the finger lake checkpoint, the trail changes river running to trail riding through some
y gnarly wooded sections. one of these secthrough the first part of the alaska range
untains is called the happy river steps. the
s� are a series of steep downhill twists and
. at these sections the mushers dutifully stand
two feet on their brakes to avoid gaining too
speed and running over their dogs. it is the way to get through
the steps, however the
esult is a series of channels. the mushers not or fast enough to be at the front of the pack
to drive their sled through narrow chutes. you tip over in the chute, but many crash right getting through. over some of these channels
ld get one ski of the machine on either side,
lide down with the track hanging in the air, and
ear of the machine resting on the footboards.
one and others had no room on one side for the
there was very little room on the side where
ed to balance the machine, and it just slid in. I tried winching from two different pulley
s off to trees, but the big utlitiy snowmawas just too heavy and too jammed in. in the
t took 2 hrs. of frantic shoveling to get out.