACE. Hit Nathalie on shot of her in plane 27.54 Back down the trail,
Nathalie Fortier continues the search for missing musher Marcelle Fressineau. Nathalie voice track over pilot and Nathalie looking
out of windows, seeing Marcelle on river, landing and loading dogs on plane,
plane taking off 28.02 WE FOUND HER ON THE RIVER ON I BELIEVE IT’S
CALLED BIRCH CREEK. SO THE PILOT PUT THE PLANE DOWN ON THE RIVER BY THE
DOGS AND I TOOK A LOOK AT HER TEAM AND THE DOGS QUIT ON HER. SHE RAN OUT OF
FOOD FOR THE DOGS AND HERSELF, RAN OUT OF FUEL. AND HER DOGS JUST WERE NOT
GOING ANYWHERE. THEY WERE A PRETTY SAD BUNCH ALL OF THEM AND I REALISED THAT MAYBE SHE WAS HYPOGLYCAEMIC,
HYPOTHERMIC SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I THINK SHE WAS PRETTY SCARED WE HAD SOME CHOCOLATE AND GAVE HER THAT AND SHE
SEEMED A LITTLE BIT BRIGHTER AFTER THAT SHE SEEMED A LITTLE BIT CHEERIER
… Nathalie vo / Marcelle in plane plus dog SO SHE GOT FLOWN OUT WITH THE LAST DOG Plane landing met by judge Mel and vet joanne THE NIGHT THAT SHE SPENT ON THE RIVER SHE APPARENTLY
WASN’T QUITE SURE SHE WAS GOING TO MAKE IT OUT, SO WE’RE GLAD WE
GOT HER OUT. Suzan wide on Yukon
at Eagle 29.09 Archive 29.19 In 1911 her relative Raold Amundsen used sled-dogs
to win the race to be first to the South Pole. Six years earlier, he’d arrived in Eagle with
news of an Arctic odyssey. Suzan 29.37 AS I CAME UP THE RIVER I WAS JUST THINKING I WONDER
IF THIS IS HOW HE CAME IN. Zoom into Roald’s eyes statue 29.41 Roald Amundsen came here to telegraph the world that
he’d discovered the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic
to the Pacific. Suzan under Eagle architecture / then synch 29.53 ALL THESE OLD BUILDINGS WERE HERE THEN HE STAYED HERE FOR ABOUT FIVE MONTHS OR SOMETHING
THERE WAS A MAN’S RED LODGE CLUB AND THEY ALL WORE TUXES AND STUFF
… I DIDN’T QUITE COME IN WITH THE SAME FANFARE
BUT I’M HERE Suzan 30.11 I THINK THE DOGS WERE A MEANS TO AN END FOR HIM. I
DON’T KNOW IF HE HAD LOVE FOR THE DOGS … YOU KNOW I DON’T
KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE RUN DOGS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY
LOVE THE DOGS. THEY MIGHT LOVE THE THRILL OF THE WHOLE THING ….BUT NOT
THE DOGS I RUN THE DOGS JUST BECAUSE I LOVE TO RUN DOGS AND I
LOVE MY DOGS. Hairy dogs then Wayne Hall 30.34 The trails around Eagle are home to these big,
hairy, working dogs – they live here with fur trapper Wayne Hall.
Teams like this pioneered the north. They’re not fast but
they’re tough. After seven hundred kilometres, Wayne’s sled is the only one still
pulled by a full team. Bill before vet. 30.57 Bill Steyer’s dropped five dogs, but the rest
check out well with vet Melanie Donofro. Melanie 31.04 THIS IS A GREAT FOOT. HE’S DONE A NICE JOB
WITH THESE DOGS YOU SEE GOOD MUSHERS KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THESE
DOGS’ FEET … THEY PUT OINTMENT ON THEM, THEY RUN THEM WITH
BOOTIES. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT DOG JUST RAN EIGHTY MILES? IT’S
AMAZING. Sunset to dogs resting. 31.21 Bill’s done well. Here at Eagle, Nathalie
Fortier is overrun with dropped dogs. Nathalie 31.27 NORMALLY WE DON’T GET MORE THAN TEN OR FIFTEEN
DOGS UP HERE AND WE’VE GOT I GUESS THIRTY NOW. I GUESS THERE’S A
FEW REASONS I THINK THE TRAIL’S PROBABLY A BIT ROUGHER, SOME AREAS ARE
PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT ROUGHER, AND PROBABLY A COMBINATION OF THE MUSHERS
DROPPING OFF DOGS A LOT QUICKER THAN THEY NORMALLY DO. MOST OF THE DOGS HAVE SHOULDERS AND WRIST INJURIES
AND A LOT OF THE SHOULDER INJURIES YOU HAVE TO DROP THEM THEY’RE JUST
NOT GOING TO GET BETTER IN THE RACE. Dog into bag 31.52 Despite their
injuries, these dropped dogs would rather be with their teams. They’re
pack animals, born to run, born with the spirit of the north in their veins. In truck 32.07 Secure in their bags, they’ll be flown across
the Canadian border to the nearest road head at Dawson. Fly along river. 32.20 For those still running, there’s a summit and
the frozen Yukon river ‑ another two
hundred and fifty kilometres of trail to Dawson City. Aerial Dawson
into stills 32.32 The Klondike gold rush gave birth to Dawson a century ago.
Thousands sought riches from an unforgiving land. On tilt to dogs 32.42 Sled dogs pulled vital winter supplies. Dog-mushers
delivered mail until as recently as nineteen sixty three. Present architecture 32.53 Dawson’s retained its gold rush
heritage, only now the town is mining tourism. Musher arriving. 33.04 The Quest revives Dawson’s colourful history. It’s a chance to show outsiders the spirit of
the north in a town that never lost it. Into media darling synch 33.13 Mushers are just relieved to be here. Shannon grab 33.16 …AND THEN TODAY IT’S LIKE OK WE’RE
BACK TO NORMAL… Suzan at camp with dog and vet 33.22 In Suzan’s team, experience is proving
stronger than youth. Another young dog has succumbed to the trail. Suzan 33.29 POOR GUY, THIS IS HIS FIRST RACE HE’S GOING
WOW WHAT IS THIS? SO BEFORE HE NEVER WANTS TO RUN AGAIN IT’S SMART TO
DROP ... YOU KNOW … WHEN IN DOUBT LEAVE THEM OUT. HE DOESN’T NEED TO GO ANY MORE IT’S TOO
STRESSFUL FOR HIM SO I’LL JUST TAKE THE OLD GUYS. Dogs in tents 33.48 Now every team must rest for thirty-six hours.
It’s the only time handlers are allowed to tend the dogs – and
mushers can get their first decent sleep in a week. Graphic 4 34.02 From Dawson, mushers
climb to the highest point in the race, leaving the Yukon
river to follow old trails blazed by prospectors. Leader leaves 34.12 The leading musher is Peter Butteri. (pause for yell) He’s on his tenth Quest. He’s finished
in the top seven five times. This could be his year. Joran leaves Dawson 34.25 Only four hours behind, Joran Freeman still has nine
dogs, and he’s poised to strike for the lead. Zoom down slope 34.43 Fifty
kilometres out of Dawson,
King Solomon’s Dome rises twelve hundred metres. With bodies and minds
numbed by freezing winds, it’s easy to make bad decisions. Joran up hill 35.00 Joran pushes hard on the slopes of the Dome. The
leaders are all travelling about the same speed, so to move up, Joran will
have to take shorter breaks. Bill leaves head 35.16 Six hours behind Joran, Bill Steyer and his nine
dogs prepare to leave Dawson. Bill 35.23 I THINK THOSE TOP TEAMS ARE PRETTY MUCH OUT OF TOUCH
UNLESS ONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE SOME PROBLEMS – THEY’RE A GOOD SIX
OR MORE HOURS AWAY THAT’S PRETTY HARD TO MAKE UP. EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE PRETTY HEALTHY WHICH IS GOOD
BECAUSE I NEED TO HANG ON TO NINE DOGS AS LONG AS I CAN … MAYBE ALL THE
WAY TO THE FINISH LINE THAT WOULD BE AWESOME Suzan leaves head 36.03 A long thirty hours behind Bill, Suzan departs.
Only one of her free-to-a-good-home dogs is still on her team. Suzan psyching up the dogs 36.12 WE’RE GOING TO WHITEHORSE ALL RIGHT PUPPIES ARE YOU READY
SHADOW DOG? COME ON YOU GUYS. I’M
DOWN TO MY OLD GUYS BASICALLY. SO THAT’S GREAT. WE’RE GOING TO
HAVE A FUN CAMPING TRIP HERE I’VE GOT ENOUGH SUPPLIES FOR A WEEK. Suzan 36.30 CAN YOU LEAD FOR ME TODAY UNTIL WE GET OUT OF TOWN?
I NEED SOME SMART GUYS UP FRONT OK? Suzan 36.42 I’M
HAPPY JUST TO FINISH. OH YEAH. IN FACT I CAN’T WAIT. THAT’S AN
ATTITUDE ISN’T IT. THIS IS MY CURTAIN CALL FOR LONG-DISTANCE MUSHING.
RIGHT HERE. THANKS A LOT BYE.
GOOD DOGS. HERE WE GO. Joran crossing at Pelly
/ into mccabes 37.48 Two days and three hundred and seventy kilometres
out of Dawson, Joran Freeman has fought his way up to second place ‑ by
cutting rest. Joran 37.59 WHEN I WAS AT THE LAST CHECKPOINT I ONLY GOT ABOUT
45 MINUTES OF SLEEP AND I JUST KNOW THAT IT AFFECTED ME SO THAT’S ONE
OF THE REASONS WHY I STOPPED HERE JUST BECAUSE I KNEW THAT I’D BE OUT
ON THIS TOUGH SECTION OF TRAIL AND FIGHTING JUST TO STAY AWAKE AND I JUST
DON’T WANT TO DO THAT I DID IT EARLIER – LAST NIGHT I GUESS IT
WAS. YOU JUST MOVE ON AND FALL ASLEEP ON THE SLED AT
TIMES HOLD ON AND GET SHAKEN OFF AND TOSSED AROUND BUT OTHER THAN THAT IF YOU
CAN GET INTO A CHECKPOINT AND ISOLATE YOURSELF FROM THE COMMOTIONS THEN ALL
THE BETTER BUT IT’S REAL HARD BECAUSE YOU’VE GOT STRATEGY TO
THINK OF, PEOPLE JOSTLING ABOUT, YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHO’S LEAVING
WHEN, YOU’VE GOT TO EAT, YOU’VE GOT TO PREPARE FOR YOUR NEXT
DEPARTURE, YOU’VE GOT TO CARE FOR YOUR DOGS…. Woman wakes Joran 38.55 Joran’s requested wakeup call comes after just
one hour. Joran exits dark 39.05 Now cold combines with exhaustion to make every
movement and every thought an effort. Joran exits dark 39.15 The trail returns to the Yukon
River, where the temperature plunges below minus forty. Long pan after dawn 39.40 At the next checkpoint Joran and his dogs are only
four hours behind leader Peter Butteri. Peter leaves 39.54 Under pressure from Joran, Peter heads out. But
he’s rested for seven hours. C/up Joran 40.04 Joran is keen to follow, but vet Melanie Donofro is
concerned about his weary dogs. Melanie working with Joran’s dogs 40.10 ANOTHER THING IS THAT ALL ALONG THE PAD …
IT’S REAL PUFFY AND THERE’S A BIG OLD ABRASION RIGHT IN THERE.
THIS SHOULD NOT BE LIKE THIS AND THEN HE’S GETTING THESE LESIONS AND
I’M WONDERING IF IT’S NOT THE HAIR THAT’S DOING IT AND IF THERE’S ANY WAY YOU COULD DOUBLE BOOTIE
… HOPEFULLY WITH THE DMSO IN THERE IT’LL HELP DECREASE THE
PUFFY. THEY’RE LIKE RUNNING ON BLISTERED FEET … POOR THINGS
… Dogs 40.42 Before Joran can go anywhere, he must do something
about his dogs’ feet. Sleeping mushers in checkpoint 40.53 He tends to sore paws while other mushers get the
sleep Joran so badly needs. Joran leaves 41.06 Their feet tended to, Joran’s dogs find it in
themselves to answer his call to run once more. Night running sequence into Suzan. 41.19 41.27 While the Quest leaders fight it out, the teams
behind them compete in equally demanding contests. Through the bitter nights of the last few hundred
kilometres, Suzan has had to feed her dogs’ spirits as much as their
bodies. Suzan 41.38 THAT WAS A LONG RUN
BABY EVERYBODY GETS
DEPRESSED ABOUT THIS TIME THAT’S IN THE BACK HALF OF THE PACK BECAUSE
EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN ASPIRATIONS. MINE WAS JUST TO FINISH THE DOGS THEY’RE
ALREADY STARTING TO GET A LITTLE DEPRESSED BECAUSE OF THE MILES SO THE STRESS
IS STARTING TO FACTOR IN AND ON ME TOO SO I HAVE TO GET SOME SLEEP AND GET
EVERYBODY HYDRATED AND CHEERY AND ROLL THEM OUT OF HERE I DON’T WANT
DOGS GOING OUT THAT ARE BACK-PEDALLING OR WE WON’T BE GOING AND IF
EVERYBODY ELSE IS GONE WE WON’T BE GOING BECAUSE THEY WON’T GO. SO WITH THAT IN MIND I NEED TO REALLY REST THESE
GUYS, I NEED TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER FEED AND I NEED TO GET SOME SLEEP MYSELF. Hans gets into Braeburn checkpoint 42.30 With just a hundred and seventy kilometres to go,
the Quest has a new leader. Hans 42.36 I AM HANS 42.38 Sled maker Hans Gatt gained two places in the last
hundred and thirty kilometres. Joran’s team in dark 42.47 Five and a half hours later, Joran comes in third.
His team gets a thorough check by the vets. They’ll decide whether
Joran’s dogs are still fit to run. 43.04 COMMERCIAL BREAK 3 Part 4 Joran’s dogs lined up ready to go 43.06 Morning. The vets give Joran’s dogs the
all-clear. He has high hopes for the dash to the finish. Dog turns head 43.17 But his dogs have other ideas. Joran walks to lead dogs 43.40 As a pack, Joran’s dogs seem to have made a
decision. Vet two shot tighter 43.57 The dogs are fed and rested. And the vets know
their feet are in better shape than when they ran on blisters. 44.09 But could their hearts no longer be in the race? Two shot race officials 44.20 Everyone accepts Joran’s dogs have quit
… Cut to Joran … but Joran keeps on trying. Over walking shot officials to J 44.29 At last, race officials step in. New team fronts up 44.36 The next team is ready to sprint for the finish at Whitehorse – maybe
only half a day away. Team returning 44.44 But Joran can only return to the checkpoint. After
eleven days and nearly fifteen hundred kilometres, his race is over. Start just before team goes shot 45.07 It’s impossible to know why the next tired
team obeys its musher’s command to go while Joran’s team refused
him. 45.16 The dogs have run beyond exhaustion and pain to come
agonisingly close to victory. Joran has cause to be grateful for their
courage and spirit. Bill at Braeburn checkpoint 45.31 Bill Steyer’s conservative strategy has him in
sixth place, still with nine fit dogs. Bill 45.36 GAME PLAN NOW IS JUST TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE I GOT
A GOOD CUSHION NOW SO I JUST NEED TO BE COOL AND BE UPBEAT POSITIVE AND GET
MY DOGS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE THAT WOULD BE AWESOME IT WILL BE AWESOME WHEN
I CROSS IT Back with Suzan 45.59 Days behind, Suzan’s team battles on.
It’s forty below zero. She’s at the back of the pack and down to
seven dogs. She and her veterans are all but done. Suzan / race judge Mel 46.12 SO WE’VE SWEPT THE TRAIL WE’RE THE LAST
TWO ALL THE KIDS ARE HOME WELL NOT QUITE … WE STILL GOT A HUNDRED MILES
TO GO … HUNDRED MILES TO GO
WON’T BE THAT BAD Over Suzan 46.26 Only their spirit will drive them to the finish now. Finish line shot 46.35 At Whitehorse
the town braves the cold to salute the heroes of the Yukon Quest. Hans arrives 46.57 This year’s champion is Hans Gatt. He and his
dogs battled through sixteen hundred kilometres of frozen wilderness in eleven
days four hours and twenty-two minutes. Hans 47.10 IT WAS MY PLAN ALL ALONG TO WIN THIS RACE BUT IT
WASN’T EASY I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT WAS A TOUGH RACE FROM START TO
FINISH After Hans speaks 47.20 Hans wins thirty thousand dollars. But more lasting
is the respect that the people of the north will accord him for the rest of
his days. Bill in 47.32 Seventeen hours later, cold has driven the crowds
inside. But Bill Steyer arrives in personal triumph. He still has nine
healthy dogs and he’s sixth. For his combination of speed and dog
care, Bill wins the esteemed vets’ choice award. Suzan in. 47.54 Suzan finally arrives more than three days after
Hans. Suzan 48.01 HALLELUJAH OH THANK GOODNESS IT’S OVER Suzan smooching dogs 48.06 Once more, she and her old dogs have proved
themselves against everything the north could throw at them. Suzan 48.12 HEY THERE COME ON SLIPPER HEY THERE’S MY GIRL
WHAT A GOOD GIRL YOU ARE OH FOUR TIMES LOOK AT THIS OLD DOG NO MORE Suzan freeze 48.24 But Suzan isn’t last. Wayne in 48.31 That honour goes to a team that could have arrived
in Whitehorse
a hundred years ago. All fourteen of trapper Wayne Hall’s traditional
working dogs have lasted the full sixteen hundred kilometres. 48.47 The achievement brings the crowds back into the
cold. It’s a rich moment for head vet Margy Terhar. Head vet Margy Terhar 48.54 THE HAIRY BOYS LOOK AT YOU I THINK ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WAS WATCHING WAYNE COME ACROSS THE
LINE WITH 14 DOGS BECAUSE THAT REALLY REPRESENTS THE HERITAGE OF THIS RACE. IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE THE FAST TEAMS UP FRONT AND
ALL THE GOOD DOG CARE BUT SEEING THOSE BIG FUZZY THINGS COME ACROSS THE LINE
WAS REALLY KIND OF A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST AND IT WAS REALLY A LOT OF FUN. Dog looking at camera 49.15 The people of the north understand the powerful bond
between dogs and mushers who seek the challenge of the Yukon Quest. The race’s
heritage is reflected in a special prize. Everyone agrees that Wayne
Hall’s team truly embodies the Spirit of the North. 49.34 CREDITS 50.00 FADE TO BLACK
GEE I HATE HAVING TO
TURN AROUND AND COME BACK – EVERYBODY ELSE IS GOING THAT WAY.
COMMERCIAL BREAK 1
Broken jumble ice
punishes Suzan and her dogs.
Suzan Amundsen has
survived the worst of the jumble ice. Approaching the settlement of Eagle,
she’s following in famous family footsteps.