Braeburn, YK - At some point in the morning, Brent Sass hit his head, according to Race Marshall Doug Grilliot. Canadian Rangers were deployed from the Braeburn checkpoint to check on Sass, after his Spot Tracker indicated that he was moving slowly after a long stop on the trail. Grilliot says it's not uncommon for mushers to stop on the trail, but it seemed strange consider it was within 12 miles of the next and final checkpoint along the race trail.
Canadian Rangers brought Sass back to the checkpoint on a snow machine. He was stabilized, given fluids and transported by airplane to the hospital in Whitehorse. "From what I can tell, he smacked his head pretty good," says Race Marshall Doug Grilliot.
A Ranger was left with Sass's dog team, until they could be retrieved by Race Judge Scott Smith. Smith, who finished the Quest for the first time last year, mushed the Wild and Free team into Braeburn. 12 Dogs came into the checkpoint on the line. Smith decided to carry one dog in the sled bag. He was a little dehydrated. Fellow musher Hugh Neff also assisted in the rescue effort, thawing out meat and heating water on the trail for Sass's team while they waited for Smith to arrive.
Both Neff's and Sass's team, with smith on the runners, arrived in Braeburn in the later afternoon. Dogs from both teams were looked over carefully by the Yukon Quest Veterinarian team. Sass' has a group of friends and handlers caring for his dogs.
Sass's father has been following the race since it began. His mother and grandmother surprised him in Pelly Crossing. The family is in Whitehorse with Sass at this time. According to the race organization, they will decided whether to comment further on Sass's condition over the next few days.
Sass has been officially withdrawn from the race. It will be a solo and bittersweet finish this year. It's been a tight run between Allen Moore and Brent Sass from the start. Moore was left in a somber mood, to drive his team toward the finish line alone. He left the Braeburn checkpoint roughly an hour after Brent Sass was flown to Whitehorse on a back board. "I wish I would have known," says Allen Moore. He says it would have been easy to help on the trailhead, had he not taken the lead in the wee hours of the morning. He says Sass was in good condition when he overtook him on the trail.