Dog mushers will have the opportunity to test their luck as well as endurance this Sunday at the Yukon Brewing Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer poker run.

Thanks to sponsors Yukon Brewing, Air North and the money raised during the 2008 hot hounds season, the overall prize pot is an impressive $1,100.

The four races held over the summer and fall in the hot hounds season raised $400, while Yukon Brewing donated $300 and Air North contributed $400 in flight certificates.

"It's all good fun," said Jonathan Lucas, organizer of the poker run. "As far as I know there is no race like this and it's great that we have such support from the community and from the mushers to come and do it again for the second year."

The rules to the poker run are quite simple, mushers will begin the race at Icy Waters Ltd. and make their way up to the Mount McIntyre, collecting poker cards along the way.

After ascending and descending around 2,000 feet on Mount McIntyre, a musher then works his or her way onto the Copper Haul Trail where the race concludes back at Icy Waters. The trail will be marked with green and orange tape.

Each musher will make the best five-card hand out of the six cards that will be given out during Sunday's poker run.

Some mushers will use this event as a training run for competitions like the Yukon Quest or Quest 300, however there is no advantage for mushers who finish in a top position. Mushers will be required to complete the approximately 35-km course in a four hour time frame though.

The top three poker hands will be given prizes, with the winner taking home $400 and a $100 Air North certificate. The second place will be given $200 as well as a $100 Air North certificate and the third spot takes $100 and $200 Air North certificate.

There is no cost to compete in the poker run, which so far has 20 registered mushers. This year's poker run will have a 25 team limit and mushers that are interested in participating can call Lucas at 667-4138. Individual mushing teams can use between four and 14 dogs.

The smaller-sized dog teams will be first to run in the event, which is set to begin by around 11 a.m. There will also be a mushers meeting at 10 a.m. at Icy Waters.

Thanks to the recent snowfall, trail conditions are looking very good for Sunday's poker run.

Another event that will be held on Sunday at Icy Waters is the First Mate Freight Pull, which has a $20 entry fee.

The freight pull will divide dogs up into three weight classes, being light, medium and heavy. Bags of dog food will be given out as top prizes, which are each valued at around $45.

A participant in the freight pull is required to make their dog remain still while he or she walks the 16 feet to the finish line. After reaching the finish line, an individual can call the dog.

To keep all things level, there is no giving out treats to participating dogs until the contest is over or after they have been eliminated.

The freight pull will begin around 11:30 a.m. and there is no limit to the amount of dogs that can participate.

Lucas said the freight pull should be a lot of fun.

"It's always good fun," he said. "There is so few freight pull competitions in the Yukon it's always good to come and watch and see what these dogs can do."

Other upcoming mushing events include the second race in the Yukon Brewing Copper Haul Twister League on Dec. 21 at Icy Waters.

Participation in all league races costs $10. December's race is being sponsored by Oscar's Electric Ltd.