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!!!