MARCH 6, 2017

OFFICIAL START OF THE 2017 IDITAROD - FAIRBANKS, AK

I'm a bit bummed!! I wrote this page out ---INCLUDING A PICTURE----and wooooffffff
gone......into space I guess. I'll try again.

11AM in Fairbanks--the temperature a cool -17 to -20 degrees BUT sunny and no wind. Ask any musher and they will tell you this is PERFECT weather.

#18 DALLAS SEAVEY--last years winner totalling 4 wins. He will go for a fifth to tie the record of Rick Swenson. He built a very innovative sled made of carbon fiber and is an excellent prospect for another win.
#19 GUNNER JOHNSON is running JIM LANIER's, the Dentist, dogs as he withdrew from the race.
#22 DEEDEE JONROWE--all dressed in pink--this will be her 36th race and has been in the top 10, finished 2nd but has never won. Her dogs also have pink booties and this year, due to the extreme temperatures, have pink leggings on. The ice and snow can build up under their legs and cause frost bite--reason for the leggings.
#32 HANS GATT-one of my favorites just seeing how wonderfully he treats his dogs and he is just a
very nice man. He is from Austria (I might have given him an improper nationality previously). He also builds his own sleds.  Good luck HANS.

There are SEVEN countries represented with this years mushers.

#34 JEFF KING   61 years old and also a four time winner. Yes, he wants that five as well. He made
headlines last year with an unfortunate accident outside NULATO. A drunken snowmobiler ran into JEFF KING and ALY ZIRKLE's sleds and dogs, killing one of JEFF's dogs and injuring another (has recouped and is in the race this year). Both mushers were terribly shaken and prevented JEFF from a possible win.
#37 JESSIE ROYER. Hank and I had dinner with JESSIE and her family a few years ago in Nome.
She is such fun and enthusiastic. She ran the YUKON QUEST this year--a bit more relaxed race but still a grueling one. She felt it prepared her well for the Iditarod.
#41 ALY ZIRKLE--certainly a favorite. She was the one in the accident last year with JEFF KING.
Since 2012 she has been in the top 5 finishers. She is certainly in contention for a win.

I have flooded you with a lot of info so I'll let you cozy up by a fire and I will be back to continue the race......