Alas, the Yukon Quest adventure has officially ended. The first teams crossed the finish line bright and early on the 14th, just over 9 days after departing the chilly Fairbanks start line. Completing the 1000 mile endeavor first – though by a mere fraction of a minute – was Hugh Neff, with Allen Moore trailing behind a mere 26 seconds later. It has to be said that in a 1000 mile race, to be that close in the final stretch is quite unheard of and nothing short of impressive!

I’ve never really been one to follow sports or races, but I must say I’ve developed a soft spot for the Quest over the past couple weeks. The race itself is an incredibly difficult thing to sum up in a blog post, but I will say that sled dogs are pretty hardcore (and adorable) and I have a huge amount of respect for mushers. To see the incredible sense of livelihood these folks maintain after what is most definitely a grueling adventure on the trail is inspiring, to say the least.

It’s also worth mentioning that there is some pretty breathtaking scenery up there – the highlight of which was definitely watching the northern lights dance over the beautifully clear Yukon sky while we awaiting the arrival of Brent Sass at the finish line. So stunning!

I’m sure in the coming weeks many will ask me what the best and worst part of the trip was, and while my answer may change depending on the day, the people were definitely a highlight. From cavemen to dogs with people personalities to people with dog personalities, there’s an incredibly vibrant face to the sport of dog mushing, of which I’m sure I’ve only just scratched the surface.

Needless to say, shooting the incredible event was an amazing experience – absolutely looking forward to next year!

Looking for more photos? I’ve added a collection of my favourites to a gallery here – enjoy!

Edited by Tom Barber, Produced by Mark Gillett, with myself and Scott Chesney

The Yukon Quest is a sled dog race where mushers, with their teams of 9-14 dogs, embark on a 1000 mile journey from Fairbanks, Alaska (US) to Whitehorse, Yukon (Canada), and I’ve been fortunate enough to spend the last few days following these 24 incredible mushers run with their dogs through some impressive Alaskan and Yukon landscapes. Working with the Quest as part of their photography/media team, I’ve seen an impressive display of what the Quest is and means to the people who are involved, and thought I’d share a glimpse of my experience following the Yukon Quest so far!

Behind the scenes, to make the quest happen, volunteers give up hours of their time to help where needed, community members contribute baked goods and warm food for mushers and volunteers, dedicated handlers tend tirelessly to dog teams, and hardcore fans enduring the subarctic weather to cheer on their favourite mushers and dog teams, the list goes on and on.

So, over the past few days fully diving into the race and getting to know about the mushers and understanding the relationship between them and their dogs, it’s clear that it’s more than just a bunch of guys riding on sleds behind dogs, the race itself is almost like its own a culture – of enthusiasm and passion and perseverance. Love it!

We’re only 6 days in – looking forward to what’s next!

And if you haven’t seen the video, enjoy:

In the midst of finalizing the production of ‘A Lovely Tale’ and prepping for my upcoming Yukon Quest adventure, I seem to have neglected to post an update with a few photos from a recent adventure in the oh-so-beautiful Swiss Alps – enjoy the following few photos, featuring a bit of skiing at the lovely Villars-Gryon!

In case you’ve missed out on following the progress of ‘A Lovely Tale’ on its Kickstarter page, I thought I’d post a quick update!

All the images and words have been carefully crafted and finalized, and the book is in the final stages of printing – hurrah! Check out the Kickstarter update link above if you want to read more about the process thus far. Up next: sharing it with the world!!

(If you weren’t able to back the Kickstarter campaign, but still want a copy, good news: I’ve ordered extras! Get in touch to let me know you’re interested!)

Should you wish to join in the penguin-desktop-cheer, you can grab the desktop-ready 1260×800 or 800×600 version here, if you feel so inclined!

If you’re really geeky, you may enjoy this Doctor Who themed variation in 1260×800 or 800×600.

Enjoy! :)

* Confused? Pressing ‘Cmd + O’ on a Mac opens a file… get it?

Since ’tis the season, I thought I’d jump on the last-minute gift bandwagon, and share a few of my favourite suggestions of gifts that will bring cheer to more than just the recipient! I love how these folks are using art and design for social change and to empower generations through creativity, so have a look and spread some arty cheer!

Raven & Lily
http://www.ravenandlily.com
 
I recommend: Moroccan Woodcarved Journal ($18) and Wood & Silver Leather Bangles (3 for $18)
These guys are doing a lovely thing, empowering women in Ethiopia and India through design. The women are taught design skills, and the proceeds go towards funding literacy programs for the artisans and their families. All the products sold are hand-made and eco-friendly, and affordable, too! (I bought myself one of these hand-carved wooden journals last month, it’s even prettier in person!)

Eat Art
http://www.eat-art.org

I recommend: Darth Vader – Never Beyond (12×18″ – $30)
“You get the art. The kids get to eat.” I think their slogan says it all. A lovely selection of art and photography to choose from, with each 5×7″ print feeding one child for one month (with bigger sizes feeding more children, hurrah)! (Plus: Darth Vader Art. ‘Nuff Said.)

Sevenly
http://www.sevenly.org

I recommend: Shirt! ($22)
There’s a featured charity each week with a new and beautifully designed shirt to match! Proceeds go to the charity, and you get to gift a lovely shirt. (Each design is only available for a week, so grab ‘em while you can!)

It’s been really amazing to hear people’s feedback and excitement about the concept, I really appreciate all your support and help spreading the word. Massive thanks for partnering with me to make this book a reality!

I’m working hard to finish up the content, and then comes the printing and sharing stage. Exciting!

I’ll be finalizing layouts and printing mockups over the coming weeks, so stay tuned for updates on that as well!