On the trail to Iditarod

Patton waiting for the start

Mike and the dogs are on the long trail between Ophir and Iditarod.  Mike is doing a fantastic job of managing the team.  They left their 24 hour break with a bang and made it to Ophir in just over two hours.  He then gave them a two hour break in the afternoon sun. Sled dogs prefer to rest during the warmest part of the day and in the latest part of the night, from midnight to dawn.  This allows them to run near dawn and dusk, similar times to when their crepuscular ancestors chose to hunt.  By giving the team a break right away he set them up to run at the right time of day and broke up the 100 miles between Takotna to Iditaord.

Iditarod is a ghost town once inhibited by ten thousand people in pursuit of gold.  Over $35 million dollars of gold was taken from the area in the early 1900's. Iditarod is considered the halfway point of the southern route of the race. 

Oz

As I have been following the GPS tracker, I have been looking at my Alaska Gazetteer atlas.  When Mike left Takona this morning he clearly reached a critical point geographically.  The scale of the maps has changed so that now 1 inch represents 22 miles instead of 4.8 miles.  I think that this idea of traveling where few people have gone before, where maps do not exist in great detail, is part of the mystique of the Iditarod.

Dr. Jayne Hempstead and Caitlin

Preparing a team for the Iditarod has been a humbling and inspiring experience.  I can't even begin to explain the amount of help we have needed.  It has taken the four of us, Mike, Lindsay, Nick, and I, working more than 16 hours a day.  Even with this we have needed help in numerous ways.  Friends, family, and supporters have gone to extremes to help us prepare.  While I know that some of this generosity is due to our friendships, I think that part of it is the appeal of participating in the type of exploration and adventure that is hard to achieve in the modern world.  It is not often that someone has the chance to head off into the wilderness with only his own wits and skills to care for himself.  People are captivated, also, by the idea of someone following and fulfilling a lifelong dream.  While I sometimes question my choices and my commitment to this adventure because of the challenges and sacrifices it requires, I know that others who have not taken the road less traveled by also question their choices and wonder, if only...  The Iditarod presents a chance for people on all paths to join in a great dream and a wild adventure. 

Down the road less traveled

Special thanks to Carrie Skinner for the great photos!

24 in Takotna

Mike and the team got to Takotna at 7:40 am this morning.  According to Mike's plan he wrote in Anchorage, he was anticipating arriving in Takotna at 8 am.  Pretty incredible strategy.  Talk about a musher who knows exactly how his dogs will perform.  Mike and the dogs, and many other mushers, are taking their 24 hour break in Takotna.  Each musher is required to stop at a checkpoint of their choice for 24 hours.  Mike will actually be staying for 25 hours and 10 minutes.  This will accommodate for the difference in starting times of the teams.  The 24 hour break is a chance for mushers to get a little extra sleep and give extra food and care to their dogs.  Takotna is one of the favorite spots for a 24 due to its great hospitality and food. 

Many people have asked me if I have heard from Mike.  I had not heard from him since the start of the race, but I was hoping that he might call during his 24.  (My one fear was that he would not remember our phone number!)  However, he not only remembered it, but found time and a phone to call on.  His report was filled with great news.  He says that the dogs are doing incredibly.  They have been running at a really steady pace, which has kept them happy and healthy.  He is taking great care of them and is totally impressed by their performance and attitudes.  He said that he himself is doing great.  He is eating and feels very sharp, despite the lack of sleep.  He plans to get some good rest tonight.  He has finally had a chance to take his boots off.  He said the only chance he had to go inside before this was for an hour in Nikolai. 

Overall, he kept expressing how awesome his experience has been.  When I asked him what I should tell people he said it is "indescribable."  I can't even begin to imagine the country that he is having a chance to see and the connection he is experiencing with the dogs.  Mike explains that the relationship between a musher and his dogs is akin to military comrades.  Both he and the dogs are vested in their mutual success.  Hence the level of trust they develop and their understanding of each other's needs, habits, and nuances is extraordinary. 

I have definitely been enjoying the 24 hour break.  I still find myself checking the GPS info, even though I know he is staying still.  Mike gave me an interesting perspective on the trackers.  He said that each time it sends a signal to the satelites, it does so with a little flash of red light.  So just as we are thinking of him every 15 minutes, as the report updates, he is also thinking of us watching him. 

Photo Sarah Waterman

Tomorrow will bring more movement down the trail.  It is a short 20 miles to Ophir, but then 80 miles to Iditarod and still a total of 620 miles to Nome.  Until tomorrow I hope you are all having as much fun with your dogs as Mike is with ours. 

Over the Alaska Range

Mike and the team are resting in Nikolai.  They have made it over the Alaska Range and across the Farewell Burn.  Mike is exactly on the schedule that he created.  It has been really fun, albeit a bit nerve racking to watch him on the GPS.  I think Mike's brother Anthony said it best "its killing me, not to mention my productivity."  Despite this, I still highly recommend the Insider GPS tracker.  The information is much more current than the standings on the Iditarod page.  I expect Mike to leave Nikolai in a few hours and make the run to McGrath and Takotna.

Photo by Greg Sellentin

I have been hoping for more videos of Mike, but did not see any today.  Maybe the camera crew will have a chance to catch up with him during his 24 in Takotna.  Mike withdrew 3 dogs, Clyde, Lager, and Uber, from his team in Rainy Pass.  They have been flown back to Anchorage, are currently resting at our friend's house, and will be home in the kennel on Thursday. 

I have been having fun answering the fan mail that Mike has received from students around the country.  I appreciate the kids' enthusiasm and practicality.  The most humorous questions I have received so far are "Do you have a best friend?"  and "Where do you go to the bathroom?"  Another student told me he has a dog named Tango.  "She tears up everything. But the dog before was good."

Photo by Sarah Waterman

I am looking forward to Mike's 24 hour break, as knowing he is staying still may allow me to take a break from clicking refresh on my computer.  More updates tomorrow!


 

Iditarod Start and Restart

 

We have had a wonderful time at the start and the restart.  Mike was very relaxed the whole time.  (Much more than I was!)  The dogs look fantastic.  They are eating everything in sight and are enthusiastic and playful.  We spent the weekend at the Inlet Tower in Anchorage, which is a great place to stay with dogs.  It is very close to everything, but has a quiet parking lot for letting the dogs out of the truck.  We were joined by good friends at the musher's banquet and Mike spoke memorably as he drew his bib number (27).  He explained the mushers are not superheros and must rely on the help and support of many others.  For us this includes our handlers, Nick and Lindsay, our families and friends who have helped us in so many ways, and our fantastic sponsors:  Grainger, Ringers Gloves, Cantwell Veterinary Services, Denali Fly Fishing Guides, Ahtna, Cantwell Native Village Council, The Cantwell Lodge, Alpine Creek Lodge, Jindex, Marmot, Eddie Bower, Inlet Tower, Mix Grill, Wheeler EMS.  

The ceremonial start went well.  The dogs were relatively patient.  I managed to make it to the starting line running in front of the team.  (Believe me this is not easy.)  Lindsay made it the whole way around on Mike's second sled with a smile one her face and her feet (and runners) on the ground.  Mike enjoyed throwing hats, gloves, and earbands to the crowds from Grainger and Ringers Gloves. 

 

 

 

 

Photo thanks to Donna Quante

The restart in Willow could not have been better.  It was a perfect day.  We saw all sorts of good friends, and the sent Mike off with a bang.  Brandon, who got to ride the sled to the starting line with Mike told me they said they needed extra people to hold our team back. 

Brandon Lee popper-scooper and dog food stacker extraordinaire

 The final roster for the team is Icarus, Iowa, Hawkeye, Phoebe, Lugnut, Nestor, Oz, Patton, Clifford, Titus, Twain, Uber, Ziplock, Zazu, Clyde, and Lager.

Mike's Sled Ready for Action

  While our dogs are not known for patience they waited for their time to start.  There is a great video of Mike and Clifford, Zazu, and Oz on the Iditarod Insider.  If you do not have a subscription yet, you have to get one.  I am especially enjoying the GPS tracker which gives updates of location and speed every 15 minutes. 

Nestor in his one moment of waiting patiently

So far, the race seems to be progressing exactly as Mike planned.  He is giving the dogs lots of rest and making his way down the trail.  There was a video posted last night of him taking a break on the trail and again, he seemed cool and collected.  He is currently in Rainy Pass with 16 dogs.  This means that he has made it through the infamous steps.  There are several videos of teams crashing in the steps and, for once, I am glad we didn't make it on camera.  I am looking forward to watching his progress and sharing my insights with you, so keep checking back! 

Photo thanks to Rick Wise

Iditarod Start in Willow, AK

Ready for Anchorage

Our first trip to the kenai

Half of the gang the morning after the race.  Pheobe, Haweye, Oz, Me, Icarus, Zazu,  Patton,  and Lugnut

 

  
    If you are a Sports Center fan the concept that on any given Sunday anything can happen is probably something you accept as a part of professional sport.  Sure there is always a chance that a dark horse can come out of the stable on fire, but nine times out of ten talent will best chance.  If you prefer Disney to Sports Center, this is probably something that isn't easy to accept.  After all the Bad News Bears have to win otherwise no one leaves the theater with an uplifting experience.  If this was Disney, my money would be on Colleen Robertia.  Local gal, big smile, all heart, and dedicated.  (If you weren't rooting for her shame on you.)  If you'd rather the dark horse on fire, I guess you'd be stuck rooting for me to pull off an upset.   
   
    Interested in the opinion of a dark horse who was out on the runners during the race?  (I hope you realize that if you continue reading you're going to get it whether or not you want it.)  The boys in Vegas who make a living taking bets on this kind of stuff would be really happy with the results of the T 200, because what statistically happens happened.  The best team won, the second best team took second and the third best team took third.  http://www.tustumena200.com/ for results. 

    Those of you who bet on Colleen take solace in the fact that the human heart is what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom.  (Which by the way is what the boys in Vegas count on.) For those of you who bet on me, you need therapy.

    Stevie Wonder could have seen that Dee Dee had the team to beat.  Awesome!!!

Icarus knows what check points are all about.

As for Cim, I'm really getting tired of following this guy around just to have him disappear at the end.  I hope he's just as sick of me keeping up with him until the end.  (FYI, Cim's got my vote for best dog in the race.)

    As for our journey, yeah there are plenty of hills on the Kenai, but we live in the mountains, hills are not a problem for us.  The tropical heat is really what killed our chances of an upset.

    On the lighter side;  At the half, the Clam Gulch Lodge donated rooms for the mushers to sleep in.  Three per room.  Confession.  I have a reputation of snoring like a grizzly in January. I opened the door to room number one to find Dee Dee curled up as peaceful as an angel, and just couldn't bring myself to disturb Dee Dee's sleep.
So I quietly shut the door and went on to room number two, only to find ex-professional fashion model, Zoya DeNure sound asleep.  I hesitated just long enough to witness Anna and Kristy Berington enter room number three.  What's a fella supposed to do.  Well, Zoya lives in Paxon which is on the opposite side of the Denali Highway from Cantwell 134 miles away, which in Alaska makes us neighbors, so I went on in.  I had a hell of a time falling asleep worried that I would definitely lose any chance I might have at the sportsmanship award if I woke up went to the john or in this scenario jane and left the toilet seat up.  Conclusion.  Alaskan girls absolutely do kick _ _ _!!!

    As for our very own Alaskan gal who is kicking butt, we are very proud of Lindsay's performance in the T 100.   She finished right where we were expecting her to just behind all of the accomplished Jr Iditaroders and Paul,  and just in front of the rest of the first time racers.  It was a real thrill watching her nervous excitement.  Lindsay had a lot of fun and I know she learned a ton. 

    As for the race itself, I cannot say enough about the quality of the event.  A beautiful trail, groomed and marked exceptionally well.  Officials, checkers and vets always right where you needed them and pleasant.  In fact, from the moment we arrived in Soldotna, until the banquet was over, everyone we met was excited that we were there.  This kind of mushing enthusiasm speaks greatly of the quality of the mushing community on the Kenai.  It's obvious to me that the mushers who call this area home have over the years conducted themselves in a manner which has created this passion in the non mushing community for the sport.  Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!  Kudos all.

    A special thank you to Mindee and Kelly Morning for their generous hospitality, Sal's Diner in Soldotna for all of the great breakfasts, and to Jayne Heampstead for convincing us to make the trip.

    Until the next time I hope you are all having as much fun as I am, Mike