Tibby's Blog

CONT'D MARCH 3, 2024

FIRST RACE DAY: FROM WILLOW, AK

All 39 mushers got off from WILLOW in 15 degree temperatures, no wind and a bit cloudy.

ANNA BERINGTON, her 13th race, #2 led the field of mushers out on the trail. Her twin sister, KRISTY has spent a few years mushing in this race "beside" her sister. She runs their kennel now and helps ANNA prepare for her adventure and cheers her on.

The final musher, Wally Robinson #39 ran the race in 2001 but not since. Today he is running JOSH MCNEAL'S team as JOSH has a shoulder injury from a previous race.

EMILY ROBINSON, a 16 year old mushing WINNER in the JUNIOR IDITAROD, is someone many are anxious to see in 2 years when she will be eligible for the IDITAROD. She has shown great courage, endurance, spirit and love of her dogs and the sport to be a great contender in the future.

It is 42 miles from WILLOW to YENTA STATION, the first of 22 Northern route checkpoints.On this run there are 5 chutes set out for checkers to handle the tightly packed field of mushers into YENTA. They will fan out as the race advances.

Inside, the communication team will be reporting dog traffic, in and out times to ANCHORAGE. Back in ANCHORAGE (Millennium Hotel), communication workers will be receiving the info and uploading it to race stats for fans, friends and family to track the race.

Numbered Bibs are collected at YENTA, for safe keeping, and returned to the mushers at SAFETY--just before NOME.

There are 27 Alaskans, 4 International mushers, 16 rookies and 22 veterans--including 3 former champs, DALLAS SEAVEY, PETE KAISER, and RYAN REDINGTON. There are 28 men and 11 women.

After YENTA the next checkpoint is SKWENTNA, 30 miles away. I am not giving details of the race as the mushers are still a tightly packed field. After SKWENTNA, weather and topography begin to change and offer more challenges where the field begins to fan out.

Few pic of the Ceremonial start, that I promised, and of WILLOW and SKWENTNA.

In Anchorage, waiting for his turn