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2010 GOLD RUSH TRAIL DOG SLED MAIL RUN - PRESS RELEASE
January 12, 2010 - COUNTDOWN #2
The Mail Run weekend is almost here. Organizers are busy with last minute details, fingers are crossed that Mother Nature will co-operate and ensure great trails with reasonable temperatures, participants are filled with anticipation and perhaps a little anxiety. There will be participants from as far away as Manitoba, the NWT as well as from throughout British Columbia and elsewhere. There are an encouraging number of participants aged 16 and under and not only does this speak well for the future of the sport of dog mushing but it also represents a fulfilment of the vision of Holger Bauer, a much missed Mail Run participant and organizer who was killed in a 2007 logging accident. For one family, the 2010 Mail Run will mean that the third generation from the same family will have mushed over the Gold Rush Trail. We are excited!
Participants are encouraged to download the Participation/Registration Form from the website and to get it in to organizers by January 18th. We are requesting early registration this year, to assist with pre-event planning and to ensure that all participants receive a warm welcome at the Thursday night Mushers’ Meeting. If there are those participants who only want to take part in the Barkerville Dash from Barkerville to Wells, they must also register and pay the registration fee however they may register at the Barkerville parking lot in the hour before the Dash, which is slated to commence at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday January 24th.
The trail from Stanley to Barkerville has been broken through. This year it was necessary for organizers to obtain a special permit from the Ministry of Environment to access this section of trail, which lies within an access restricted - caribou habitat area. Once the Mail Run is finished on January 24th, this route will be closed to all snowmobile traffic. But the trail, which actually does follow the original Cariboo Waggon Road route, is now ready and this will allow not only the Mail Run participants to use the trail but also those participating in the Cariboo Jack Ski Trek on Saturday January 23rd. Breaking open this trail was a lot of work. There were several large trees down over the route and these had to be removed by Mail Run volunteers. The depth of the snow in this area means that not just any old snowmobile is capable of making the first pass up the steep slopes, some high powered machines with long tracks being driven by experienced and skilful drivers were necessary for this task. Once the route was broken through, the rest of the volunteer crew followed this initial pass, clearing brush and building bridges over the creeks as they went. It has required a tremendous amount of volunteer work.
On Saturday night, January 23rd, the annual Mail Run banquet and auction will take place at Troll Resort. The meal begins at 6:00 p.m., there will be socializing in the Troll lodge beginning at 5:15 p.m. This will all follow the famous Mushers’ Sports that will take place at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at Troll, once the participants arrive from Cottonwood. It is an excellent opportunity for spectators to come and see the dog teams and to meet the mushers and other participants, then to take in the Mushers’ Sports. Anyone wishing to attend the banquet must purchase a ticket, the cost is $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for children aged 12 and under and seniors aged 65 and over. You can reserve or purchase a ticket by calling Margaret at 250 992-9143 or emailing her at Margaret@dogsledmailrun.ca Other Mail Run organizers will also have tickets for sale. The auction, which follows the banquet promises to be a fun time as well, there will be some very special, one-of-a-kind items up for bid.
Mail Run organizers are very excited about a special connection between the Mail Run, the Gold Rush Trail, the City of Quesnel, the students of School District 28 and the upcoming 2010 Olympic Games. The City of Quesnel will be sending a unique and special greeting to every member of the Canadian Olympic team. Mayor Mary Sjostrom is preparing this written greeting on behalf of the City of Quesnel, but she has some very special help and support. Part of the Grade IV Social Studies curriculum is the study of the Cariboo Gold Rush and the Gold Rush Trail….the route followed by the Mail Run. Grade IV teachers are using the Mail Run as a way to teach this special topic. As part of their studies, Grade IV students will also be writing personal greetings to Canada’s Olympic athletes and a student’s letter will be placed in each envelope along with Mayor Sjostrom’s letter before being carried over the Gold Rush Trail by dog team and then forwarded to each individual Canadian Olympic athlete. There is universal enthusiasm for this great project.
There are two weeks to go before the start of the Mail Run. Participants are encouraged to register. Everyone is encouraged to purchase their Mail Run envelopes, which must then be placed in the special Mail Run post boxes or returned to organizers by January 19th. Everyone is encouraged to make plans to come out and see at least part of the Mail Run, the schedule of events is available on the Mail Run website at www.dogsledmailrun.ca