MARCH 6, 2017
OFFICIAL START OF THE 2017 IDITAROD - FAIRBANKS, AK
I'm a bit bummed!! I wrote this page out ---INCLUDING A PICTURE----and wooooffffff
gone......into space I guess. I'll try again.
11AM in Fairbanks--the temperature a cool -17 to -20 degrees BUT sunny and no wind. Ask any musher and they will tell you this is PERFECT weather.
#18 DALLAS SEAVEY--last years winner totalling 4 wins. He will go for a fifth to tie the record of Rick Swenson. He built a very innovative sled made of carbon fiber and is an excellent prospect for another win.
#19 GUNNER JOHNSON is running JIM LANIER's, the Dentist, dogs as he withdrew from the race.
#22 DEEDEE JONROWE--all dressed in pink--this will be her 36th race and has been in the top 10, finished 2nd but has never won. Her dogs also have pink booties and this year, due to the extreme temperatures, have pink leggings on. The ice and snow can build up under their legs and cause frost bite--reason for the leggings.
#32 HANS GATT-one of my favorites just seeing how wonderfully he treats his dogs and he is just a
very nice man. He is from Austria (I might have given him an improper nationality previously). He also builds his own sleds. Good luck HANS.
There are SEVEN countries represented with this years mushers.
#34 JEFF KING 61 years old and also a four time winner. Yes, he wants that five as well. He made
headlines last year with an unfortunate accident outside NULATO. A drunken snowmobiler ran into JEFF KING and ALY ZIRKLE's sleds and dogs, killing one of JEFF's dogs and injuring another (has recouped and is in the race this year). Both mushers were terribly shaken and prevented JEFF from a possible win.
#37 JESSIE ROYER. Hank and I had dinner with JESSIE and her family a few years ago in Nome.
She is such fun and enthusiastic. She ran the YUKON QUEST this year--a bit more relaxed race but still a grueling one. She felt it prepared her well for the Iditarod.
#41 ALY ZIRKLE--certainly a favorite. She was the one in the accident last year with JEFF KING.
Since 2012 she has been in the top 5 finishers. She is certainly in contention for a win.
I have flooded you with a lot of info so I'll let you cozy up by a fire and I will be back to continue the race......
Monday, March 6, 2017
Sunday, March 5, 2017
MARCH 5, 2017
No action today. The mushers and dogs are on their way to Fairbanks. Tomorrow is the official start.
One correction: It was not RAY REDINGTON that was the first musher out yesterday. It was RYAN. There are three Redington's in the race so their names can easily get mixed up (that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it!!)
Each year its fun to follow at least one musher. I have chosen ELLEN HALVERSON #30. She is a
Psychiatrist...humm... from Willow, Alaska. She was born and raised in NORTH
DAKOTA (come on Tara and Jason, lets hear it for ND!!). In the past, she has had some difficulties on the trail and in 2007 and 2011 she came in LAST (red lantern). She has finished other years but not where she would like to be. MAYBE this is her year. She seems very cheerful, glad to be in the race, and takes good care of her dogs. Lets keep her in mind and I'll give you updates.
RAY REDINGTON left Anchorage with his dogs barking and raring to go. You could certainly see them with their neon booties . All the dogs have to have booties on to protect their feet ( VERY important in this race) from cutting ice or snow and whatever they might encounter on the trail.
ALY ZIRKLE is one to watch. She is an animated musher who came in third last year and hopes to
surpass those Seavey's this year.
One of my favorites is HANS GATT, from Norway I believe. When I volunteered in the dog lot in Nome one year and saw the way he was with his dogs, and how they responded to him. He is so kind, attentive and sweet with them. When he came over the hill and the dogs sensed his arrival they jumped up and started to howl. He was the only one that took all his dogs out on the frozen Bering Sea to run around and play without any restraints. The dogs and HANS all seemed like one big happy family. He was always thanking them for such a great ride to NOME.
Now for a change in weather....tomorrow in Fairbanks the temperature is -1 and -31 at night. Chilly.
Parka and boots on and some excitement tomorrow.🐈🐕🐕🐕
No action today. The mushers and dogs are on their way to Fairbanks. Tomorrow is the official start.
One correction: It was not RAY REDINGTON that was the first musher out yesterday. It was RYAN. There are three Redington's in the race so their names can easily get mixed up (that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it!!)
Each year its fun to follow at least one musher. I have chosen ELLEN HALVERSON #30. She is a
Psychiatrist...humm... from Willow, Alaska. She was born and raised in NORTH
DAKOTA (come on Tara and Jason, lets hear it for ND!!). In the past, she has had some difficulties on the trail and in 2007 and 2011 she came in LAST (red lantern). She has finished other years but not where she would like to be. MAYBE this is her year. She seems very cheerful, glad to be in the race, and takes good care of her dogs. Lets keep her in mind and I'll give you updates.
RAY REDINGTON left Anchorage with his dogs barking and raring to go. You could certainly see them with their neon booties . All the dogs have to have booties on to protect their feet ( VERY important in this race) from cutting ice or snow and whatever they might encounter on the trail.
ALY ZIRKLE is one to watch. She is an animated musher who came in third last year and hopes to
surpass those Seavey's this year.
One of my favorites is HANS GATT, from Norway I believe. When I volunteered in the dog lot in Nome one year and saw the way he was with his dogs, and how they responded to him. He is so kind, attentive and sweet with them. When he came over the hill and the dogs sensed his arrival they jumped up and started to howl. He was the only one that took all his dogs out on the frozen Bering Sea to run around and play without any restraints. The dogs and HANS all seemed like one big happy family. He was always thanking them for such a great ride to NOME.
Now for a change in weather....tomorrow in Fairbanks the temperature is -1 and -31 at night. Chilly.
Parka and boots on and some excitement tomorrow.🐈🐕🐕🐕
Saturday, March 4, 2017
FIRST DAY OF IDITAROD 2017
At 10am Anchorage time, 2pm Salt Point, NY time the Iditarod ceremonial start was recorded.
The temperature a chilly 17 degrees but sunny with lots of snow in Anchorage. A wonderful treat as for many years snow had to be brought in.
RAY REDINGTON JR. started the pack. He's 3rd generation of mushers His Grandpa, Joe Redington Sr., is known as the Father of the Iditarod for helping to establish the race. His Grandpa, Dad, Uncle, and Brother have all competed.
The mushers and dogs run, with an Iditarider in their "bag" for 11 miles with people lined up the entire way to cheer them on. You can buy a spot as an Iditarider and go the 11 miles. Someday.........
The mushers will then pack up and head to Fairbanks for the start of the race. Then head to Nome 1,000 miles away.
Have to refresh my 73 year old memory to get some pictures on this blog!! I'll be back.......
At 10am Anchorage time, 2pm Salt Point, NY time the Iditarod ceremonial start was recorded.
The temperature a chilly 17 degrees but sunny with lots of snow in Anchorage. A wonderful treat as for many years snow had to be brought in.
RAY REDINGTON JR. started the pack. He's 3rd generation of mushers His Grandpa, Joe Redington Sr., is known as the Father of the Iditarod for helping to establish the race. His Grandpa, Dad, Uncle, and Brother have all competed.
The mushers and dogs run, with an Iditarider in their "bag" for 11 miles with people lined up the entire way to cheer them on. You can buy a spot as an Iditarider and go the 11 miles. Someday.........
The mushers will then pack up and head to Fairbanks for the start of the race. Then head to Nome 1,000 miles away.
Have to refresh my 73 year old memory to get some pictures on this blog!! I'll be back.......
Friday, March 3, 2017
March 3, 2017
Another year.....another Iditarod.......
Tomorrow, March 4th, in Anchorage, will be the ceremonial start of the Iditarod 2017.
Don't think I will get into the blog like I have in the past as I'm not sure who reads this and/or who is
interested.
I just spoke with Joanne Potts, my buddy who is on the race committee, and she said Anchorage
is not lacking in snow with a few feet measuring in. This is the first time, in many years, there was
this much snow and it didn't have to be brought in. It was 12 degrees when I spoke with her and she said all's ready to go......
They did have to change the official start from Willow to Fairbanks. This is mostly due to the fact some of the water ways the mushers have to cross are not safe. The trip from Fairbanks will be colder with longer stretches along some flat windy areas.
There are 72 mushers signed up, 13 fewer than last year. Last years winner, Dallas Seavey, and his Dad Mitch Seavey will be running.
Wishing all the mushers good luck and safe trip to Nome.
Another year.....another Iditarod.......
Tomorrow, March 4th, in Anchorage, will be the ceremonial start of the Iditarod 2017.
Don't think I will get into the blog like I have in the past as I'm not sure who reads this and/or who is
interested.
I just spoke with Joanne Potts, my buddy who is on the race committee, and she said Anchorage
is not lacking in snow with a few feet measuring in. This is the first time, in many years, there was
this much snow and it didn't have to be brought in. It was 12 degrees when I spoke with her and she said all's ready to go......
They did have to change the official start from Willow to Fairbanks. This is mostly due to the fact some of the water ways the mushers have to cross are not safe. The trip from Fairbanks will be colder with longer stretches along some flat windy areas.
There are 72 mushers signed up, 13 fewer than last year. Last years winner, Dallas Seavey, and his Dad Mitch Seavey will be running.
Wishing all the mushers good luck and safe trip to Nome.
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