Kyla Boivin crossed the finish line in the nick of time Saturday, making it to the evening's Yukon Quest finish banquet after all.

The Whitehorse resident had a large crowd waiting in nervous anticipation as the sun began to creep down the skyline before a race volunteer called in a musher sighting near Range Road.

"She's coming!" was the call as another spotted Boivin mushing past Wal-Mart.

Indeed, at 5:26 p.m., she and seven dogs crossed the finish line, the last team to do so. One dog was in the sled's basket.

Boivin was promptly greeted by a teary hug from her mother and a cracked-open can of Yukon Gold beer from a race volunteer.

Fellow musher Kelley Griffin arrived with bare legs under a long parka with a hint of skirt peeking out. Boivin characteristically saluted Griffin with an expletive and the two hugged.

"Get dressed!" commanded Griffin, who was off herself to the finish banquet.

Boivin took the time to pet each of her dogs one by one, offering treats of beaver meat to the ravenous pack.

She said the run in was "really nice," and that she was fortunate enough to avoid overflow that had been frozen over, saving her from the havoc of wet gear and dogs, as so many other mushers had experienced.

"I pity whoever went into it, that'd be cold and nasty," she said.

After posing for some pictures and hugging friends along the finish line barricades, Boivin sat down in the snow beside her lead dogs to sip from her beer and light up a cigarette.

"Oh, I guess I'm not a very good role model here," she laughed.

To those who know her, it was an appropriate welcome.

One fan approached her with a request to sign pictures of herself in the Dawson Girls 2008 calendar. The pictures feature a frolicking Boivin among her dogs and sled, wearing select items of clothing - or none at all.

"Ahh!" cried Boivin, when approached by the fan. "That is not traditional mushing gear!" she laughed.

Boivin had little time to mingle, but led her dogs out of the finish area to her truck, with her mom riding the sled, smiling and waving.

A rule in the 2008 Quest race stipulates that "all drivers who have crossed the finish line up to two hours before the ceremony will be present."

It appeared that in Boivin's case, the rule was overlooked, allowing her to attend the evening's dinner and awards ceremony, which commenced at 6:30 p.m.

As the last-place finisher, Boivin was awarded the Red Lantern later in the evening. The prize sees her name etched into a red lantern, to be on display at the Yukon Quest office in downtown Whitehorse.

As the 15th-place finisher, Boivin won US $4,000.