Tibby's Blog

Saturday, March 16, 2024

FINAL DAY #14 IDITAROD SATURDAY MARCH 16, 2024

There were two teams left to finish: SEVERIN CATHRY and JEFF REID.

Of the two, SEVERIN CATHRY, a rookie and also a Veteran was next to last to come in. He is from AIROLO, SWITZERLAND. His time was 12 days 6 hours 35 min and 4 sec. He said the wind today was intense BUT his is from a cold windy place so he is used to it. He said it really wasn't bad at all. He said you never really know how your team will respond to the weather, terrain, schedule etc but he was so pleased with how they "showed up". His wheel dog was a powerhouse. SEVERIN has a very thick accent and at times difficult to understand him.

JEFF REID, a rookie and also a Veteran (a Navy Seal!!!) came in last place, RED LANTERN. He was talking about one of the "low spots" for him and his dogs in the race. That was out of NULATO into KALTAG. The cold set in at -45 and 25 mph winds. His dogs looked at him as if saying ok what now?They seem to be counting on him to get them out of this. He said he was looking at them thinking, I'm counting of YOU to get ME out of this. Seemed to last forever but it really wasn't very long. Working together they got out of that "low point" and then everything seemed to click into place. The dogs were hungry and very energetic. He said it was a LONG JOURNEY but he wanted to thank the people in SAFETY particularly. He said they were GOOD PEOPLE!!! JEFF showed his "commitment to the last mile".

The RED LANTERN, last place, comes with its own prestige. It celebrates the mushers perseverance and commitment to completing the IDITAROD. He receives $1, 000 and has the honor of extinguishing the widow's lamp. The widows lamp dates back to when roadhouses were used in Alaska and extinguishing the lamp was a signal that no other mushers were out on the trail.

The IDITAROD is an amazing role model for building relationships. It's one of the few cultures where friendships form instantly, dogs melt your heart on an hourly basis and the wide open landscapes of ice, snow and mountains take your breath away. Lasting memories form with each day.

After 12 days of excitement the 2024 IDITAROD is in the books. It was a very interesting race and helps to make me look forward to next year.

Thank you to my blog readers. I hope you felt like you were THERE at times and understand the intensity of a race where Mother Nature sometimes isn't on your side and when she is the abundance of beauty is immense;

the landscape, the dogs, the mushers, the fans and volunteers and the excitement.

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY. Till next year.

Friday, March 15, 2024

DAY #13 FRIDAY MARCH 15th PICTURES:

SEAN WILLIAMS

ISAAC TEAFORD

NOT A GOOD IDITAROD YEAR FOR THE AURORA

JOSHUA ROBBINS COMING INTO NOME

DAY #13 IDITAROD FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2024

NEARING THE END OF THE RACE:

SEAN WILLIAMS (r) was one of the 6 teams that had to be rescued from WHITE MOUNTAIN during a dangerous storm in 2022. He was about 70 miles from NOME at that time. This time, he had been running far behind in the race for some time and the authorities decided that SEAN was not making the progress he should be by the time he was in ELIM.That warranted his decision to scratch in ELIM. TWICE he was so close to the finish but had to scratch. The IDITAROD AIR FORCE came to pick him up and transport him to NOME.

JOSHUA ROBBINS had been running last for quite some time and it was thought he would be the RED LANTERN (last to finish in the race). He had to still have his 8 hour rest in WHITE MOUNTAIN. There were two teams in front of him, SEVERIN CATHRY and JEFF REID.

THEN the evening excitement (for the insider fans for sure!!!) began. We saw where CATHRY and REID left SAFETY, ROBBINS still there. THEN.....CATHRY and REID turned around and headed back to SAFETY. No explanation why. Well for many hours the fans created hundreds of random theories -very funny at times---sitting in the sun, having a farewell drink in the bar, hooking up together and coming in tandem cross the finish line. This went on and on for hours. THEN JOSHUA ROBBINS began his 2 hour mush from SAFETY to NOME, coming under the burled arch in 27th place --12 days 5hours 27 min and 33 sec. JOSH was the leader of a sniper team in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Being a Veteran, the VFW in NOME came out with flags to welcome him.There were many finishers there to greet him. Speaking of the last leg of the race, he said after leaving SAFETY and going over the second big hill he saw the ocean and marveled at how beautiful it was. He said he hadn't really planned to be the fastest, being his first IDITAROD, he just "put one foot in front of the other" not fast but continuous. He marveled at his team and only changed lead dogs during a bad snow storm. He praised his team.

HENRY you asked what happened to Aily Zirkle and her husband Allen. I understand they moved to FLORIDA!! Thats some change---ALASKA IDITAROD--FLORIDA BOAT RACING?????

As of 12:30 am EST there are only 2 teams left to finish and they are both in SAFETY, 43 miles from NOME. Perhaps they are resting there?? We don't know but believe they will be in NOME in the morning. Who will be the Red Lantern (last place)? There is also prestige in this position. The courage, endurance and will to FINISH what they started and trained for.

AND SO>>>>>> the 2024 IDITAROD will come to an end tomorrow--in time for ST. PATRICKS DAY and the AWARD BANQUET on Sunday.

Pictures to follow: Nite💤

Thursday, March 14, 2024

DAY #12, MARCH 14, 2024 PICTURES

? WHO THIS IS--SORRY

GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE STANDINGS

TOP 20 FINISHERS

JOSI THYR LOVING HER PUPS

ANNA BERINGTON ARRIVES IN NOME

MATT HALL UNDER THE BURLED ARCH

DAY # 12 IDITAROD THURSDAY MARCH 14, 2024

Rookie BRYCE MUMFORD was trailing last for some time. Snowmachiners were dispatched to check on his progress. After discussion with IDITAROD snowmachiners and MUMFORD, it was decided he could make it to UNALAKLEET from KALTAG. He did make it to UNALAKLEET and scratched, in the best interest of the team. The 12 dogs were all in good health. BRYCE said it would go well for a distance then the dogs didn't want to go further for no particular reason. This can certainly happen. This was slowing him down so he was lagging behind. Sad for BRYCE and his team.

Few musher comment after finishing the race in NOME:

WILL RHODES finishing 22nd said for him the Coast was great. There wasn't a lot of ice and wind at the time he went thru. The BURN was the worst for him as it was dirt and rocks. There also was a lot of dust and it was difficult breathing all that in.

MATS PETTERSSON finished 20th with 11 dogs in 10 days 14 hrs 5 min and 6 sec. The BLOW HOLE area wasn't as bad for him as in the past. The cold and wind at night was tough.

JESSICA KLEJKA finished 19th in 10 days13 hours 49 min and 41 sec.The BLOW HOLE area for her also wasn't so bad at the time she went through. She seemed to go thru it very quickly, then there was a white out, clear then white out for a short time. Her favorite part of the race was from KOYAK to ELIM as it was just gorgeous!! She was happy to get into NOME and see her husband and 2 year old. She also is pregnant (whew!!) so she said she took it a bit slower and rested more. WOW!!

There are 8 teams left to finish in NOME possibly tonight ---8:30 EST. 5 in ELIM, 1 in WHITE MOUNTAIN and 2 in SAFETY. Then one JOSHUA ROBBINS, a rookie, in last place. He is in ELIM so he has WHITE MOUNTAIN to get to then an 8 hour rest and on to SAFETY and NOME. He'll be awhile.

I believe within the next two days or less we will see all the teams in NOME. I hope they will be there for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. It really is a hoot. Anyone in the community or from anywhere can participate including pets---dogs, cats, rabbits, fish---whatever!!! Lot of green, corned beef and beer!!

TILL TOMORROW and a few pictures: Not coming out so I will do another page😢