Iditarod Re-Start 2011

Hello everyone  I am sure you thought I was never going to write on my blog again.  The truth is that I wasn't in Anchorage one weekend in the entire month of March.  I only taught 9 days because of all my travels and adventures.  I have enough pictures to keep the blog going for about 3 months so stay tuned.

The outhouse toilet seat is freshly wrapped in bubble wrap. They did it just for us - company.  This way your cheeks don't freeze to the seat. Do I have to remind you that on this particular day it was 7 degrees and minus 20 with wind chill.  I was so glad the outhouse didn't have an open window!!!

This is my friend's cabin which I had the opportunity to visit on Day 2 of the Iditarod - the Real Start of the race.  This wonderful cabin is on Nancy Lake about 4 -5 miles from the starting line of the Re-Start.  So Niki and I drove there early in the morning and then we hopped on snow machines (aka snowmobiles in the lower 48) and went to watch the Athletes get ready for the official start of the race. The athletes I am referring to are the dogs.  I learned sooo much this year because when I talked to the "inside" people at the start and finish line in Nome I asked a million questions.  Did you know these athletes, dogs, have a strict diet to keep them slim and trim.  The veterinarian told me that the dogs have about 7% body fat..  I was even more surprised to learn that Lance Mackey has only 6% body fat.  That is a fit athlete. These dogs are care for more that most athletes.  I wish PETA would come and see what I see. These dogs are so happy running and they don't want to stop running.  By the way, do PETA people wear leather coats or shoes?

So here is one of the dog team trucks arriving to prepare for the race start.  You can definitely tell the teams that have a BIG sponsor and those who don't. This team is not sponsored by a major sponsor.  However, it doesn't stop the mushing spirit.  The dogs were all so excited to get out of the truck and "git runnin'".  This musher was waxing the runners before take-off.  No matter how much work it takes to get ready for the biggest race of the year do you notice how they pack the supplies - In Wal-Mart plastic bags!!!!

This is a bit of a personal photo and I didn't exactly ask the athlete's permission to take the photo.  What you are looking at is the drug testing of the athletes.  The dog teams and the mushers are all eligible for drug testing.  This is how they get the urine from the dogs.  They randomly test several dogs from each team and then randomly from the mushers.  They are testing for over 200 drugs for the dogs and about 250 for the mushers.  Lance Mackey is allowed to use marijuana because of his esophagus cancer. 

This is some of the entertainment that went past us waiting for the dog teams to come by.  We were out about 4 miles out from the start on Nancy Lake. The lake was about 3 1/2 foot of frozen ice. Our hosts used the inside tub of an old washing machine as our fire container.  The wood burned so evenly and they used wax cubes to start the fire. Very creative.  These fun-loving friends are taking a ride on a couch with skies.  They forgot to put a foot rest on the couch for them. 

This family wanted to get a bit farther so they skied to the next lake to watch the dog sled teams leave for their journey to Nome.  Don't you love the way Dad is harnessed so the darling daughter gives the directions.  She is happy on her snow machine - Dad driven!

This plane as well as 10 others landed on the lakes to watch the dog teams go by.  The advantage of being on the lake you got to touch the mushers as they passed by.  The dog teams left the start line every two minutes and then after 5 teams there was a 5 minute commercial break.  It was fun watching the teams come down through the woods and some of the teams passed each other as they went by.  The group next to us handed the mushers a beer as they came by.  It was so awesome to give a handshake to the mushers and say, "Safe trip and I will see you in Nome!" I could hardly wait to get to Nome after this fantastic day.

And the race is on!  The finish line is 1,049 miles away. The course is very beautiful and hazardous. They cross the Alaskan Mountains, down the Yukon River, and survive winds that reach 50 degrees BELOW zero, cross paths with Moose and wolves and spend day and night by yourself. I found out a lot of the mushers listen to music on their I-Pods and books on tape.

Even a homemade ultra light wanted a bird's eye view of the dog teams. 

Then the last dog team (63) of them moved past us everyone put out the fires, packed up the picnic baskets, loaded up the snow machines and headed home.  The planes were awesome watching them take off.

And when all the teams were gone all that was left was this pile of Idita-poop!  I don't remember which dog team left it behind but these dogs have mastered the task of urinating and pooping on the run.  They stop every couple of hours to "snack" the dogs with frozen fish or meat chunks and water.  Then the dogs are checked by the vets every check point and they are well fed.  The mushers have to carry 3 days of food and supplies on the sleds.  I am sure you all have read this year's results and 9 mushers had to drop out of the race for various reasons.

I had such high hopes that Lance would have won for his 5th time but this year wasn't meant to be.  John Baker the musher from Koetzebue won in a race record.  He was the first Western Native Alaskan to win. As he crossed the finish line he was greeted with Native drums and dancers.  Way to go John Baker.

More on my trip to cabin with the girls for spring break. I returned from spring break and worked 2  1/2 days and then I left for Nome, AK.  Then I returned from Nome and worked 3 days and David arrived for a long weekend.  Then David left and I worked the rest of the week and March as over.  April is a busy time for school with State testing, talent shows, musicals, finishing up the rest of the curriculum to prepare for May. Our last day is May 20.  I hope you enjoyed the photos of Iditarod Re-Start or the "real start".

I will post my cabin trips next and then Nome. That was quite an experience and can't wait to return to Nome next year.  I will be going with several of my teacher friends since they enjoyed all my experiences.

I hope you all are enjoying your spring.  We are up to almost 14 hours of daylight every day. We gain 5 mins and 39 sec of light every day.  We are having 40 - 50 degree weather and the roads are free of snow and ice. Most of the side streets and driveways are clear of ice too.  The curbs and playgrounds still have several feet of packed snow.  It is getting harder for the kids to go inside at night since sunset is after 9:20 pm.  Enjoy your day.  Hugs from Nanuq of the North.