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??????
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