Markus is no stranger to the Yukon Quest, having been on many veterinarian teams throughout the years. Known for his personable demeanor, Markus is a musher favorite and a welcome sight at any checkpoint.

In his own words:

My name is Markus Barth. I reside with my family (wife Heather, sons Myles and Harris) in Cochrane, AB. Our family is completed by our dog Bourbon and our cat Moses.

I’ve been a vet for almost 30 years and have been part of the Yukon Quest off and on for 11 years. This year I will be the Head Veterinarian.

I am looking forward to a great race and meeting old and new friends along the trail. Most importantly, to get as many dogs (and mushers!) as possible, healthy and happy, across the finish lines.

For all the mushers, please remember these words from the great Nelson Mandela:

You never lose. You either win, or you learn.

Jaime will be the Assistant Head Veterinarian along our trail, primarily overseeing the YQ100 and YQ250. A Yukon Quest veteran, he knows the trail and the challenges mushers and dog teams face as they compete in this historic race.

In his own words:

I am a Spanish veterinarian and I live in Barcelona. I have owned a small animal clinic since 1987. I became involved in the world of mushing in 1998, participating as a veterinarian in a race in the Pyrenees for many years. This opened the doors for me to participate as a veterinarian since 2000 in different editions of the Iditarod, Race to Sky, Yukon Quest, Pedigree Stage Stop, Finmarkslopet (Norway), North Hope and a multitude of small races in Spain and Europe.

I return to the Yukon Territories with the same spirit as the first day: hoping to learn from my fellow veterinarians, from the mushers with their experience and of course, learning from the dogs. They are the true protagonists of this mushing festival that is the Yukon Quest.

The rest of my time (when I'm not working in my clinic) my wife accompanies me on other adventures such as hiking in the mountains or diving in some wonderful seas.