Tomorrow we will be heading to Willow for the restart.
From what we have heard, the restart is much more serious and focused than the controlled chaos that was Anchorage today.
Willow Lake has on official population of 1,838. From what I understand, the restart is actually ON the frozen lake.
From Willow, teams will travel 42 miles to Yentna Station - population 8. Yentna Station is a roadhouse checkpoin in the Sustina Valley...
More to come tomorrow.
Don't forget.... since the mushers have started racing, you can start reading for the Idita-read! Read yourself right to Nome. As the mushers all say here, "There's no place like Nome!"
Sunday, March 4, 2012
The Steps are Back In!
The trail committee has decided at the last minute to put the Happy River Steps back into the race course!
They had planned to replace the steps with a mining road that was recently put in nearby. Today, the trail groomers decided that the new route wasn't safe due to the amount of snow and wind in the area.
So the mushers are back to the steps.
Many mushers consider the steps one of the hardest parts of the trail. It's a series of three switchbacks. Angie said when she ran it last year, she intentionally ran that part at night so that she couldn't see the drops off to the sides! She didn't want to scare herself!
The mushers had very mixed emotions about the removal of the steps from the race. Some thought that everyone should have to do the steps as a sort of "rite of passage." Others were looking forward to skipping it! But most seemed to agree that if was too dangerous for the dogs, it should be taken out.
I'm wondering how this news will effect the mushers tonight. I'm wondering if anyone them will need to alter their game plan at this late date and time.....
They had planned to replace the steps with a mining road that was recently put in nearby. Today, the trail groomers decided that the new route wasn't safe due to the amount of snow and wind in the area.
So the mushers are back to the steps.
Many mushers consider the steps one of the hardest parts of the trail. It's a series of three switchbacks. Angie said when she ran it last year, she intentionally ran that part at night so that she couldn't see the drops off to the sides! She didn't want to scare herself!
The mushers had very mixed emotions about the removal of the steps from the race. Some thought that everyone should have to do the steps as a sort of "rite of passage." Others were looking forward to skipping it! But most seemed to agree that if was too dangerous for the dogs, it should be taken out.
I'm wondering how this news will effect the mushers tonight. I'm wondering if anyone them will need to alter their game plan at this late date and time.....
Musher Profile: Braxton Peterson
I have to tell you about one of the mushers we met today.
Braxton Peterson, 25, was born in Bermuda. His family moved to Alaska when he was a little kid. He has worked in Lance Mackey's kennel for about ten years, and this year is taking some of Lance's dogs on the trail.
But that's not is only claim to fame.
He's also a rapper.
A mushing rapper.... yep - he writes raps about mushing!
There was a big article in the Alaska Daily News about him. Here are some of his lyrics:
"Coming in the checkpoint, set the hook all eyes on me
When I'm in the checkpoint, proficiency is key
Up and down the gangline, I never waste a move
So I'm taking off the booties, laying straw and starting food.
Now the dogs asleep so it's time for me to go bed
I wake up in an hour and to the next checkpoint I head."
And one more....
"Now I'm twisting, dipping, winding, turning through the trees
Now I got my headlight off because I'm creeping on a team
Full moon reflected off the snow so I can see
He shut his headlight off because I think that he heard ME."
So today during the ceremonial start, Braxton pulled up to the starting line with his dogs, his sled, and his drag sled. Standing on the drag sled was his buddy, rapping partner, and Lance Mackey's stepson Cain Carter.
Braxton got the countdown.... "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5,4, 3, 2, 1, GO!"
And off the dogs took down the chute dragging Braxton and his sled behind them.
And that was it.
Cain and the drag sled didn't go.
Somehow it came undone and Cain and the drag sled didn't get pulled.
So Cain did what any good friend would do. He jumped off the back of the sled, ran to the front, picked up the rope and ran off down the chute after the dogs!
#63 - Braxton Peterson
Braxton Peterson, 25, was born in Bermuda. His family moved to Alaska when he was a little kid. He has worked in Lance Mackey's kennel for about ten years, and this year is taking some of Lance's dogs on the trail.
But that's not is only claim to fame.
He's also a rapper.
L.M. - for Lance Mackey - notice the Lance Mackey bling?
A mushing rapper.... yep - he writes raps about mushing!
M - for Musherz - the name of the rap group
There was a big article in the Alaska Daily News about him. Here are some of his lyrics:
"Coming in the checkpoint, set the hook all eyes on me
When I'm in the checkpoint, proficiency is key
Up and down the gangline, I never waste a move
So I'm taking off the booties, laying straw and starting food.
Now the dogs asleep so it's time for me to go bed
I wake up in an hour and to the next checkpoint I head."
And one more....
"Now I'm twisting, dipping, winding, turning through the trees
Now I got my headlight off because I'm creeping on a team
Full moon reflected off the snow so I can see
He shut his headlight off because I think that he heard ME."
So today during the ceremonial start, Braxton pulled up to the starting line with his dogs, his sled, and his drag sled. Standing on the drag sled was his buddy, rapping partner, and Lance Mackey's stepson Cain Carter.
Braxton got the countdown.... "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5,4, 3, 2, 1, GO!"
With Cain Colin before the race
And off the dogs took down the chute dragging Braxton and his sled behind them.
And that was it.
Cain and the drag sled didn't go.
Somehow it came undone and Cain and the drag sled didn't get pulled.
So Cain did what any good friend would do. He jumped off the back of the sled, ran to the front, picked up the rope and ran off down the chute after the dogs!
At the Starting Line!
So the ceremonial start of the 40th Iditarod is in the history books!
We hit the streets early this morning, about 8am to watch the mushers arrive. The mushers with the highest starting numbers (therefore leaving the latest) parked the closest to the start. Those with the lowest starting numbers parked the furthest away. I was a little confused about that, until I realized that people who left the chute first also needed their trucks out of there first, so they parked in the back so they could be the first to leave. Remember, the trucks need to go meet the dogs and mushers at Campbell Airstrip to collect everyone and move them to Willow for the restart tomorrow.
There was definitely a celebratory mood in the streets as the mushers and their handlers got the dogs and the Idita-riders ready for the eleven mile start out of downtown Anchorage to Campbell Airstrip.
It was really neat for the fans to be able to walk around, meet the mushers, get photos and autographs, and see the dogs. At first the dogs were pretty calm and mellow. Some were lying around. Some were getting booties or harnesses on.
The mushers don't usually harness up all of their dogs for the ceremonial start. In fact, the dogs are so geared up and ready to go, it usually takes 4-6 handlers to hold the dogs and 4 - 6 people holding the sled still to keep the dogs from taking off too soon. To slow the dogs down through town, the mushers have a second drag sled attached to their main sled with someone standing on it. Plus remember, each musher has an Iditarider in the basket, and some of them have their spouses or family members ride on the sled too!
By 9:30 or so, everyone had to clear the streets so that the fun could begin.
That's also when the controlled chaos began. Those dogs were so ready to go, go, go! Some were jumping and pulling at their harnesses. Some were running and jumping over or ducking under the gangline. Almost all of them were barking or yipping or howling! It was so loud! It was like they were saying, "Come on already! Let's get this thing started!"
The race officially began with the singing of the national anthem and the Alaska state anthem. Then Conway Seavey, the winner of this year's Junior Iditarod took a sled down the chute. The first musher to leave was the ceremonial musher Dave Olson. His is being honored for his commitment to the race and the trail.
About the chute: Remember I told you they would be trucking snow in to cover the street? Well they did, and it was pretty deep - maybe 6-10 inches or so. They also literally built a chute out of the snow. So as the teams were travelling down the street, they had banks of snow on each side of them pretty much all the way to where they made a big turn as they left the downtown area.
Ray Redington, Jr. was the first racer out. Ryan Redington was the last musher out. It's sort of fitting that Redingtons began and ended the start. It's serendipity. You couldn't have written a better story if you had tried!
Here are some some interesting facts I learned today:
At the starting line
We hit the streets early this morning, about 8am to watch the mushers arrive. The mushers with the highest starting numbers (therefore leaving the latest) parked the closest to the start. Those with the lowest starting numbers parked the furthest away. I was a little confused about that, until I realized that people who left the chute first also needed their trucks out of there first, so they parked in the back so they could be the first to leave. Remember, the trucks need to go meet the dogs and mushers at Campbell Airstrip to collect everyone and move them to Willow for the restart tomorrow.
Waiting Patiently
There was definitely a celebratory mood in the streets as the mushers and their handlers got the dogs and the Idita-riders ready for the eleven mile start out of downtown Anchorage to Campbell Airstrip.
DeeDee Jonrowe with her Idita-rider
It was really neat for the fans to be able to walk around, meet the mushers, get photos and autographs, and see the dogs. At first the dogs were pretty calm and mellow. Some were lying around. Some were getting booties or harnesses on.
One of John Baker's Dogs
Helpful Handlers
#32 - Anjanette Steer
That's also when the controlled chaos began. Those dogs were so ready to go, go, go! Some were jumping and pulling at their harnesses. Some were running and jumping over or ducking under the gangline. Almost all of them were barking or yipping or howling! It was so loud! It was like they were saying, "Come on already! Let's get this thing started!"
Let's Get Going! NOW!!!
The race officially began with the singing of the national anthem and the Alaska state anthem. Then Conway Seavey, the winner of this year's Junior Iditarod took a sled down the chute. The first musher to leave was the ceremonial musher Dave Olson. His is being honored for his commitment to the race and the trail.
Conway Seavey
In the Chute
Ray Redington, Jr. was the first racer out. Ryan Redington was the last musher out. It's sort of fitting that Redingtons began and ended the start. It's serendipity. You couldn't have written a better story if you had tried!
Heading out of Town
Here are some some interesting facts I learned today:
- The real length of this years race is 975 miles. Remember, they say it is 1049miles as a ceremonial number (1,000 miles - 49th state). It's a bit shorter then it used to be because the ceremonial start is only 11 miles - shorter than it used to be when the mushers went all the way to Eagle River - and the restart is in Willow now instead of Wasilla, which cuts out some mileage.
- Three generations of Seaveys are in the race this year: Grandpa Dan (age 74), Dad Mitch, and Son Dallas.
- The Smyth siblings are racing - Ramey, age 36, came in second last year. Cim, age 35, was fifth in 2009. Their dad was also an Iditarod racer.
- The Beringtons, Kristy and Anna, are the first identical twins to run in the race. Kristy has run the Iditarod two times already, Anna is a rookie this year.
- Lachlan Clarke has a wheel dog named Mackey!
- Zora DeNure's lead dog Demon is okay after being kicked in the head by the moose. He ran lead today with Spicy. The other dogs on her team are: Fender, Sadie, Sebe, Djembe, Bligh, Storey, Peak, Fat Chance, Mulder, Robin, Sparkplug, Elwood, Sparkle, and Charlie.
- Pat Moon stopped several times during the ceremonial start to give kids rides on his sled! How cool is that?
- Lance Mackey's lead dog for this race is named Amp.
- Did I mention it snowed all.... day.... long????
See You On the Trail!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Vikings in Alaska?
I had to pop in and tell you that I just found out that one of Scott Janssen's lead dogs is named Thor!
Some other news just coming in... three hours before start time....
Zoya DeNure's lead dog Demon got kicked in the head by a moose yesterday in a training run. He's being cared for by the Iditarod vet team. Her sled got trampled and her sled bag has a big hole in it, so she spent a busy night last night repairing everything.
The dogs on the parking garage roof are waking up! Did I tell you about them? For the last several nights a truck full of puppies and sleds has been parking on the roof of a parking garage we can see from our hotel room. They are out all day and then come back at night to sleep! We heard them barking pretty late last night, and now they are all waking up! Guess they are getting ready for their big day!
Some other news just coming in... three hours before start time....
Zoya DeNure's lead dog Demon got kicked in the head by a moose yesterday in a training run. He's being cared for by the Iditarod vet team. Her sled got trampled and her sled bag has a big hole in it, so she spent a busy night last night repairing everything.
The dogs on the parking garage roof are waking up! Did I tell you about them? For the last several nights a truck full of puppies and sleds has been parking on the roof of a parking garage we can see from our hotel room. They are out all day and then come back at night to sleep! We heard them barking pretty late last night, and now they are all waking up! Guess they are getting ready for their big day!
 |
Puppy Hotel What we understand is that all the mushers have to be downtown by 8am and in their "parking spots." There are maps floating around of where all the mushers are parked so that race fans can stop by and interact with the mushers - how cool is that? The first musher departs at 10 am! We're getting ready to head out now! Happy Race Day! |
'Twas the Night Before the Iditarod
and all through Anchorage...
lots of creatures are still stirring!
We walked through the starting area this evening and it's starting to hop!
The starting line was hung across the street with great care..
The flags of the participants graced each side.
TV News crews arrived and claimed choice spots,
Making reports on the activities thus far.
Vendors staked claims and set up shop,
Lots of hot food will be needed to warm up the fans.
Roads were closed with ropes and orange cones,
Making getting where you were going a bit of a challenge.
Sled dogs barked from every corner,
As they got their last rest and geared up to go.
Mushers checked, double checked, triple checked their gear,
Reviewed their race plans and headed to bed.
Snow gently fell,
The new total 120.4 inches this year.
Sidewalks were cleared,
While snow was shipped in...
Hold on....
Snow was shipped in?????
I just saw a picture on the news of the dump trucks full of snow arriving.
Yes you read that right.
They are bringing IN truckloads of snow.
They need to cover fourth avenue with snow for the start! So I'm guessing what has happened is that as it snow they plow the streets for traffic, but now they need to put it back so the dogs and sleds can take of tomorrow!
The excitement is mounting......
lots of creatures are still stirring!
We walked through the starting area this evening and it's starting to hop!
The starting line was hung across the street with great care..
The flags of the participants graced each side.
TV News crews arrived and claimed choice spots,
Making reports on the activities thus far.
Vendors staked claims and set up shop,
Lots of hot food will be needed to warm up the fans.
Roads were closed with ropes and orange cones,
Making getting where you were going a bit of a challenge.
Sled dogs barked from every corner,
As they got their last rest and geared up to go.
Mushers checked, double checked, triple checked their gear,
Reviewed their race plans and headed to bed.
Snow gently fell,
The new total 120.4 inches this year.
Sidewalks were cleared,
While snow was shipped in...
Hold on....
Snow was shipped in?????
I just saw a picture on the news of the dump trucks full of snow arriving.
Yes you read that right.
They are bringing IN truckloads of snow.
They need to cover fourth avenue with snow for the start! So I'm guessing what has happened is that as it snow they plow the streets for traffic, but now they need to put it back so the dogs and sleds can take of tomorrow!
The excitement is mounting......
A Special Ride
A new friend of ours, Jeff, has a special role to play in tomorrow's race! He has a lot in common with us - he teaches at an all boys' school in Boston!
Anyway, tomorrow he will get to be an Idita-rider! Each musher has a race fan, or Iditarider, who rides with them for the first eleven miles of the race!
Jeff's riding with musher Lachlan Clarke from Buena Vista Colorado. He's gotten to know Lachlan a bit - he had lunch with him the other day and got to sit with him at the Musher's Banquet.
Lachlan has had quite an adventure getting to Anchorage for the race! He drove his truck here from Colorado and on the road he hit a moose and totaled the front end of his truck! Luckily he and his dogs were fine.
Once he got to Anchorage, he took his dogs out on training runs and within one week we was charged by two separate moose on the trail.
It's been a long tough road to get here, but Lachlan is ready to hit the trail tomorrow. He is ready to leave the starting shoot at 12:20pm tomorrow, in the second to last slot!
Anyway, tomorrow he will get to be an Idita-rider! Each musher has a race fan, or Iditarider, who rides with them for the first eleven miles of the race!
Jeff's riding with musher Lachlan Clarke from Buena Vista Colorado. He's gotten to know Lachlan a bit - he had lunch with him the other day and got to sit with him at the Musher's Banquet.
Lachlan thanks his sponsors at the banquet
Lachlan has had quite an adventure getting to Anchorage for the race! He drove his truck here from Colorado and on the road he hit a moose and totaled the front end of his truck! Luckily he and his dogs were fine.
Once he got to Anchorage, he took his dogs out on training runs and within one week we was charged by two separate moose on the trail.
It's been a long tough road to get here, but Lachlan is ready to hit the trail tomorrow. He is ready to leave the starting shoot at 12:20pm tomorrow, in the second to last slot!
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