Photos: 2012 Copper Basin 300

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Musher Brent Sass at the 2012 Copper Basin 300.

Around 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, an emergency alert was released by the Copper Basin Race Committee temporarily suspending the Copper Basin 300. According to the statement signed by Race Marshal Greg Parvin, the section of trail between Meier's Lake and Sourdough was impassable due to unusually deep snow conditions, high winds and bitter cold. All dog teams, handlers and race officials were requested to convene at the Meier's Lake Roadhouse by 7 a.m.

3-1/2 hours later, another release stated that the 2012 Copper Basin 300 had been officially cancelled at Meier's Lake, 75 miles into the race. Heavy snows and high winds had obliterated the middle section of the trail. According to Race Marshall Greg Parvin, "The trail was impassable. Four experienced National Guardsmen with Iron Dog experience couldn't break the trail. They might have been fine if they could go 50 or 60 miles an hour across that snow and never stop, but when they did stop they were up to their necks and just couldn't move. It was simply impassable, the trail was just gone, and we were getting consistent reports of minus 50 to minus 60 degree temperatures."

Photos by Helen Hegener and Theresa Daily, and featured at Northern Light Media and Gomush.com.