I’ve posted a few times this week about the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. I’m interested in your level of interest in the race – I think it’s fascinating to see how these dogs work so hard.
Continue reading Saturday Survey: Are You Following the Iditarod?
Most of the top ten race teams have either arrived or left the Nulato checkpoint, 393 miles from the finish line. With today’s Nome temperature again well below zero (-28 last I checked), I know they’re thinking 393 miles is about 392 miles too long!
Continue reading Latest Headlines from the 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
With brutally cold temperatures (36 below in McGrath), we’ve seen some major changes in the top ten mushers since yesterday.
I’m not sure how it got to be March already without my noticing, but this month only means 3 things: NCAA hoops, spring, and of course, The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. My son brought home dogsled-related vocabulary words for homework last night, and it reminded me.
After battling winds so strong yesterday that some of the dogs actually sat down and refused to run, Lance Mackey has won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race for the 3rd consecutive time. Mackey, wearing bib #47, arrived in Nome today at 11:38 am with 15 happy, healthy dogs. Only two previous mushers have accomplished three consecutive wins: Susan Butcher and Doug Swingley.
For his efforts, Mackey will receive a Dodge Ram Quad Cab Pick-up truck from Anchorage Chrysler Dodge and a check for $69,000 from Wells Fargo, in addition to a congratulatory call from everyone’s favorite governor, Sarah Palin. The dogs? They get another bucket of sludge and the two lead dogs, Maple & Lucy, get a garland of roses from ExxonMobil and GCI.
Bruce, the official Iditarod site’s blogger, reports on the 30 – 35 mph windy conditions: “I stopped in Shaktoolik briefly and as I walked out of the checkpoint one of the Iditarod staff handed me a sandwich to eat. I took it with me as I walked out the door for the 200 yard walk down to the ice where an airplane was waiting to fly me on up the trail to Koyuk. By the time I got to the plane the sandwich was starting to freeze with ice crystals.” Can you imagine? I whine when my hot chocolate cools down on the way to work!
Meanwhile, three rookie mushers were reported late for check-in at Shageluk. Lou Packer was found by an Iditarod Air Force (IAF) pilot about 22 miles past the town of Iditarod. He signaled distress, at which time the pilot landed and found that 2 of his 15 dogs had died. In a move that should make animal activists feel at least a bit better about this race, a plane load of dogs were immediately airlifted from the site, and a 2nd flight was organized to pick up Packer and the remainder of the dogs.
Local residents took to the trail to try to find the other two lost mushers, Kim Darst and Blake Matray. They were both found between Shageluk and Iditarod and both decided it would be in the best interest of their teams to scratch from the race. They have been safely transported to Unalakleet and are waiting for transportation to take them back to the starting point in Anchorage.
So, drink a cup of hot chocolate for the competitors and snuggle up in front of your fireplace while you read this.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
With the death of 6-year old sled dog Victor at this year’s Iditarod, animal activists are again calling for the Iditarod to be shut down. On the other side, people say that these dogs are happiest when they are running and are, in fact, bred to run. In addition, the argument goes, there are over 900 dogs competing, and the loss of 1 or 2 dogs over a two week period, is probably no different than in the general population. So, what do you think? Should the Iditarod be stopped because at least one dog dies every year?
I guess I’ve never followed this race too closely in the past, but animal activists have had it on their radar for years, as at least one dog usually dies during the two week race. and this year is no exception. Victor, a 6-year old sled dog on Jeff Holt’s team, died between the Rainy Pass and Rohn checkpoints this week.
OK, what’s the first thing you think of when you think about Alaska? Snow would probably be on everyone’s top ten, but apparently, they have so much snow this year that they can’t find the Iditarod trail! Read the story here.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
We’ll dedicate several blogs this month to the upcoming race, one of the biggest sports events in the dog world. The 37th annual Iditarod starts Saturday, March 7th at 10 am in the south central Alaskan city of Anchorage. 1150 miles and 10 – 17 days later, it ends in Nome, on the Western Bering Sea coast.
Continue reading Iditarod Sled Dog Trail Race starts Saturday!