Some of those riverboats, having been caught in the sudden windstorms that the lake is notorious for, now lie wrecked on the shore. Poetry, we find with Firth, doesn't take us far on a ride as grueling as this one. But the history and the poetic setting aren't enough to give the tired driver more than a momentary thrill. The bruises and aches of abused muscles can no longer be overpowered by a rush of adrenaline. Once the emotional race is over, there is nothing left except to complete the physical part.
Time starts to feel like an anchor.
The hours spent alone on the lake ice are the longest ones the driver will ever endure. It's only 40 miles to the finish line, but the dogs are moving unbearably slowly. At times it seems like they're not moving at all. Yukon Quest is an adventure-geek's handbook. The photographs are illustrative, but not the focal point.