The Yukon Quest International Association Canada announced Monday that they have been notified by Joint Task Force North that the Canadian Rangers will not be able to provide trail support for the 2010 Yukon Quest.

While the Canadian Rangers will not formally be involved as they have been for the past 17 years, individual Rangers are being encouraged to step forward and volunteer their time.

Executive director of the Yukon Quest International Association Canada Wendy Morrison says they had an inkling that the Rangers would not be able to be involved this year, and planning began early in the season

just in case.

"We've been starting the planning on the possibility that it could happen,” said Morrison.

To accommodate for the potential loss of the Rangers, the Yukon Quest included funds in their budget for trail support. They have hired Canadian Ranger John Mitchell to be the Yukon trail coordinator.

Morrison says this year's trail shouldn't be much different from last year for the mushers.

"We'll be putting together a plan that will look a lot like it has in previous years,” said Morrison.

The Yukon Quest budgeted in all the costs associated with the snowmobiles that will be used to pack the trail ahead of the mushers.

"We will be supplying the fuel and the fees for the snowmachines that have always been part of the Rangers,” said Morrison.

As the Yukon Quest moves forward, Morrison says she is thankful for the work the Canadian Rangers have provided over the 17 year partnership.

"We really want to express how proud we are to have worked with the Rangers,” said Morrison.

The Rangers have worked in all the communities along the Yukon Quest trail throughout the 17 years they have been involved.

"The Yukon Quest is proud to have had the Canadian Rangers partner with us for the past 17 years,” said Morrison. "They have done an amazing job and have helped us set a high standard for the Yukon Quest.”

Morrison assures the mushers that the trail will maintain the high standards that it has always been held to.

She says the trail's condition last year was the result of the Rangers' hard work and great weather conditions.

"While we cannot control snow and weather conditions we are confident that the teams being put in place for 2010 will make for great trail work,” she said.

On the Alaska trail, similar plans are being made. An Alaska Trail coordinator is being hired to work with volunteers to continue trail sections from Fairbanks, through the Alaskan communities and on to the Yukon border.

Next year the Yukon Quest hopes a high level sponsor will step up as trail sponsor to continue the work of the Canadian Rangers.

"If we had a trail sponsor step forward that would be amazing,” Morrison said. For more information on the Yukon Quest visit their website at www.yukonquest.com