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"Looks like we have a dog sled race on our hands, boys!!!"
There are differing opinions on who came up with the original idea for a dog sled race in Haines Junction. My earliest recollection of any discussion about the idea is with Ron and Linda Wondga, then owners of the Kluane Park Inn , approaching me and asking if I would sit down and talk with them about the possibilities. Being one of the few mushers in the Haines Junction area at the time, I was happy to oblige, albeit, I had never attended a dog sled race, let alone participated in one in any way. Nevertheless we soon got together, myself, Ron and Linda, Richard Anderson, Reinhard Semmel and James Allen and… a race was born. Little did we know what really was involved, but we soon had a host of people who had been involved in dog racing advising us and helping to work through all the logistics of such an undertaking. What a task!!!
A name. A race without a name just would not be a race, so after kicking around many possibilities we approached the local school and held a contest for the students to come up with a few names. One down many to go! Money?? Oh yes that little detail! Well there were really no major social events in Haines Junction at the time so it was decided to host sit down dinners in the Bakke Room at the KPI, a resounding success of building awareness and a bank account. Later in the season in conjunction with a dinner we held a silent auction and dance…wow things were looking up. We were frequently amazed at the level of generosity from Yukon businesses and individuals, it just kept coming in till we had reached our goal for the purse and expenses and eventually exceeded it with help from various government and other funding sources.
Work progressed throughout the winter on the trail, accommodation at Silver City, organizing the shorter races, banquet and one dog pull etc. As the undertaking grew, there was always that nagging question in the backs of our minds…”would anyone show up??” That answer was not to be revealed till the night before the race. I can remember it as clearly as if it was yesterday… Coming into Haines Junction from Silver City the night before the race we started noticing something rarely seen in Haines Junction in any numbers. Dog Trucks, plenty of them! Richards comment still sticks in my mind, “Looks like we have a dog sled race on our hands, boys!”. … A humble understatement if ever there was one!
The rest…well that’s history!
- Sean Fitzgerald, February 26, 2013
The Silver Sled ran for another 12 years. Other races held during the Silver Sled included the Chili Paw, which ranged from 16 miles to 40 miles over the years, the Sportsman, a 7 mile race, and the Frank and Josie Sias junior race, named after the same for their key support and contribution to The Silver Sled. In 2013, the Silver Sled Race Committee returned to host the Chili Paw and Sportsman races, and then the full 100 Mile distance in 2014.
A name. A race without a name just would not be a race, so after kicking around many possibilities we approached the local school and held a contest for the students to come up with a few names. One down many to go! Money?? Oh yes that little detail! Well there were really no major social events in Haines Junction at the time so it was decided to host sit down dinners in the Bakke Room at the KPI, a resounding success of building awareness and a bank account. Later in the season in conjunction with a dinner we held a silent auction and dance…wow things were looking up. We were frequently amazed at the level of generosity from Yukon businesses and individuals, it just kept coming in till we had reached our goal for the purse and expenses and eventually exceeded it with help from various government and other funding sources.
Work progressed throughout the winter on the trail, accommodation at Silver City, organizing the shorter races, banquet and one dog pull etc. As the undertaking grew, there was always that nagging question in the backs of our minds…”would anyone show up??” That answer was not to be revealed till the night before the race. I can remember it as clearly as if it was yesterday… Coming into Haines Junction from Silver City the night before the race we started noticing something rarely seen in Haines Junction in any numbers. Dog Trucks, plenty of them! Richards comment still sticks in my mind, “Looks like we have a dog sled race on our hands, boys!”. … A humble understatement if ever there was one!
The rest…well that’s history!
- Sean Fitzgerald, February 26, 2013
The Silver Sled ran for another 12 years. Other races held during the Silver Sled included the Chili Paw, which ranged from 16 miles to 40 miles over the years, the Sportsman, a 7 mile race, and the Frank and Josie Sias junior race, named after the same for their key support and contribution to The Silver Sled. In 2013, the Silver Sled Race Committee returned to host the Chili Paw and Sportsman races, and then the full 100 Mile distance in 2014.
