Welcome to the Aurora Dog Mushers Club
Located in Wasilla, Alaska

Aurora Dog Mushers Winter Trail System is located South of Big Lake. From the Big Lake intersection with the Parks Highway (mile post 52.5)( we will have a sign located on race day at the intersection) follow South Big Lake Road West (go throw Big Lake on the main road, past the Air strip, ) for 5.7 miles to Echo Lake Drive(will be on your left)( we will have a sign on race days at this location) turn left and proceed south on Echo Lake Drive for a mile where the road splits, turn (right) West onto Gonder Way,( there will be a Aurora Sign at this location on race days ), proceed ½ mile on Gonder Way (all was keeping to your right on Gonder Way), then take a left ( there will be a Aurora Dog Mushers sign at this point on race days)onto the access road for the Aurora Dog Mushers Association (Club) house and race staging area.

Trail Report:
THE TRAILS ARE GREAT!!!!!! The trails are hard packed and fast. I was personally out on the trails yesterday and evening training. Great for training and racing on. The roamers are wrong. The trail’s report is also on the Mat-Su website and you can also call for a trail report at (907)376-3943 it is a recorder 24hrs a day with the most up to date report. So, if you have any question please just call.

Report by: Larisa Myers-McCoin – Aurora Dog Mushers Association’s President.

SENIOR SPRINT RACE
SATURDAY, FEBURARY 2, 2008 RACES STARTS AT 10:00am Registrations will start at 09:00 am At the Aurora Club House.
Classes are: 4,6,8 and Open Class PURSE:There will be a membership fee Plus $15.00 entry fee for each class. ALL $15.00 Entry fees will go to the purse!! Each class will have a starting purse of $125.00, for every $15.00 entry fee, it increase the purse for that class that you pay the entry fee for.The purse for that class will be divided up by: First place – 45% of that class purse Second place – 35% of that class purse Third place –20% of that class purse. Money will not be awarded at race!!! Money will be mailed to you on the following Monday. For each class we will need help with sled holders, mushers and handlers, please help each other!!!!! Hope to see you at the races.

JUNIOR AURORA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday, February 9th & Sunday, February 10th, 2008 Races start at 10:00AM sharp. Registrations will start at 9:00 am at the Aurora Club House. 1-7 Dog Classes (Normal Miles) Hope to see at the races!

Trail report: 01/16/2008 at 0745 pm

As of today trails are soft, with new snow. Trails are being worked and are still under construction with the groomers. Will update on Friday evening after construction finished by the groomers, On what trails are open. There will be daily update know that we have snow!

JUNIOR SPRINT RACING Willow Winter Carnival 2008 - Saturday, January 26 Sign up for event is at the WACO table in the Community CenterRaces start at 11:00 am 1, 2,3, dog classes on Willow Lake.This race is a lot of fun and you can watch the mushers all around the trails.It is also fun for the more experienced Junior mushers, Even if more experienced mushers are running higher dog classes, they are welcome to race. Great awards. Junior mushers come from all over that you don’t normally race at the race tracks!!! Some good teams!!!

JUNIOR YUKON QUEST - Saturday, February 2nd and Sunday, February 3rd, 2008 This year the race route will follow the Yukon Quest trail through North Pole and out to Twin Bears Camp on the Chena Hot Springs Road. After a mandatory 8 hour rest, teams will return to Fairbanks along the same trail. Mandatory Vet Check:Will be held at the Summit Logistics in Fairbanks on Friday February 1st. Race Start: Saturday, February 2nd at 2:00 pm in downtown Fairbanks on the Chena River Entry application and rules can be found at http://www.junioryukonquest.com/entries/index.htm DEADLINE FOR ENTRY IS FRIDAY, JANUARY 25TH . 2008 For more information contact:Yukon Quest International, LtdPO Box 75015Fairbanks, AK 99775907-452-7954907-452-7959 Faxyukonquest@mosquitonet.com

The Norman Vaughan Serum '25 Run will be holding an
Informational Serum Run Shakedown
Event on February 16 – 18, 2008 (weather permitting), where interested mushers and snowmachiners can get a better idea of what the Serum Run is all about. The trip is limited to 15 mushers due to parking constraints and an unlimited number of snowmachiners. Event Information (possible itinerary): Date: Saturday, February 16 and return on Monday, February 18, 2008 Place: Willow (meeting place could be Willow Community Center, Deshka Landing or Crystal Lake Parking Lot and will be determined closer to event) Time: Arrive at designated meeting place by 9:00 am for 11:00 am departure Plans: Saturday, February 16th - Travel to Yentna Station Roadhouse approx. 35 miles of mostly river travel. Meals and housing are available for a fee. Half the group will be expected to camp to test winter gear. Sunday, February 17th - Depart Yentna Station Roadhouse by 10:30 am and travel approx. 45 miles to EagleSong Lodge. Travel will be on the river, swamps and varied terrain. Meals and housing are available for a fee. The other half the group will be expected to camp to test winter gear. Monday, February 18th - Depart EagleSong Lodge by 10:00 am and travel approx. 45 miles back to Willow departure point. Travel will be on swamps and the river then connecting back to Willow via swamps and lakes. Costs: Still to be determined, but you can plan on at least $150 for the weekend. All mushers and snowmachiners must come prepared to camp out at least one of the two nights to make sure their gear is up to par for the elements. Mushers must provide their own dog supplies (dog food, one bale of straw, booties, stakeout line, kennel, etc.) and snowmachiners will need to bring a cargo sled capable of hauling dog supplies (straw, dog food, kennel) and other gear such as tent, cots, extra fuel, etc.. We prefer snowmachines without paddle tracks, however if that is all you have access to you will be asked to travel behind the dog teams. The Serum Run Trail Boss and Musher Coordinator will hold an informational meeting in early February for those attending the event. A teleconference number will be provided for those who can't attend in person. There is a short application to be filled out by both mushers and snowmachiners. Mushers will be chosen based on information provided on the attached application. Those who applied for the 2008 Serum Run do not need to fill out the form.

Musher application (PDF) Machiner Application (PDF)

VOLUNTEER
We need volunteers or we won’t be able to have races! If you are able to help or know someone who can, please contact us soon!! Jr. races will take place with parent volunteers, but Sr,. races are dependant upon volunteers.

SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship money for Jr. mushers is in the works. Larisa hopes to have money available for this
season. Donations to the scholarship fund are tax deductible, if you are so inclined!
Hopefully, scholarships will be available for 2-doggers through 7-doggers. Money will be put into a scholarship fund that will be available to the student at age 18 going to an approved school of higher education or trade school. The money will be going to the institution, not to the student.

RAILROAD MEETING: UPDATE - - POSTED NOV 3, 2007
Dorleen attended the meeting in Houston. As of yesterday (11/2) all of the comments should be into the railroad and data will be turned into the transportation people. An independent company will look at the land to figure out the best route. Decision should be made by 2009. Everyone is up in arms about the trails and that is holding up some of the decisions. Iditarod, Willow & Houston were represented, Dorleen was the only rep. from Aurora. The Borough is pushing to get the port opened and the railroad put in to service it. Maybe they will put in tunnels, maybe they won’t. Larisa talked to the Borough & the engineers and found out that our trails are on the maps and someone from the Borough was “sticking up” for our trails to make sure they were on the map. The railroad has said that they would make an effort to put in tunnels where necessary to save the trails where they can.