Friday, March 18, 2022

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.

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