CONT'D MARCH 17th DAY#16

 CONT'D MARCH 17th DAY #16 💚

Want to inform you of the latest from the trail: JENNY RODDEWIG, a rookie, had to scratch in WHITE MOUNTAIN with 10 dogs in harness. She was the last musher and was to be the RED LANTERN . I don't know any details but I'm sure she put her dogs first and did not want to push them any further.   We are all sad but she did her very best and we are all proud of her and hope to see her next year.                           

The next to last musher to finish was EBBE PEDERSEN, from NORWAY, a rookie. He said he wasn't in a hurry just wanted to finish and he wanted for himself and his dogs to have a rewarding experience. He said that they did!!!! He seemed very joyful!! Now he is RED LANTERN finisher for 2025.
As I have said, I do believe this is a very important award. This shows determination and spirit to keep going on even though everyone else is in front of you.

One of my favorite mushers is MILLE PORSILD, from DENMARK. She has spirit, loves her dogs, shows determination and was in the top 10 finishers. Her talk, at the banquet, spoke about how much in awe of her dogs intelligence and strength she is. THEY were the leaders she said, "I just drove the sled"!!!

ABOVE: JESSIE HOLMES WINNER OF THE 53rd RUNNING OF THE IDITAROD  WITH THE BEAUTIFULLY CARVED TROPHY-THE SYMBOL OF THE IDITAROD                                              MARCH 2025

My sincere thanks to anyone that followed my blog. I do hope you enjoyed it and appreciated how powerful these men, woman and dogs are. Please join me again next year - MARCH '26

MARCH 17, 2025 DAY #16 IDITAROD --NOME--- HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY

💚💚💚💚MARCH 17th DAY#16  ---NOME----             ST PATRICKS DAY

The Banquet was great last night. Wish all of you could have been there (me too)!! All of the mushers were introduced and they ALL gave a bit of a talk. I found all of them to be very inspirational and certainly from the heart. These are good people!!! They are determined, love their dogs and never give up!!    These are the "entertainers" that were at the Ceremonial Start and were at the Banquet. CLASSIC!~! They asked everyone to come up and dance with them. First one up///JESSIE HOLMES!!    and then most of the people in the hall danced as well!!

I have a new respect for JESSIE HOMES (below) so many mushers mentioned how much he helped them. He seems very humble and so sincere. His talk was heartwarming also talked about how much he appreciates all the support he has been given, and how wonderful his dogs are and what they have given to him. He has raced this race for many years and this year he
certainly deserved to be THE WINNER!! Seems everyone agreed!!!

Then there is NIC PETIT. Looks like a character and IS!! He has been running this race, also for many years, and always comes close to winning. His time will come. He is a kind gentleman and helps so many along the way. He really is a special guy. 

                                               

MARCH 16, 2025 DAY # 15 IDITAROD. ELIM - WHITE MOUNTAIN - SAFETY - NOME

 MARCH 16th DAY #15.  ELIM - WHITE MOUNTAIN - SAFETY - NOME 

                          SAMANTHA LALONDE - ROOKIE OF THE YEAR!! Well deserved. 

Below: MATT FAILOR with wife LIZ, their son and gender reveal box with BLUE booties in it 

ANNA BERINGTON #12 with her twin sister, in NOME

I believe everyone is in NOME ,except JENNY RODDEWIG ,who is at the end of the pack and is in WHITE MOUNTAIN taking her 8 hr rest then it 9-10 hours to NOME. Sorry she is missing the banquet. As she is last, she will be the RED LANTERN and they will have a special ceremony for her when she arrives. I think the RED LANTERN is a very honorable award. It shows, determination, attitude, fervor and willing to never give up even when all IDITAROD teams are far ahead of you.     Thats TENACITY😆.    

The MUSHERS BANQUET has just begun where they will introduce all the mushers including the winner JESSIE HOLMES with his lead dogs. They will have a scrumptious dinner and hand out all the awards we witnessed along the trail. (most of them were for JESSIE HOLMES). I'll let you know if anything exciting happens!!

CONT'D MARCH 15th DAY #14. PICTURES AND STANDINGS

 CONT'D MARCH 15th DAY #14. PICTURES AND STANDINGS 

Many bikers arrived in NOME today.Two here pictured and one is a GIRL (first girl to participate). They rode 1,000 miles. Hard to believe. No skiers yet.

           2nd place Matt Hall, 3rd PAIGE DROBNY, 4th MICHELLE PHILLIPS, 5th BAILEY VITELLO

                          These ladies were there for PAIGE DROBNY. Classy and colorful!!

After 5th place then next into NOME: TRAVIS BEALS, MITCH SEAVEY, RYAN REDINGTON,MILLE PORSILD and RILEY DYCHE. That makes up the TOP 10!!!! 

Below: MATT FAILOR, 11th place. His wife LIZ, commentator last year , met MATT in NOME and had a gender reveal at the finish line. BLUE - a BOY. They have one other boy so a house full of males!!!!MATT said the Yukon River was the challenge, one drawback was the -20 degrees in the area between UNALAKLEET and SHAKTOOLIK. He had been traveling with NIC PETIT. NIC was running behind MATT but waited till MATT had his time in the limelight before he ran under the arch in 12th place. Such a gentleman!! Waiting for 11 more teams. Hope they will be in for tomorrows Banquet!!                                   

                                                                      TILL THEN

MARCH 15, 2025 DAY #14 IDITAROD SHAKTOOLIK - KOYUK - ELIM - WHITE MOUNTAIN - SAFETY - NOME

 MARCH 15th DAY #14  SHAKTOOLIK - KOYUK - ELIM - WHITE MOUNTAIN - SAFETY - NOME

I'm early today to give you updates. Now that we have the top 5 let's hear it for the top 10 and the back of the pack. TRAVIS BEALS 6TH, MITCH SEAVEY 7th and RYAN REDINGTON 8th.  They are on their way into NOME at this time. 

Now for the back of the pack: JENNY RODDEWIG is out of UNALAKLEET headed for the Blueberry Hills and on to SHAKTOOLIK. Jenny has a great racing history and has won in Junior Divisions. She has been mushing for 20 years. She has stopped at two of the cabins I mentioned - Tripod and Old Woman's Cabin (wonder if she left a gift???). She is on her way to NOME!!! 

A bit ahead of JENNY are CONNOR MCMAHON, CALVIN DAUGHERTY, EBBE PEDERSEN and DANE BAKER.                                                                                                                                                 CONNOR MCMAHON was introduced to working dogs at the age of 15. He managed kennels and learned early saying " through carefully observing the dogs in their environment, I can see the world thru their eyes and learn how they relate to their surroundings". He ran other races and handled dogs for Canadian musher, AARON PECK, and appreciated his mentorship. In 2024 he scratched in GALENA so he is another 2nd year rookie hungry to reach NOME.                                                                                         CALVIN DAUGHERTY helped his Dad, musher veteran LARRY DAUGHERTY,

train for the IDITAROD. Under the tutelage of his Dad and veteran musher, JIM LANIER, he is running for NOME. He was in the IDITAROD in 2024 and scratched in SHAKTOOLIK so again he is a 2nd year rookie running MITCH SEAVEY'S two year old team to NOME.                                                                             EBBE PEDERSEN is from Norway and has been involved as a volunteer worker in TAKOTNA in 2024. He has been helping mushing friends get ready for the IDITAROD for many years--training, fixing broken items and being part of a team. Ever since 2024 he has wanted to run the race himself and here he is on his way to NOME.                                                                                                                                                   DANE BAKER is from the Yukon Territory in Canada. He has had IDITAROD on his mind since 2004. His Mom gifted him a Siberian Husky named KOA and got him "hooked". His mentor is TRAVIS BEALS. He is driving a young team teaching them along the way. He is trying to create a fun and stimulating experience for them. NOME here he comes!!                                                                               

There are 5 teams resting in WHITE MOUNTAIN  4 teams in ELIM and 2 teams in KOYUK. The teams in KOYUK are on their way to ELIM which is 50 miles. A ways to go but they are determined and excited to get to NOME.  

I mentioned the "fat tire" bikers on the trail. Here are two of them in WHITE MOUNTAIN making their way to NOME. WHAT??? Now THAT'S determination or crazy??????

2nd CONT'D MARCH 14th DAY#13

 2nd CONT'D MARCH 14th DAY #13

The TOP FIVE are now into NOME:                                                                                                               JESSIE HOLMES                                                                                                                                            MATT HALL                                                                                                                                                    PAIGE DROBNY                                                                                                                                             MICHELLE PHILLIPS                                                                                                                                    BAILEY VITELLA    - he is MOST IMPROVED MUSHER this year. He was 17th last year. He worked with VETERAN MUSHER AARON BURMEISTER this year.  

BAILEY VITELLA coming into NOME. The last of the 5 pack. He is from New Hampshire but presently from NENANA.He loved going thru his "second" home but certainly did not enjoy the Yukon River. 

There are THREE that are very close:                                                                                                            TRAVIS BEALS                                                                                                                                               MITCH SEAVEY                                                                                                                                             RYAN REDINGTON                         

7 are in WHITE MOUNTAIN

3 are in KOYUK

3 are in SHAKTOOLIK 

Those in WHITE MOUNTAIN will be in tomorrow but the rest may not be in until Sunday. I hope for the Mushers Banquet. 

                     TILL TOMORROW. ALMOST THE END OF ANOTHER IDITAROD YEAR😢

CONT'D MARCH 14th DAY #13 PICTURES AND STANDINGS

 CONT'D MARCH 14th DAY #13    PICTURES AND STANDINGS:                                                                JESSIE HOLMES COMING DOWN FRONT ST IN NOME WINNER OF THE 2025 IDITAROD!!!!!!

Let me tell you a bit about JESSIE. He has been racing since 2017. He has come in 7th place, 2nd place, Rookie of the Year once, taken 3rd place twice. I guess he DESERVED to WIN!!!He is a gentle man and very friendly to everyone he meets. He stays a little longer in some checkpoints just to talk with the people. It was noted that he would give a gentle whistle to his dogs and immediately they would know to get up and get ready to move. I also found out he was a reality TV star. I'll have to find out more about that!!!            PHOTO'S:                       JESSIE thanking POLAR, lead dog, for a great race and below sitting on the IDITAROD THRONE with his lead dogs and surrounded by his family and race officials. 

JESSIE HOLMES was the first under the NEW burled arch. Below the unveiling.

This is the third burled arch. Each one of the arches lasted about 25 years. Last years just fell apart. Thats when they asked IDITAROD VETERAN RAMEY SMYTHE to build them a new one. RAMEY constructs log home so he was the perfect person for the massive job. Northern Air Cargo then flew the arch in last week. Great job RAMEY!!!

MARCH 14, 2025 DAY # 13 IDITAROD. UNALAKLEET - SHAKTOOLIK - KOYUK - ELIM - WHITE MOUNTAIN -SAFETY - NOME

MARCH 14th DAY #13  UNALAKLEET - SHAKTOOLIK - KOYUK - ELIM - WHITE MOUNTAIN - SAFETY - NOME  

There are "fat tire" bikers, skiers, walkers, runners that also use the IDITAROD trail. They take about 2 weeks to finish and they have a 30 day cut off and many don't make it. Now THATS grueling!!!! Some of the bikers aren't there to compete with other bikers they are there just recreationally. (if thats a word)

FYI: The musher has to have at least 5 dogs in harness at the finish in NOME. With these warm temperatures, the dogs need water. If you give a dog water in a bowl they have the tendency not to drink it so using other means they are given fish. They can get some of the water in that way as the fish contains water.

Little about the "BLOW HOLES". You will find blow holes from WHITE MOUNTAIN - SAFETY. TOPKOK and GOLOVIN are two major ones. They are mini hurricane wind tunnels. TOPKOK is the windiest and GOLOVIN has glare ice but there is a seawall there preventing someone from blowing into the Sea. One year they caused a great deal of turmoil for many mushers to get caught in. I believe it was either JEFF KING or MITCH SEAVEY that had major troubles in those areas.
Hopefully they won't have difficulty this year. 

The only aurora that was seen on the trail this year near UNALAKLEET.                                                  Below: Paige Drobny resting with her dogs. 

It was an intense effort with the top three teams: Jessie Holmes, Matt Hall and Paige Drobny.          They all had to rest in WHITE MOUNTAIN and they all came in at different times, but close together. This is the point when the tide turned. JESSIE was about three hours ahead of MATT and MATT was about three hours ahead of PAIGE. They all handled it calmly and just went on to do their very best and that they did!!!!! JESSIE left WHITE MOUNTAIN at 4:28pm and then had 77 more miles to go. Same for the others but three and six hours behind. It usually takes about 6-7 hours for that trek. 

CONT'D MARCH 13th PICTURES AND STANDINGS

 CONT'D MARCH 13th     PICTURES AND STANDINGS 

Won't let me put many pictures on a page?? I'll have to work that out for next year.

MILLE PORSLID'S dogs were a bit rattled by the sea ice and wind on the Bering Sea so she is giving them extra time at KOYUK checkpoint to rest and finish the race on a good note. Good for you MILLE.

All the mushers have a VET BOOK. This is mandatory!! It shows the Vet from the present checkpoint anything the Vets further back might have said about a dog or dogs. There is a lot of required gear that is checked at every checkpoint--mainly for safety reasons. This is a picture of PAIGE DROBNY showing the "checker" that she has all the mandatory items. PAIGE is a WildLife Biologist who came in 5th last year. She is in 3rd place right now. They ALL have a mandatory 8 hr stop in WHITE MOUNTAIN. Below is PAIGE coming into WHITE MOUNTAIN. There is a wind chill of-17 degrees  and very windy. Lots of kids and fans came out  to see the mushers come in to WHITE MOUNTAIN. I wasn't here to see JESSIE HOLMES come in so no picture. He won ANOTHER AWARD for being the first into WM,$2,500 check and a trophy that stays in Iditarod Headquarters year round. It recognizes the teamwork and dedication of the teams and their efforts. JESSIE is piling up the awards!!BUT..PAIGE got the gourmet meal!!!😙

  

Kids at WHITE MOUNTAIN watching the race      

Air Force planes helping transport dropped dogs and/or move people from place to place. This one is on the frozen Bering Sea ready to take off at WHITE MOUNTAIN.                                                                   JESSIE HOLMES was the first to take his 8 hr rest and leave WHITE MOUNTAIN at 4:30 PM (AK time)Prediction is he will arrive in NOME approx 1:00 am AK time tonight. He has 77 miles to go. MATT is about 3 hrs behind him and PAIGE about another 3-4 hrs behind MATT.                                                       Standings at 11pm EST:                                                                                                                                       JESSIE HOLMES                                                                                                                                         MATT HALL                                                                                                                                                        PAIGE DROBNY                                                                                                                                                MICHELLE PHILLIPS                                                                                                                                MITCH SEAVEY                                                                                                                                              

TILL TOMORROW WHEN WE WILL HAVE A WINNER (S)

MARCH 13th DAY #12 IDITAROD KOYUK - ELIM - WHITE MOUNTAIN - SAFETY

 MARCH 13TH DAY #12.   KOYUK - ELIM - WHITE MOUNTAIN - SAFETY

I'm on earlier tonight so I won't give the standings until later. Tonight about 5 am EST I believe JESSIE HOLMES will run under the burled arch in NOME as the 2025 winner. Can't count on it, not over till its over!!

QUINCE MOUNTAIN AND SYDNIE BAHL were running last and were scratched,  in GRAYLING, from the race as imposed by a three Judge panel. They deemed them out of the competition as they were not in a position to make a valid effort to compete. Sad but that was the rule.

JUSTIN OINES scratched in EAGLE ISLAND He left EAGLE ISLAND and then returned. He said his team needed more rest to stay competitive. Thinking first of the dogs, he decided he would scratch.Amazing that10 teams have scratched, 23 teams are left. 

                            The morning moon sets over the Bering Sea at 8:00am in UNALAKLEET              

NIC PETIT in route to UNALKLEET - another favorite picture. He has his white" wind coat "on.

            

                            

MARCH 12th DAY #11. Pictures and standings

 MARCH 12th, DAY 11.    Pictures and standings.   

                                            WELCOME TO SHAKTOOLIK. JESSIE HOLMES ARRIVAL THERE.

   

 TOWN OF SHAKTOOLIK

                                                          

 The Standings as of midnight EST:                                                                                                              MATT HALL                                                                                                                                                          JESSIE HOLMES                                                                                                                                         PAIGE DROBNY                                                                                                                                         MILLE PORSILD                                                                                                                                         MITCH SEAVEY                                                                                                                                                 You can see a bit of a change here but that is due to one team resting and another running. Check out MITCH SEAVEY. He's playing his cards and gradually creeping up!!!                                                           

 

                                          TILL TOMORROW WHEN WE MAY SEE NOME!!!
    

                                                                                                                                                           .   

MARCH 12, 2025 DAY# 11 IDITAROD. UNALKLEET - SHAKTOOLIK - KOYUK

 MARCH 12th  DAY# 11 UNALAKLEET  -  SHAKTOOLIK -  KOYUL

The word from UNALAKLEET about the power outage is there was a power surge and some camera parts shorted out so the UNALAKLEET cam is down for good. Thats the reason I have little info and pictures from UNALAKLEET. I'm sad as Hank and I spent about 6 days there staying on the floor of the PIECE ON EARTH  pizza place and had such a great time with the owners and the locals there. They gave Hank his first taste of blubber!!! He was game and thought it was pretty good. 

I did say Ryan Air Gold Coast Award went to JESSIE HOLMES being the 1st to UNALAKLEET. I said he won $1,500 in gold nuggets and two beautifully carved loons (they said yesterday it was a wood carved dog team (not so). 

Hope you can see these beautifully loons carved by the lady on the right with the home made beautiful parka and the gold nuggets. Two other locals.

Before UNALAKLEET there is Old Woman's Cabin and Tripod Cabin where mushers can stop to rest. The doors are never locked and wood is always piled up for immediate use. It is known that you should leave a gift for the Old Woman at Old Woman's Cabin to please her and it will bring you good luck for the rest of the race. 

There are two other cabins, for refuge, after UNALAKLEET, in the Blueberry  Hills.

JESSIE HOLMES left UNALAKLEET and now will travel the coast where there usually are intense winds. JESSIE said there is no relaxing now but won't make any big moves and will try to keep up his speed of 9 mph.                                                                                                                                                                       Wanted to mention ---I did get one picture of JESSIE coming into UNALAKLEET and the crowds waiting for him . There were some great hand made parka's on the ladies and a great parka on a toddler. I tried to get a picture of the toddler in his beautiful tiny parka and mukluks (boots) . This is the only picture, before the cam went out.The Mom is holding him. I hope you can see some of his parka and boots.   Beautiful!

Next checkpoint, after braving the winds of the Bering Sea, is SHAKTOOLIK, population 212. It is sunny, very windy and 7 degrees. The dogs actually like the wind, energizes them!! 

CONT'D MARCH 11th DAY #10. STANDINGS

 CONT'D MARCH 11th DAY # 10.   STANDINGS

Top 5 teams as of midnight EST:

JESSIE HOLMES                                                                                                                                             MATT HALL                                                                                                                                                         PAIGE DROBNY                                                                                                                                             MILLE PORSILD                                                                                                                                             MICHELLE PHILIPS

I am "short" tonight as there was a breakdown in communications at UNALAKLEET. I will have more for you tomorrow night.  It's becoming more and more exciting as the race goes on. 

                                                TILL TOMORROW

MARCH 11, 2025 DAY #10 IDITAROD. EAGLE ISLAND 2 - KALTAG 2 - UNALAKLEET

MARCH 11th DAY #10 EAGLE ISLAND 2 - KALTAG 2 - UNALAKLEET

explanation below: sorry

JESSIE HOLMES won the award ,Bristol Bay Native Corp ,for being the first into KALTAG 2.  He won 25 lbs of fresh Bristol Bay Salmon Filets, $2,000 and a wood burned art piece, made by one of the locals. 

 Because of the north south route on the loop, we knew at some point a north bound would pass a south bound. JESSIE HOLMES and MATT FAILOR are doing just that. 

 Again sad, rookie musher BRYCE MUMFORD from Preston, ID scratched in GRAYLING 1. Thats all we know for now.                                                                                                                                                JESSIE ROYER, veteran musher doing volunteer work this year in GRAYLING - riding in a 4 wheeler amongst the dropped dogs. 

JESSIE HOLMES coming  into UNALAKLEET 1st. (Snow fence in the foreground).He wins Ryan Air Gold Coast Award (this is a real good one!!) $1,500 in gold nuggets, carved sled dog team and LOTS OF PIZZA from PIECE ON EARTH in UNALAKLEET. Fans can send him pizza to be delivered when he comes in. On his way out a snowmobiler sped out on the trail to hand him a piece of pizza!! 

 

 

CONT'D MARCH 10th DAY #9. PICTURES AND STANDINGS

 CONT'D MARCH 10TH DAY #9.   PICTURES AND STANDINGS

First the top standings at midnight EST: 

JESSIE HOLMES                                                                                                                                             PAIGE DROBNY                                                                                                                                            MATT HALL                                                                                                                                                    MITCH SEAVEY                                                                                                                                            MILLE PORSILD 

The first three are out of EAGLE ISLAND 2 to KALTAG 2 (70 mile trip). MITCH is into EAGLE ISLAND 2 and MILLE is out of GRAYLING 2.

"Things" have changed. Recently, PAIGE caught up to JESSIE. I don't know how but good for her!!! They said the reason for that was. -- JESSIE, being first, has to pack the trail down so he is only going about 5mph. The trail will be better the more sleds on it and will be faster than the poor guy, JESSIE, who has to "plow the road"!!!!!

Not sure if I showed you the one "homestead" in EAGLE ISLAND. Population ONE!!                                 

"There's no place like home" - no matter where you are.........

                                          

Ryan Redington stop at GRAYLING 1 on his way to ANVIK    

                                                             

   

RYAN REDINGTON who has run this race MANY TIMES said this was the most difficult IDITAROD he has ever been on. This is due to the conditions---no snow and warm temperatures. Not ideal for the dogs and the mushers.
                                              TILL TOMORROW - getting to be a nail biter!!!

 

MARCH 10, 2025 DAY #9 IDITAROD. GRAYLING 2 - EAGLE ISLAND 2 - KALTAG2

MARCH 10th DAY#9. GRAYLING 2 - EAGLE ISLAND 2 - KALTAG 2

Remember (1) after the checkpoint name means they have gone SOUTH-- (2) on the loop then head NORTH (2)                               1 = SOUTH           2= NORTH.     on the loop

I told you I would show you The GRAYLING Native Store. The one Greg said carried EVERYTHING.       Literally soup to nuts!!       SMALL BUT MIGHTY!!!!!!

Due to the loop, the volunteers made signs to make sure the mushers went to right way ( 1 and 2).                                            

 

A scary picture. BAILEY VITELLO on the YUKON to GRAYLING (check hole in ice!@##)WHEW

 

One of my very favorite photo's MATTHEW FAILOR on the YUKON in a white out. Great focus!

 

FYI: QUINCE MOUNTAIN is bringing up the rear and still needs to take his 8 hr layover-in KALTAG

ON TO PAGE #2  

CONT'D MARCH 9th DAY #8. PICTURES

 CONT'D MARCH 9TH DAY #8 - PICTURES                                                                                                        This is the first time I could get a picture of PAIGE DROBNY having her banquet. This was her award for being the first to GALENA. She chose the race coordinator and the locals to share the dinner with her.

                       This pic of BAILEY VITELLO is distorted due to the heavy snow falling in GRAYLING                                                                        

                                         

JESSIE HOLMES was the first into GRAYLING 2 (going back--now north).He is from Alabama!!! what's he doing mushing in Alaska!!!! He won the Transit Spirit of Alaska Award. He was given a pair of beaver mittens (pictured) and hat that LORETTA MAILLELLE (center) made. She was raised in GRAYLING.                                                                                  

                                                                                           One grave error on yesterdays blog entry: I said the dog that died was pregnant but they were unaware of that. Two weeks before the dog had her complete physical with the VET. A dogs gestational period is about two weeks (NOT 2 YEARS!)  so  they weren't aware of it.                                                                              

TILL TOMORROW. 

MARCH 9, 2025 DAY # 8 IDITAROD KALTAG1 - EAGLE ISLAND1 - GRAYLING 1 - ANVIK

 MARCH 9th, DAY #8  KALTAG1 - EAGLE ISLAND 1 - GRAYLING - ANVIK

The 1 and 2 after the checkpoint name only means 1 SOUTH and 2 NORTH. I mentioned, yesterday, there was a loop on the trail to make it longer due to the change in route. They need to make it the distance it would be on a normal route.  On with it.........

Gabe Dunham scratched in GRAYLING. She said the trip from EAGLE ISLAND was filled with ice ruts due to the thaw and then freeze. The route affected her dogs and she didn't want that so she decided to scratch. 

Paige Drobny said the trail to EAGLE ISLAND from KALTAG was one of the 10 roughest she'd ever been on. So, as you see, this weather is certainly affecting the teams. BUT its SNOWING in GRAYLING and now in EAGLE ISLAND and its getting colder. Snowing very hard so there will be some accumulation. FINALLY!!!! 

There is a small air strip on EAGLE ISLAND and today there were two moose on the air strip but didn't seem to cause any problems. Don't know why there is an air strip there but only for the fact the population is 1, thats ONE. I'll show you his cabin. He probably built this air strip to bring goods in. He wasn't going to parties or socializing so why not build an air strip?? EAGLE ISLAND looked like the most desolate place on earth.

JODI, our commentator and x musher, spoke about the P TEAM, the drug testing team. Times during the race, this team goes to the checkpoints and tests the dogs for any drugs or substances. Today they were at KALTAG. QUINCE MOUNTAIN will take his 24 hour lay over here. I believe he is the only one left that hasn't taken it. Good resting QUINCE!

SAMANTHA LALONDE came limping into EAGLE ISLAND as she twisted her ankle!! She is powering thru and did see one of the VETS!! Hey,Vets cured my daughter when she was in a foreign country. They will now begin to feel the intense winds so many will put on their "wind suits". I will show you a picture of Dallas Seavey in EAGLE ISLAND wearing one. DALLAS is there to see SAM, his friend and she also is running some of his dogs. He was talking with the dogs and taking pictures--in his wind suit---blurrrrry picture but you get the idea of the wind suit.

                                                                                                                                                                                   This is SAMANTHA LALONDE'S team heading out of EAGLE ISLAND (see DALLAS taking pics)

CONT'D MARCH 8th DAY #7 PICTURES

 CONT'D MARCH 8th  DAY # 7 PICTURES

                                             EMILY FORD on the trail  

  

MONTE MABRY, Iditarod Airforce pilot making a run to NUATO

    

One of MITCH SEAVEY'S dogs burying his snack for later

The locals made a welcome sign

                                                                                                                                                              The Standings as of Midnight Are:                                                                  

JESSIE HOLMS

PAIGE DROBNY

MATT HALL               

MICHELLE PHILIPS

MITCH SEAVEY  

MILLE PORSILD

All the above mushers are in EAGLE ISLAND --its 10 degrees