It’s minus 14 in Alaska, and our top five mushers have all left Shaktoolik.
Continue reading 2012 Iditarod Standings as of 2:18 AM on 3/12/12
Tag Archives: dog mushing
Great Photo Gallery of the Iditarod
Check out this Iditarod photo gallery.
2012 Iditarod Standings as of 9:11 AM on 3/11/12
It’s the coldest day yet along the race trail, with minus 22 degrees under fair skies. The first three mushers are into Unalakleet, with the remainder of the top five on the way to this checkpoint on the eastern shore of the Bering Sea.
Continue reading 2012 Iditarod Standings as of 9:11 AM on 3/11/12
What happens to dogs dropped from the Iditarod?
OK, we all know the Iditarod is a big deal, especially in Alaska. The entire state gets involved, but did you know the Department of Corrections even gets into the act?
Continue reading What happens to dogs dropped from the Iditarod?
2012 Iditarod Standings as of 2:45 AM on 3/10/12
Ruby, Alaska is reporting in at minus 7 degrees under fair skies, and our top five mushers are clustered around the Galena checkpoint.
Continue reading 2012 Iditarod Standings as of 2:45 AM on 3/10/12
Saturday Survey: Are You Following the Iditarod?
I’ve been posting information about the Iditarod all week, and I hope it’s been interesting for you. I find it fascinating to see how these people and their dogs face some of the most brutal conditions and appear to have fun doing it. So – what do you think of the race?
Continue reading Saturday Survey: Are You Following the Iditarod?
Do you get TV coverage of the Iditarod where you live?
Apparently worried about the lack of television coverage of the Iditarod in the Lower 48, ESPN’s Page 2 offers the following tongue-in-cheek suggestions to bump up some interest:
Continue reading Do you get TV coverage of the Iditarod where you live?
2012 Iditarod Standings as of 4:15 AM on 3/9/12
Today’s weather in Alaska: minus 9 degrees under partly cloudy skies, and the top five mushers have all cleared the Cripple checkpoint. They’ve all completed their 24-hour rest periods now, and have made up their starting differentials, so this should be a pretty accurate running order.
Alliy Zirkle is back in the lead, followed by Mitch Seavey, John Baker, Dallas Seavey, and Ray Redington, Jr. As they left Cripple, just three hours separate Zirkle from Redington.
Bringing up the tail end of the race are Dan Seavey, Jaimee Kinzer, Kirk Barnum, Jan Steves, and Bob Chlupach. Seavey has made it into Takotna, and Kinzer has left McGrath. The final three are still in McGrath.
Two additional mushers have scratched: Wade Marrs and Ryan Redington.
I know I have at least one reader intensely following Lance Mackey: he’s currently running 16th, and made it into Cripple with 12 dogs a little after 6 pm last night, just before Alliy Zirkle set out from there.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
2012 Iditarod Standings as of 6:55 AM on 3/8/12
It’s a beautiful day in Alaska with temps hovering at minus 5 degrees. Three of the top five mushers have completed their 24-hour rest periods, plus made up their starting differentials. Now it’s all out to Nome!
Continue reading 2012 Iditarod Standings as of 6:55 AM on 3/8/12
Iditarod Video: Dog to Snout CPR
Scott Janssen on the revival of Marshal from Kyle [email protected] on Vimeo.
Every year during the Iditarod, animal rights groups berate the race organizers and participants for putting these “poor” dogs in harm’s way by asking them to compete. There’s no doubt the race is grueling, but have you looked at any pictures of the dogs? They look out of their minds in happiness that they are finally doing what they were bred and trained to do.
And the mushers know the dogs are (a) very expensive and (b) vital to their success in racing. So most of them are meticulous in the way they care for their dogs. Check out the lengths to which a musher will go to maintain a good dog.
As Scott Janssen (who calls himself The Mushing Mortician) was running his team down a steep section of the Dalzell Gorge, 9-year old Husky Marshall collapsed. Janssen picked up the dog and gave him CPR. Once the dog was revived, he got to ride on the sled into the next checkpoint, where he was treated by a vet, then airlifted home.
Here’s the full story from The Sled Blog in the Anchorage Daily News.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!