Yukon Quest sled dog race begins today

by Kraig Becker on

Often called “the world’s toughest race”, the 2010 Yukon Quest international sled dog race begins today in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the top mushers, along with their teams of 14 dogs, setting out on a two week adventure through some of the most remote and wild backcountry found anywhere in North America.

The annual race, now in its 26th year, is a true test of stamina and skill. The racers will be challenged by a trail that is over 1000 miles in length, stretching from Fairbanks, to Whitehorse, in the Yukon Territory of Canada. The route, which runs along frozen rivers and crosses four mountain range, is one that has historical significance. It was once used to deliver mail during the boom years of the Gold Rush, and it is legendary for its harsh conditions. February in the Yukon brings sub-zero temperatures, howling winds, crazy blizzards, and whiteout conditions.

24 sled dog drivers, mostly from Alaska and Canada, will get underway from the starting line on the Chena River in Fairbanks at 11 AM local time today. Amongst the mushers is former champion Lance Mackey, who returns to the Yukon Quest after taking a year off in 2009. Mackey is also the three time defending champion of the Iditarod and the only man to win both races in the same year, a feat that had previously been thought to be impossible. He is considered the odds on favorite to win again this year.

Over the course of the next two weeks, the Yukon Quest website will post updates on the race that include current standings and live tracking of the mushers out on the course. We’ll just have to wait to see if the race lives up to its “world’s toughest” moniker.

Canadian restaurant encourages patrons to have sex in its bathrooms on Valentine’s day

by Scott Carmichael on

Forget chocolate and flowers – how about treating your loved one to sex in a restaurant bathroom?

You’ll need to travel to Toronto for the experience, but Mildred’s Temple Kitchen has announced that they’ll encourage any of their guests to use their bathrooms for some Valentine’s day nooky.

Now, I’m no prude, but I don’t think I’d be too comfortable standing in line with other couples as we patiently await our turn to have sex in a bathroom.

Sure, Mildred’s says they’ll provide a maid for the day to keep things clean, but I think I’d much rather just get a hotel room for a couple of hours than try to mess around in a cramped bathroom that was just used for the same purpose by the previous couple.

Still, even though the restaurant claims that having sex in a bathroom is on a list of 101 places you should have sex before you die, I’m just not convinced that doing it on a day when the restaurant promotes and encourages it is so exciting. If you really want to spice things up, do it on a day that is not promoted as “have sex in our bathrooms day”.

Of course, thanks to the Internet, viral stories like this are a fantastic way to create buzz for any company, and I don’t think Mildred’s Temple Kitchen will have any open tables for Valentine’s day – even if half the tables are filled by pervs waiting to catch a glimpse at couples heading to the bathrooms.

%Poll-41253%

(Via: Huffington Post)

Cypress Mountain has snow delivered in time for Olympic Games

by Kraig Becker on

With just one week to go until the opening ceremonies, the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver are struggling to find enough snow for some of the planned events. In particular, Cypress Mountain, which will host snowboarding and freestyle competitions beginning February 13, has been scrambling to complete their halfpipe, as well as the ski and snowboard cross courses. The resort has so little snow in fact, that they’ve resorted to using over 1000 bales of straw to construct the needed infrastructure, and have had more than 300 truckloads of snow delivered from elsewhere around the area.

It has been an unusual winter so far in Vancouver, with average temperatures at their highest point in more than 70 years. Experts are placing the blame squarely on the shoulders of the El Niño weather pattern, which has been warming the Pacific Ocean for several months. The result has been little to no snowfall across the region in January, which means no new, fresh powder for the athletes, who began arriving yesterday in preparation for the games. The forecast for February doesn’t look much better, as more unseasonably high temperatures, and rain, not snow, are expected in the days ahead.

International Ski Federation president Gian-Franco Kasper told the Canadian press that he isn’t worried, as just 10 cm of snow is needed to cover the straw and make it ready for the athletes. Other event organizers say that while the lack of snow has been an issue across all the venues, Cypress Mountain is the only one that has caused significant concerns. They also promise that everything will be ready when the games officially open next Friday.

Want more Olympics coverage?

Ready to fly into Vancouver for the Games? YVR is waiting.

by Grant Martin on

Our friend and colleague over at Stuck at the Airport, Harriet Baskas, has been following developments at Vancouver’s international airport (YVR) as the Olympics draw preciously near. Anticipating a massive crowd, the normally serene, Pacific Northwest city is neck-deep in preparations, particularly at bottleneck junctions such as borders and airports.

To help soothe the massive flow, YVR is taking a proactive approach to managing traffic on the days of and after the games. Particularly on outbound flights the day after closing ceremonies, the airport suggests arriving for flights 4 hours prior to departure, with the check-in process complete after 3.

As Ms. Baskas points out, they’ve even gone so far as to ask hotels to allow unilateral late checkout and to post the adjacent placard onto every door, advising travelers on the best departure and airport strategy.

It’s good forward thinking by an airport that’s sure to see record traffic over the next few weeks. Hopefully passengers and security move smoothly in kind.

Want more Olympics coverage?

Flying into SeaTac for the Winter Olympics? Here’s what you need to know

by Grant Martin on

Whether it’s to avoid stringent passport regulations, fly into a cheaper airport or just enjoy the beautiful drive up the coast, there are plenty of reasons that Winter Olympics travelers have to fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA or SeaTac) next week. The Pacific Northwest, a beautiful corner of North America has plenty of natural and cultural offerings to woo the passing traveler, so why not take the long road up to the 2010 games?

Should you be working your way north from SeaTac, here are a few logistics to keep in mind:

Route
I-5 will take you almost all of the way there, from the periphery of SeaTac to across the border at Blaine, WA. Once in Canada, travelers can continue straight onto 99 northwest around the bay and then west into Richmond, just below Vancouver. Several of the XXI Olympics venues are in Richmond and there’s a chance that your hotel will be here too, so this is where your GPS or your map printout will come in handy.

Car Rentals
If you’re renting a vehicle, make certain that the provider knows that you’ll be taking it out of the country. While most won’t have a problem with this, additional insurance and fees may apply, and if you neglect these options you could be in serious trouble if something goes wrong north of the border.

Customs
Travelers crossing the border by automobile are only required to show a valid, state issued ID and proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate. If you’re an American citizen, more data can be found at travel.state.gov, while citizens of other countries can check with Canada Border Services Agency.Food, beverages, tobacco and duty free
While it’s always a good idea to pack a lunch ahead to save a few dollars, be aware that Canada has rules on what and how much can be imported. It’s safe to say that your sack lunch will be allowed, but if you’re bringing enough beer to stock your hotel for the week you might run into trouble. Be sure to check out the CBSA site on entry allowances for more details.

Don’t forget that the duty free will often offer booze and tobacco at reduced prices, so plan accordingly and stop when you’re at the border.

Getting around

Once docked into your temporary residence, check out travelsmart2010.ca for information on how to get to the games without your vehicle — there is no parking provided at any of the venues.

US Consulate
The US consulate in Vancouver is located at:
1095 West Pender Street
Telephone: (604) 685-4311
Facsimile: (604) 685-7175

Want more Olympics coverage?