Over a dozen mushers and their sled dog teams made the trip to Troll Ski Resort to kick off the first day of the Gold Rush Trail Sled Dog Mail Run.
The mushers were sworn in as official Canada Post mail carriers, and will be delivering specially sold envelopes by sled dog. The first day was held at Troll Ski Resort, with the competition and mail delivery finishing off on Sunday, Feb. 27 with a delivery to the Barkerville Post office.
Everything from full teams of sled dogs to lone mushers on a pair of skis took part in the first leg of the competition. Volunteers on snowmobiles set out before the dogs to ensure the trail was in tip top shape.
The weather co-operated for the dogs and mushers as well. Temperatures at Troll hovered around 0 C for the opening day, and there was plenty of hard packed snow for the dogs to run on.
More than 2,000 envelopes were sold in the Quesnel area, and after being delivered to Barkerville, the mail will enter the regular postal service, and be delivered around the world. Canada Post liaison Kerry Onanski said the envelopes will be sent as far away as South Africa, New Zealand, Japan and all across Europe.
READ MORE: Sled Dog mail run preparing for 30th annual event
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com
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cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com
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