Sled-dog race stirs up business; the economic impact of the Yukon Quest.

• Author: Kaynor, Carol

We're a small business that comes up with $100,000 profit every year, says Debbie Rork, business manager of Yukon International Ltd. in Fairbanks. But this organization calls its profit a purse and gives it away.

The Yukon Quest is a 1,000-mile sled-dog race held each February between Fairbanks, Alaska, and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Race starts alternate between the two cities. The grueling long-distance event, conceived by LeRoy Shank and Roger Williams in 1983, was first run in 1984 and has been growing in stature and impact ever since.

Often known as 'that other long distance race,' the Quest has a unique twist: While mushers drive their teams through some of the most sparsely populated and undeveloped country in North America, race fans enjoy the unequaled luxury of being able to drive on winter-maintained roads to six of the race's seven checkpoints.

The impact of the Quest on the checkpoint communities of Central, Circle and Eagle in Alaska, and Dawson and Carmacks in the Yukon Territory, is substantial - and growing. Jim Crabb, who runs Crabb's Comer in Central, says, That's definitely my winter." Dog handlers, media and race followers fill all available rooms in Central, and some people even bring their motorhomes.

The boost in income that occurs in late February and early March eases the annual springtime crunch in finances felt by small-town businesses along the Quest route. Customers are scarce over the winter months, and Crabb says the Quest income gives him extra dollars to fill up his fuel tanks and get ready for summer.

Dan Pearson of Yukon Trading Post in Circle agrees: The Quest helps you get going in the spring.' Many of Pearson's local customers work only during the summer, and their money gets tighter as the previous summer's income is depleted over the long winter break. But the post's cafe is able to open up for the Quest, and business increases three- or fourfold. 'It's definitely a boost for us," Pearson adds.

In Dawson, the Quest is part of a three-event extravaganza, along with a curling bonspiel and the Old-Timers Hockey Tour. 'It's the busiest weekend throughout the winter," says Charlotte Burian, manager of the El Dorado Hotel. She notes that for two or three days, "two hundred rooms wouldn't be enough." But Burian explains that although the volume of people brought in by the Quest is high, the amount of money spent is not tremendous. Quest handlers, in particular, usually don't have major discretionary funds. Recognizing this, Burian says her hotel allows multiple occupancies and sometimes offers special Quest deals.

Fletcher Hunston, games manager for Diamond Tooth Gertie's, a nonprofit casino that reopens for the Quest celebration, says the Quest definitely generates extra revenue for the town. It's a favorable weekend both for the casino and for fundraising dances held by local non-profit...