The Gold Rush Trail Sled Dog Mail Run starts just north of Quesnel and finishes in Wells, approximately 60 miles (by road) away. Participants could spend the nights in either Quesnel or Wells and easily drive to the starting point of each day’s stage.
QUESNEL
The Airport Inn Motel and R.V. Park in Quesnel is located in the northern end of town at 3101 Hwy 97N, close to the junction with the Barkerville Highway and the A&W restaurant where the mushers’ meeting will take place. It’s location and layout make it a preferred spot for dog mushers participating in the Mail Run. This motel has 20 rooms, some standard and some kitchenettes with from one to three beds, access to wifi, cable t.v., all are ground floor units and dog trucks can park at the door of the unit. This motel will also have a very large plowed area that can be used for dropping dogs. In addition to motel rooms there are designated areas with power (but not running water) for truck campers, trailers and camper vans. Washrooms with hot and cold running water are available for those who will be camping.
Email the Airport Inn at airportinn@shaw.ca go to their website at www.airportinnrv.com or call them at 250 992-5942. They are offering a 10% discount for those who book their accommodation by January 15th. Check out their facebook page to see photos - Search Airport Inn Quesnel .
TROLL RESORT
Troll Resort is the site of all of the “On Trail” Activities on Day 2 (Saturday January 21st), it is also the site of the Saturday afternoon Weight Pull and Musher’s Sports and the evening Banquet and Auction. On Friday Night the 20th and Saturday Night the 21st Truck Campers and Vans may park overnight in the parking lot at Troll however there are no provisions for electricity. Campers may also bunk on the floor of the lodge which offers a heated place to sleep and washrooms with hot and cold running water. All campers must be up and about fairly early in the morning so as not to interfere with the skiers who will be arriving for the day. There will be no cost for camping in the parking lot or “crashing” in the lodge. Breakfast and Lunch will be available for purchase at the Troll snack bar.
WELLS
The communities of Wells and Barkerville are only about 5 miles from each other and while all of the Day 3 (Sunday the 22nd) activities are centered in Barkerville, the accommodation and services are located in Wells. There will be off-road parking available for dog trucks and other vehicles at both the helipad and the parking lot of the Casino.
There are two motels and one hotel in Wells, the Hubs Motel, the Wells Hotel and the White Caps Motor Inn. For information about these facilities, click on Wells or go to Sponsors and Links tab on this website and then click on Wells/Bowron Lakes and then click on Accommodations and scroll down to Hotels/Motels. It may be possible for participants to share some of the apartment-style motel units in Wells.
The Hubs Motel is located directly across from the helipad in Wells. You are encouraged to go to the Hubs Motel website www.hubsmotel.ca and look under the heading Rates and Accommodations, where you will get a description of all room configurations and prices. The Hubs Motel is offering a group rate of 10% off to all Mail Run/Stage Race participants. Contact the Hubs Motel, 1-866-994-3313 and ask for Dianne.
A NOTE ABOUT MOVING DOG TRUCKS
Note: Organizers have made the decision to change all of the trail routes In 2012 to looped trails that start and finish at the same place. The main reason for this decision was to ensure that it will not be necessary to move dog trucks from the start area to the finish area on each day. The hope is that this will be much more convenient for all participants, particularly for those who might not have a driver/handler travelling with them.
