Day #11 IDITAROD WEDNESDAY MARCH 13 2024

Let there be sound and there was sound. Took time today to catch up with video's that I missed when my sound went out. All's good.

DALLAS SEAVEY'S  1st to NOME was his 6th win. He was previously tied with RICK SWENSON (5 EACH)for most victories, DALLAS now has SIX. DALLAS did this in 9 days 2 hours 16 minutes and 8 seconds. His average speed 4.42.

These will not be in order of finish: I will list the names of the 10 top finishers in order but for now:

TRAVIS BEALS, in 6th place, reached NOME in 9 days 14 hrs. 39 min and 12 sec.He has beautiful looking gloves on--beaver??He praised his dogs. He said the BLOW HOLE - after WHITE MT. was the worst for him--snow and wind yet the dogs perk up with this weather.

MILLE PORSILD, in 7th place, reached NOME with 11 dogs in 9 days 17 hrs. 23 min and 43 sec. Her average speed was 4.13. AMANDA OTTO had the fastest time SAFETY TO NOME, 2 hr. 37 min 7 sec.---faster than DALLAS and everyone, so far.

Maybe it the moon or????--should check with DANIKA!! BUT another incident!!! A snow machine made contact with BAILEY VITELLO'S team between KOYUK and GOLOVIN. The driver of the machine fled the scene but Troopers identified a person of interest based on the description of the snow machine and info provided by the musher. BAILEY was not injured but contact was made with one of the dogs on BAILEY'S team. The dog was uninjured and is still running. The Alaska State Troopers investigation is active and ongoing. 

PETE KAISER, who has won before, came into NOME in 9days 18hrs 30 min and 50 sec. He had a bit of a scare when he was caring for one of the dogs and another one took off running. When the dog stopped for a "bathroom break" thats when he caught him. 

WALLY ROBINSON came into NOME 11th. He has run before but not for 23 years. His children are now racing. His daughter has won the JUNIOR IDITAROD. He filled in for a musher who couldn't compete at the last minute so he was not as familiar with these dogs. He would camp past a checkpoint where he would rest on the straw with the dogs, talk with them etc and get to know them better.

MATHEW FAILOR reached NOME with 13 dogs in 10 days 2 hrs 35 min 27 sec. He called NIC PETIT his SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR as NIC left WHITE MT before MATHEW. When NIC reached the warming cabin, before SAFETY, it was really blowing hard so he waited for MATHEW and they went together thru the BLOW HOLE with the battering winds. MATHEW was carrying the dog ANGEL'S ashes with him to spread along the trail. He spoke of ANGEL as a very special dog. He really was raised by MARTIN BUSER, all time IDITAROD WINNER.  MATHEW got him from MARTIN and loved this wonderful dog. His family loved him as well. After his death,  MATHEWS' MOTHER and FATHER wanted him to spread ANGEL'S ashes along the trail. 

MATHEW'S wife LIZ was the commentator last year (she was familiar to all of the IDITAROD fan base). She delivered a baby boy after the IDITAROD last year so she stayed home with him this year. She and the baby were in NOME to welcome DAD!! That is the reason KATIE JO was commentating this year, she replaced LIZ. They both are excellent!!!

MATS PETERSON was leaving WHITE MOUNTAIN as I started writing. Just a little history I found interesting on MATS. He is from SWEDEN--VEEEERY far north of the Arctic Circle where they have 11 months of snow on the ground!! This must be a piece of cake for him and his team.

This is my story for today. We will have quite a few teams coming into NOME tonight. I will let you know about them tomorrow. 

First 10 into NOME: DALLAS SEAVEY --winner---MATT HALL, JESSIE HOLMES, JEFF DEETER, PAIGE DROBNY, TRAVIS BEALS, MILLE PORSILD, AMANDA OTTO,  PETE KAISER AND PETE KAISER.  

TILL TOMORROW and a few pictures. NITE💤