http://www.cbc.ca/north/story/snow-yukon-15022006.html

Mayor may import snow to Yukon capital

Last updated Feb 15 2006 04:42 PM CST CBC News

The city of Whitehorse says it may have to truck snow in from a
mountain pass near Alaska to make sure mushers in an international
sled-dog race can drive their teams into the territorial capital.

(snip)

A warmer-than-usual winter, combined with less than half the usual
precipitation, has made the area around Whitehorse nearly snow free
(see sidebar). Most roads are bare, and grass and gravel are peeking
through on many lawns and driveways.

That's bad news for organizers of the Yukon Quest sled-dog race.
Mushers left Fairbanks on Saturday on their annual 1,600 kilometre
race for Whitehorse.

(snip)

The city's got problems of its own: its winter carnival features a
snow-covered Main Street and snow-sculpting events, and there's
precious little of the white stuff to be had locally.

Meanwhile, the first Quest racers could be arriving in Whitehorse
early next week.

There's no question the trail is in rough shape, at least between the
last checkpoint at Braeburn lodge to Whitehorse, about 70 kilometres
away.

Racers taking part in the Yukon Ultra, an extreme marathon held last
weekend, reported terrible conditions for runners along the trail that
follows the Quest route.

"It was terrible, the trail is absolutely trash, stones, rocks,
gravel, grass, we even had some rain during one stage, we had maybe +5
degrees," said Peter Mild, a Swedish racer, on the weekend.

"So the trail is just disappearing."