MARCH 21, 2022 con't FINALE

 MARCH 21, 2022 con't GRAND FINALE

Dallas Seavey --SECOND PLACE --IDITAROD

BRENT SASS ---WINNER--- IDITAROD

 

SORRY ITS SO SMALL

JUST REMEMBER

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN. HOPE I DID IT JUSTICE. TIBBY

MARCH 21, 2022 cont'd

 MARCH 21, 2022 cont'd

Last night was the MUSHERS BANQUET where awards are handed out, a great dinner is served from the MILLENNIUM HOTEL in ANCHORAGE, all the mushers are introduced and each one speaks (reason it took so long). BRENT SASS and DALLAS SEAVEY had a lot to say. They are both great speakers and have wonderful stories of their adventures. The crowd loved them! There is a 4 wheeler there and each mushers gets to try a key. The ONE that works wins it. That was CHAD STODDARD. 

FEW HIGHLIGHTS: 1,500 Volunteers help with the race. They are invaluable.

It does" take a village" to put this IDITAROD on. Everyone seems to come back every year so I think they enjoy it. I know I did and hope to again. Just a note--Hank and I volunteered in the DOG YARD in NOME. After the race the dogs are brought to one area. There is a vet there all the time and volunteers to care for the dogs. It is such a wonderful experience. Beautiful, usually well behaved and fun athletes. You would never know they just ran 1,000 miles!! 

AARON BURMEISTER AWARD

JESSIE HOLMES IN 3RD PLACE

MUSHERS BANQUET

JOAR OLSOM WITH SPONSOR

CHAD STODDARD WINNER

I wrote about the awards given to the 1st in many of the checkpoints. That musher was given the award at this time. There were many of these and most of them won by BRENT SASS. He got so many awards that he didn't have room at the table for his dinner plate!!! A few awards not known till the banquet:MARTIN BUSER , the SPIRIT OF THE IDITAROD. Voted by the checkpoint volunteers and vets. SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD to TRAVIS BEALS. The FASTEST TIME FROM SAFETY TO NOME to JOAR OLSOM-- 2hrs 26 min. SUPERIOR DOG CARE to DAN KADUCE. MOST INSPIRATIONAL AWARD for good attitude etc to MATT FAILOR. DALLAS SEAVEY will now take some years off to do other "things" and then may be back. He is a favorite!! Do hope GERHARDT and BRIDGETT will be back and not have such troubles with the weather.

There are HOST FAMILIES in NOME that house the mushers. Some mushers have had the same host family for years. They are now their FAMILY. Many of them were mentioned in their talk. 

MARCH 20, 2022 NOME

 MARCH 20, 2022

Sorry I didn't get back yesterday to finish up about BRIDGETT but the banquet got out late. After all, it is 4 hours behind EST. 

BRIDGETT WATKINS story: I'll bring her photo up again.

Before the race, BRIDGETT and her team were attacked by a moose. It was a practice run. The dogs were badly hurt. One had a head injury, the main lead dog. ALIY ZIRKLE, her stepmom, took care of the dog for her. He is now recovering and doing well. Another dog broke his leg and is recovering well. The last one had an abdominal wall tear and is now doing well. So BRIDGETT and her TEAM started off with some drawbacks. BRIDGETT is also a nurse who worked with COVID patients. After that she knew she could do anything---even the IDITAROD.

She was asked for some of her experiences before WHITE MOUNTAIN. She will remember coming into ROHN thru RAINY PASS and how beautiful it was. Probably only seen with a dog sled or snow machine. Coming down off the mountain she looked back and said "WOW" I did that. It looked treacherous from afar but she did it!! By MCGRATH she saw a beautiful black wolf, that was the beauty and she also lost her Garmin- GPS that was the "ugly".  The hills going into RUBY and the sunset leaving were sights to behold! In NULATO she experienced a "low" thinking there is so much to go. Yet after viewing all this beauty she then understood why she was there. 

Before KALTAG, on the trail, there were TRAPS (animal traps) all over. She almost hit one. WHAT WERE THEY DOING THERE????In KALTAG they were greeted by the people in the community--the first time that had happened. She will always remember the smiles and happiness on the kids faces and how genuine their excitement was!!

Then the story turns to BRIDGETT leaving WHITE MOUNTAIN. As GERHART said, nice day, not much wind UNTIL: I explained all this in GERHARDT'S story. 

After the winds picked up steadily and she saw GERHARDT's sled and team flip down the hill in the wind that she knew she had to help. She was down low trying to get to him thru the wind--very difficult. She got them together and they built a shelter with their sleds and in a trench they dug out. They had to protect themselves and the dogs. Not until ED, the village Dentist, came in his snowmobile. He helped but BRIDGETT knew GERHARDT needed medical care. He was getting hypothermic and had a possible broken leg or ankle. She was helping but broke her clavicle while trying to help them. GERHARDT said, many times, "SHE IS A TOUGH GIRL"!! Ed then took a few of the dogs to shelter and realized it was GERHARDT that needed immediate attention. He took him on his snowmobile to WHITE MOUNTAIN for medical care and on to NOME by helicopter. When they left BRIDGETT realized "its just me and 19 dogs!!!"Not knowing when help may come she called her husband SCOTT. He had left NOME immediately when he heard there was trouble. It took some time, he flipped over many times, but got there. Love can get one through even the toughest weather and time. They transported the dogs, 5-6 at a time, to WHITE MOUNTAIN. Back and forth till all were safe, warm, fed and resting. BRIDGETT was so grateful for her husband SCOTTY and her COUSIN, ED, the Dentist, all the community people, the WHITE MOUNTAIN folks, volunteers and all!!!! She was then helicoptered to NOME, dogs as well. WHEW. Even though she and GERHARDT were out of the race she said there will be other years. The dogs and the two of them made it and that's all that counts. What a first IDITAROD for them!!!

MARCH 20, 2022 CONT'D

 MARCH 20, 2022 CONT'D

Photo's of GERHARDT THIART and BRIDGETT WATKINS and their story of survival, with their dog team, out in the brutal weather ALASKA can be known for:

GERHARDT THIART said this was a humbling experience in so many ways. He felt how small we humans are---its Mother Nature!! His goal was to give his young, 2 year old dogs, the best experience and he felt that responsibility.

 Going into ROHN he had an entirely different idea of what he would find. There was JUSTa little cabin, mushers around heating up water, lot of yelping dogs and a bison coming in on the trail???? Is that it?THAT "WOKE" him up. He thought hey just look around you--the beauty of this land, beautiful dogs and people and a serene quiet. It's not the facilities. STOP and look around you!!! That was a wake up call for him, many more would come.

From RUBY he left at 4 AM and to see the sun come up over this VAST body of water--water from side to side, as he explained it,WHAT on earth could be as magnificent and stimulating as this. On the YUKON it was -40 and with all this "beauty" on his mind, he didn't even feel cold. It just felt very powerful and a bit scary in the middle of the sea, on ice--just him and his dogs--ooh and utter peace--his dream.  On the ice and during the day the dogs seemed to get a bit bored---couldn't see where they were going to, is there an end? Yet, on the ice they would go a little faster, for some reason, faster  than they did on the snow.

 From KALTAG to UNALAKLEET it is known as a favorite part of the experience and he felt all the beauty nature had to share. It was his BIRTHDAY when he got to UNALAKLEET. There were showers , good food, warm, great people. Nice place to rest for your B'day!! THEN_---to SHATOOLIK with the wind. It just seemed to go on forever!There was a storm on the Bering Sea that was a bit scary. He treated it with respect!! Then in to KOYUK and relief from that weather. On to WHITE MOUNTAIN. The hills were tough as was the mountain pass. Coming down the mountain it was clear ice. He had to slow the dogs down and put changes on his runners. When they got to WHITE MOUNTAIN it was not as cold and no wind at all. They had a mandatory 8 hour rest there and left in the morning. The wind was still calm UNTIL mile 911. That's when the wind started blowing very  hard!! BRIDGETT was behind him. She said one minute she could see his hat and then within seconds he FLEW, literally, off to the right of her about 50'. The wind was flipping the sleds and soon you couldn't go straight into the wind, it would just pick you up and toss you!!! The dogs were getting flipped as well. Also GERHARDT got his foot caught in the lines and he felt he either broke his leg or his ankle. BRIDGETT knew she had to get to him. He was on his stomach, crawling on the ground as he couldn't stand up, wind was too strong.  She got low and tried to help him. Once up they had to dig a trench for a snow cave. She had an ax. She used that to chop at the ice and then a dog bowl for a shovel. They got the dogs (all 19) bundled up and got it dug . They tried to shelter themselves and the dogs behind their sleds they turned sideways and would wait this out. They then realized, the waiting out could be 10- 12 hours and they were concerned for the dogs and for GERHARDT's possible broken bone. Nature had won out!GERHARDT said he wasn't going to set his dogs up for failure and their health was most important.  GERHARDT was becoming hypodermic. He wasn't tired but kept falling asleep. He was in trouble. He had ice chunks on his face and some frost bite. You couldn't expose your skin, in danger of frost bite. They decided that the finish to NOME was certainly not worth putting themselves and their dogs in any more danger. It was at that point GERHARDT said I am going to push the RED BUTTON. That meant HELP, NOW!! They agreed. That also meant out of the race. It seemed like forever when a snow machine came by. It was Ed the Dentist from one of the villages. He asked what they needed and their reply "we need help". He knew GERHARDT needed medical care. Knowing the area, he 1st took 5 dogs at a time to an area with some shelter. He realized he had to get GERHARDT to medical care so he got him on the snow machine and took off for WHITE MOUNTAIN. It was then that BRIDGETT realized hey its me and the dogs--help may never come!!ON TO BRIDGETT'S STORY:

MARCH 20, 2022WHITE MOUNTAIN, SAFETY, NOME

 MARCH 20,2022

Now we hear how the saga out of WHITE MOUNTAIN unfolded. There was an interview from BRIDGETT WATKINS and GERHARDT THIART -- the two rescued.

First, let's go back to those last four that finally came into NOME in the middle of last night, after waiting for the ok from the MARSHALL to leave WHITE MOUNTAIN.  Again, EVERYONE  in NOME to greet them. Extra cheers for these 4 who underwent some brutal weather.  

 The last team into NOME----IDITAROD 2022 --50 years is APAYAUQ REITAN. Although it is the last team, It is a coveted award-THE RED LANTERN AWARD: It is a symbol of the final musher's perseverance in not giving up, making the decision to fulfill their team's purpose. 

The two mushers BRIDGETT WATKINS and GERHARDT THIART, who survived a weather ordeal  in an area between WHITE MOUNTAIN and SAFETY. They had to scratch as they had to be rescued. Their story begins on the next page.

APAYAUQ REITAN--RED LANTERN Award winner

APAYAUQ REITAN receiving the award in NOME

YUKA HONDA coming into NOME

ERIC KELLY in NOME his 1st IDITAROD

KAILYN DAVIS into NOME under the burled arch

 

MARCH 19, 2022 cont'd

 MARCH 19, 2022 cont'd

Three more mushers have scratched as a result of the bad weather in that same area from WHITE MOUNTAIN to SAFETY. They are JEFF DEETER, KATTIJA DEETER and SEBASTIEN DOS SANTOS BORGES. They all needed assistance from that area. Once that is requested they are out. They said the wind was actually flipping them over. INTENSE!! So sad as this doesn't usually happen to so many teams in the same area. 

Left to come to NOME and doing fine, so far, are ERIC KELLY, KAILYN DAVIS, YUKA HONDA AND APAYAUQ REITAN. 

It is midnight in EST and KAILYN will be in NOME in approximately 3 hours and APAYAUQ in approximately 4 1/2 hours.  Time not determined for YUKA and ERIC yet. 

Tomorrow is the BANQUET, usually mid afternoon, so do hope all of them get in before then. 

I am going to try once more for a video. If not I will work on that this summer and perfect it for next year.

BRIDGETT WATKINS, the one stranded and rescued with a broken shoulder bone, gave a grueling interview explaining the weather conditions and what they did. It was time to use her nursing skills.

Sorry to say, all my effort still didn't pay off--no video. I'll show you the shute in NOME at the finish line.

Just a note: when those sirens go off 15 min before the next musher comes in it is a scramble to get to the arch, no matter what time it is!! NOME believes EVERYONE deserves to be cheered in and treated like the winner that they are. Even when they were in the middle of the Banquet ,one year, when the siren went off half the hall jumped up and ran to the burled arch!!!

 These last four teams certainly deserve a warm welcome after their weather event that "stranded" them.  We're ready!!!

MARCH 19, 2022 WHITE MOUNTAIN, SAFETY, NOME

 MARCH 19, 2022

Last night the TRAIL MARSHALL,  MARK NORDMAN, who has the authority, would not let the musher at WHITE MOUNTAIN go on due to the deteriorating weather conditions, 76 miles from NOME. There were others at the SAFETY CABIN shelter 49 miles from NOME. They were also told to hunker down and could not leave until the TM gave his ok. Again, may have mentioned, SEAN WILLIAMS was between WHITE MOUNTAIN and the SAFETY CABIN and had to ask for help to get back to WHITE MOUNTAIN. That disqualified him so he is out. SEBASTIEN DSB (too long to write every time) was concerned about his hands but got to the CABIN and took care of that. If you use anything in the CABIN you are expected to replace it--ex wood for the fire, couldn't go out till morning to cut anything more down, wind fierce. By 2:22 pm (EST) they were given the ok to leave both places.

I remember Hank and I flying in a small mail plane and stopping to drop mail at WHITE MOUNTAIN. I think it's ALWAYS windy there!!!!! We had to walk up a big hill from where we landed and into the shelter. Beautiful trip there but I could see how that weather could get brutal---and it did this year!!!

RILEY DYCHE was the first to leave and arrive in NOME. He said the winds were at 60-70 mph with ground blizzard conditions last night. No wonder they didn't let them leave. If we have 20 mph winds I think my house will cave in so 60-70 wow, can't imagine. It is only 6:00 (EST) so I will write again this eve.

YUKA HONDA 1st to leave WHITE MOUNTAIN 

short time after leaving both YUKA and APAYAUQ REITAN came back to drop a dog.

I

This photo above is RILEY DYCHE coming into NOME. Lot of people there as they knew he had a rough ride. JEFF KING  was there, only one I could spot. Lots of cheering. He came from the SAFETY CABIN with the bad conditions behind him this am.  I heard ALIY ZIRKLE and ALLEN MOORE were there as they came to be with their daughter BRIDGETT WATKINS, hurt in those winds and conditions I just spoke of. She is back in NOME. I looked for them at the finish line but no camera on them if they were there.       

MARCH 18, 2022 cont'd

MARCH 18, 2022 cont'd:

ERIC KELLY coming into WHITE MOUNTAIN-notice two stakes means a turn to his left

YUKA HONDA coming into WHITE MOUNTAIN

TWINS, hugging under the burled arch in NOME

AMANDA OTTO coming down Front St to finish in NOME

JEFF KING in NOME

AMANDA OTTO and JEFF KING in NOME 

Don't you agree- good outfit for MATT PAVEGLIO-ST. Patty's Day special

CH 18, 2022 cont'd:

MARCH 18, 2022. ELIM, WHITE MOUNTAIN, SAFETY, NOME

 MARCH 18, 2022

Has been a hectic day, don't know where to start. At the moment we only have 3 mushers in WHITE MOUNTAIN and one on his way to SAFETY. But many things happened in between. I'll start at the beginning. Those coming into NOME get a coveted finishers belt buckle. MATT PAVEGLIO got the dress up prize today with a St. Patrick's Day green skirt etc. You'll see when I get the picture up. His daughter, Tieje, loves mushing and  participated in  the Jr. Willow race and the Jr. Iditarod--we may be seeing her in the future. MATT said the race was a religious experience for him. He is a traveling nurse also in the ER and Critical Care Unit in ANCHORAGE. He could be helpful on the trail, although it wasn't needed at this time. KARIN HENDRICKSON came under the arch in Nome in 32nd place. Asked if she had any difficulties with the race and she said nothing could be like the 2014 race (still don't know what that means). That was unreal!!! 20 years ago she was a volunteer at the Iditarod, a year later she sold everything, quit her job in the lower 48 and moved to Alaska. She got a job as a handler then established a kennel of her own. 2 years after that, she ran her first Iditarod. In 2014, in a training run, she was hit by a truck. Her dogs were not injured but KARIN had 3 spinal fractures (think that's what she meant by 2014 the shape she was in after her recovery from the accident). Her grit and determination was an inspiration to all.

MATTHEW FAILOR, the musher, is the husband of LIZ FAILOR, our commentator for the IDITAROD. She is a real life reporter that's why she's so good. MATTHEW apprenticed under MARTIN BUSER. He ran MARTINS' puppy team in 2012.

DEKE NAAKTGEBOREN completed his 2nd IDITAROD and said he negotiated THE STEPS, THE GORGE, and the SNOWLESS BURN. He navigated the sea ice and the head winds from the NORTON SOUND and persevered over TOPKOK and thru the BLOW HOLE to finish in 29th place. WHEW!!

AMANDA OTTO AND JEFF KING came into NOME together. JEFF thanked NIC PETIT for his great dogs he got to run and for AMANDA for steering him right along the trail. In JEFFS' first race in 1981 he placed 28th, same this year and in the same time. AMANDAS' great memory was leaving KOYUK with the sun just coming up--exhilirating!!!

THEN the saga began. Four mushers left WHITE MOUNTAIN about the same time today--about 3:30 pm.GERHARDT THIART and BRIDGETT WATKINS were in the back of the pack. About 14 miles out  the winds were intense with a ground blizzard. GERHARDT crashed and AMANDA stayed with him and his dogs till help came. He was snow machined to WHITE MOUNTAIN and helicoptered to a Doctors care.Bottom line, he has a broken ankle. His dogs were ok and the volunteers from WHITE MOUNTAIN are managing his team. I believe they will bring the team back to WHITE MOUNTAIN. AMANDA stayed with the dogs till rescue came. They snow machined her to WHITE MOUNTAIN and then same --helicoptered her to a Doctors care. She has a broken collarbone. Her dogs are being brought back as well. The three mushers left in WHITE MOUNTAIN must be in a sweat. They have to stay for 8 hours and hopefully will travel together and perhaps the wind will die down by tomorrow for their trip to NOME. It is 6 degrees in WHITE MOUNTAIN with 40 mph winds.Wishing GERHARDT and AMANDA all the best. I know they will have the best care. Their dogs will also be well cared for. 

Let's hope ERIC KELLY, YUKA HONDA and APAYAUQ REITAN will all arrive in NOME safely.

I will put pictures on the next page.

MARCH 17, 2022 cont'd

MARCH 17, 2022 cont'd

LISBET NORRIS scratched in UNALAKLEET with 10 dogs--in the best interest of the team. I'm sad to hear this as she is the only team of Siberian Husky's.  She is from a Siberian Husky family. Her Grandpa is an icon and legendary Iditarod competetor and  also legendary in the world of Siberian Huskey's. Her Grandpa and her Mom raced in the Iditarod. She has a degree in Northern Studies and History from the Univ of Alaska in Fairbanks. 

Just a tid bit: It is 10 degrees in NOME with a nighttime temp of -3 cold and windy. 

BRIDGETT WATKINS always gave her dogs encouragement by calling out to them and letting them know they are doing a great job. She thinks that really matters. 6 weeks ago they were attacked by a moose on a practice run. The moose finally ran away. All was well.When they were leaving MCGRATH they had a Mom and Baby Moose right in front of them and with a lot of yelling they left but she did have her gun out ready if absolutely necessary. Another moose encounter went without incident. She said they did see a lot of moose along the trail.

15 minutes before a musher will be coming down FrontSt and under the Burled Arch the fire siren blows so everyone can get ready. Great sound to hear. Till tomorrow !!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY FROM HENRY THE MOOSE (not related to my Henry!!)

Northern route they followed this year

MARTIN BUSER at the finish, with his leaders

The BERRINGTON TWINS hugging at the finish.

MILLE PORSLID at the finish

My house in ANCHORAGE. Lot of snow

MARTIN BUSER at the finish

Took 2 yr to book a stay here--at the burled arch--$$ but no luxury-- but great location. You can go out on the porch, if its in the middle of the night,THE and watch the musher come under the Arch

THE BERRINGTON TWINS

trail markers

NOME - FRONT ST.

PAGE DROBNY at the finish

MILLE PORSILD -down front st. to the finish

MARCH 17, 2022 KOYUK, ELIM, GOLOVIN, WHITE MOUNTAIN, SAFETY, NOME

MARCH 17, 2022

One of my fondest memories is the year Hank and I were in NOME for St. Patrick's Day. EVERYONE in town came out for the St. Patrick's Day parade down Front St. All the dogs, cats, people were dressed in green and proudly marched . It lasted about 7 min. ANYONE about could take part in the parade as well. It was one of my best parades!!! Haven't seen any signs of it yet. Different photo takes this year. We used to see the people in the villages ,their preparations and all the mushers coming under the burled arch. I just heard, if you go to Iditarod 2022 fan page on Facebook you can see videos. I'm about to try it.

At 10:30 pm (EST) 26 teams were in NOME, 7 in WHITE MOUNTAIN, 6 in ELIM, 4 in SHAKTOOLIK. 48 miles from KOYUK to ELIM, 28 miles from ELIM to GOLOVIN, 18 miles from GOLOVIN to WHITE MOUNTAIN, 55 miles from WHITE MOUNTAIN to SAFETY and 55 miles from SAFETY to NOME. Total 171 miles. It won't be over tonight. 

SOME INTERVIEWS from LIZ FAILOR: MARTIN MASSSICOTTE  from QUEBEC. This was his 1st IDITAROD. He said it was much bigger , in every way, then he thought. He had a moose attack his dogs. He tried to scare him off with his ski pole but he kept charging. FINALLY he left and all were ok. He said it was "terrifying ". 

The BERRINGTON TWINS, ANNA AND KRISTY always travel together. They have been in over 10 Iditarods and said they had never seen weather conditions like they experienced--very warm then wind swept areas, snow, cold, freezing rain and oh that WIND was the final blow, literally. They loved the people in the villages on this Northern Route, in particularly in GALENA, where they were served a wonderful HOT STEW. It warmed them down to their toes. There were great auroras--so where are the pictures????

YUKA HONDA, APAYAUQ REITAN AND KAILYN DAVIS grouped together crossing the sea ice. Safety in numbers!!

PAGE DROBNY had left RUBY on to GALENA when she saw how far it was and felt the dogs were tired to tackle that so she went back to RUBY, rested and then went on. 

In RUBY-- PAGE and HANNAH LYREK travelled together. PAGES' family had said they were worried she might fall in the ocean so for her safety she would travel with another musher. HANNAH was good with that. Strange things people put in our heads and it STICKS!!

I'll keep going with the interviews and photo's on the next page:

SEBASTIEN DOS SANTOS BORGES is from France and it is his first IDITAROD. He said from KOYUK to SHAKTOOLIK 50 miles of intense wind and was a long way in that weather, although when he could see, it was beautiful. He feels they are ONE-- the dogs and the musher--a family. Many times he couldn't see his lead dog or the trail but his lead dog brought them through it. BRIDGETT WATKINS was behind him and when she saw he had lost his hand warmer that protected his electronics she gave him one of her T-shirts for cover. What wonderful spirit these mushers have also looking out for each other. BRIDGETTS' Dad is ALLEN MOORE, a well known musher and step Mom is ALIY ZIRKLE, very well liked and successful musher, just retired.

MILLE PROSILD the top woman's finisher in 14th place in 9 days, 17 hrs and 56 min. said in this race "you are very much alive in the moment and you know how small you are". 

MITCH SEAVEY got tangled up in his windy jacket and thought it was too embarrassing to video.

LIZ FAILOR explained how the trail markers work. They are set up by the trail breakers. The top part in orange with a blue ribbon flapping in the wind and under the orange top there is a strip of reflective tape that helps in the night with head lamps on.  One stake after the other is a straight trail, two stakes means a turn, right if it's on the right side of the trail and left if left.

MARCH 16, 2020 -- KOYUK, ELIM, WHITE MOUNTAIN, SAFETY, NOME

MARCH 16, 2022

They are not updating the standings ,therefore ,I cannot give you an exact count of who is where. 

HANNAH LYREK is now in NOME. She was chosen ROOKIE OF THE YEAR!! HANNAH'S biggest fan is her Mom who ran the Iditarod back in 2005 and placed 37th in 11 days.

LEV SHVARTS said his run from SHAKTOOLIK to KOYUK was gnarly!! There were 40mph head winds where some of the trail markers were missing but the dogs found the trail by the feel and the scent. Another tough run for LEV was THE BURN!!LEV was born in UKRAINE but is now a US citizen. He grew up in Boston and got a degree in electrical engineering. 

JOAR ULSOM has a private pilots license and is working towards his commercial license. He is Dad to HENRIK who is almost a year old. He is anxious to get back to his family.

All top ten are now in NOME (if the standings are correct). 

BRENT SASS, DALLAS SEAVEY, JESSIE HOLMES, DAN KADUCE, PETE KAISER, RICHIE DIEHL, CHAD STODDARD, AARON BURMEISTER, RYAN REDINGTON. THE  BERRINGTON TWINS are in 23rd and 24th place. MARTIN BUSER is in 25th place and JEFF KING in 27th. 

Sorry not so much tonight. I am trying to update the info. More tomorrow. Good Nite All!!

My grandson AXTON in front of MY totem poles--hey its Alaska in New York!!!

HANNAH LYREK being greeted in NOME

HANNAH LYREK

HANNAH LYREK coming into NOME

MARCH 15, 2022 cont'd

 MARCH 15, 2022

I had to devote a page to BRENT and DALLAS---WINNER and SECOND PLACE  FINISH so now for the others. In KOYUK: JOAR ULSOM in 13th place . When he came from SHAKTOOLIK he said he spent 5 hours in very windy conditions and that was tough. He was very happy to be in KOYUK with a little over a 100 more miles to go.

HANNA LYREK is the youngest in the race at 22. She is in 19th place at the moment and the leading rookie. Her goal for the last 5 years was to be in the Iditarod. The biggest challenge for her was "The Burn". 

At 9:30pm (EST) JEFF KING is in 29th place, MARTIN BUSER is in 26th place and MITCH SEAVEY is in 16th place. Now the rest of the top 10 are all in WHITE MOUNTAIN-- JESSIE HOLMES, DAN KADUCE, PETE KAISER, AARON BURMEISTER, CHAD STODDARD, RYAN REDINGTON and TRAVIS BEAL. There are 13 more in WHITE MOUNTAIN, 5 in ELIM, 5 in KOYUK, 8 in SHAKTOOLIK,  5 in UNALAKLEET and 5 in KALTAG. In last place still--LISBET NORRIS. Till tomorrow!!

NOME ON THE BERING SEA

CHECK POINT IN UNALAKLEET

MCCAY'S BUNTING IN UNALAKLEET

split pic of KOYUK and WHITE MOUNTAIN

 LISBET NORRIS' SIBERIAN HUSKEYS