MARCH 5, 2017

No action today. The mushers and dogs are on their way to Fairbanks. Tomorrow is the official start.
One correction: It was not RAY REDINGTON that was the first musher out yesterday. It was RYAN. There are three Redington's in the race so their names can easily get mixed up (that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it!!)
Each year its fun to follow at least one musher. I have chosen ELLEN HALVERSON #30. She is a
Psychiatrist...humm... from Willow, Alaska. She was born and raised in NORTH
DAKOTA (come on Tara and Jason, lets hear it for ND!!). In the past, she has had some difficulties on the trail and in 2007 and 2011 she came in LAST (red lantern). She has finished other years but not where she would like to be. MAYBE this is her year. She seems very cheerful, glad to be in the race, and takes good care of her dogs. Lets keep her in mind and I'll give you updates.
RAY REDINGTON left Anchorage with his dogs barking and raring to go. You could certainly see them with their neon booties . All the dogs have to have booties on to protect their feet ( VERY important in this race) from cutting ice or snow and whatever they might encounter on the trail.
ALY ZIRKLE is one to watch. She is an animated musher who came in third last year and hopes to
surpass those Seavey's this year.
One of my favorites is HANS GATT, from Norway I believe. When I volunteered in the dog lot in Nome one year and saw the way he was with his dogs, and  how they responded to him. He is so kind, attentive and sweet with them. When he came over the hill and the dogs sensed his arrival they jumped up and started to howl. He was the only one that took all his dogs out on the frozen Bering Sea to run around and play without any restraints. The dogs and HANS all seemed like one big happy family. He was always thanking them for such a great ride to NOME.
Now for a change in weather....tomorrow in Fairbanks the temperature is -1 and -31 at night. Chilly.
Parka and boots on and some excitement tomorrow.🐈🐕🐕🐕