MARCH 6th IDITAROD

MARCH 6, 2018

Now we've got a race: as of midnight EST only 2 mushers are out of MCGRATH on to TAKOTNA
--I heard from my friend MISTY in TAKOTNA and she expects some mushers tonight. She runs the kitchen there and is a great cook. I helped when I volunteered there. We have been friends since.
MUSHERS out of MCGRATH:
l. MITCH SEAVEY
2. JOAR ULSOM
MITCH had to "drop" his golden harness leaddog PILOT in SKWENTA. He was just not up to the job. Now MITCH is running with only 13 dogs when most of the other mushers have 15 or 16 dogs.
MUSHERS now in NIKOLAI:
20 in all:
MARTIN BUSER is in 20th position and our SHAYNEE TRASKA in 44th position.
MUSHERS IN ROHN:
25 in all.
No one seems to be lagging behind.
The trail appears to be in good shape. MATT HALL, a rookie said the run from RAINY PASS was wonderful. He was taking a video it was so picturesque and almost took a header!!

MATT HALL is a 26 year old rookie and has a real competitive nature. He was raised in Alaska and has been mushing dogs since he was 2 years old. His interest came from running dogs on the trap line. He now guides tours and expeditions. He dedided to take the big step and this is his first
Iditarod.  MATT HALL

ART CHURCH, a man involved with the Iditarod for years and was an Iditarod Judge.
He was also a neighbor of MARTIN BUSER. ART died this year and MARTIN is bringing ashes with him to destribute at ART'S favorite checkpoints---NIKOLAI, WHITE MOUNTAIN and in NOME. MARTIN says of ART he was a "real dog man".

The sadest news is that DEEDEE JONROWE dropped out of the race at RAINY PASS. She felt she couldn't do a good job for her team and that was a priority for her. I respect her for that difficult decision. We'll miss the "pink princess".

The word is that snow is coming in the TAKOTNA area so that may change a few of the mushers plans. We'll see.
If you don't hear from me its only because I have no power. We expect another  Nor'Easter tomorrow.