Film Overview

Imagine heading into the unknown icy wilderness of Alaska with just a team of dogs, and facing a gruelling 1,000 miles of steep summits, frozen rivers and harsh sub-Arctic conditions.

The punishing Yukon Quest is a sled-dog race across the icy wilderness of Alaska and the Yukon Territory. It tests skill, determination and most of all, the incredible bond between humans and dogs.

More than 40 teams battle the bleak and icy landscape of the sub-Arctic wilderness. For two weeks of tough racing in conditions down to minus 40, both humans and dogs are solely reliant on each other for survival.

Each musher is allowed up to 14 dogs, and although sick or injured ones can be dropped off at several points along the route, each sled must be pulled across the finishing line by a team of at least six dogs.

Yukon Quest Spirit of the North follows three mushers and their dogs. Suzan Amundsen is a veteran with a mix of old experienced dogs and young inexperienced ones and is hoping just to finish. Bill Steyer is attempting his third Quest, but his real love is travelling with his dogs. Joran Freeman, eager to improve on his fourth placing last year, is very competitive and wants to win.

Will all 41 teams successfully conquer the four summits, traverse the frozen Yukon River and survive the stark sub-Arctic wilderness to cross the finish line in Whitehorse, Canada?

Experience the highs and lows, the exhaustion of the mushers and their dogs and the elation as they overcome the odds to finish the toughest sled-dog race in the world - the Yukon Quest.

Produced by Natural History New Zealand Ltd
in association with
National Geographic Channels International
© 2002 Natural History New Zealand Ltd - All rights reserved

Longtail Distribution
NTSC 4:3
Total Running Time: 51-minutes