Tag Archives: mushing

Dog Activities

Iditarod 2016: Winners have crossed the finish line

Leave a comment

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo playerEarly this morning in Alaska, the top three mushers crossed the finish line in Nome. As predicted, the Seavey men took the top two spots, with Dallas taking the lead. Aliy Zirkle came in third. The video is from KTUU in Anchorage.

Here are the top five as of 3 pm Eastern today:

1 Dallas Seavey
Bib 16 IN TO Nome
AT 03-15 02:20

2 Mitch Seavey
Bib 19 IN TO Nome
AT 03-15 03:05

3 Aliy Zirkle
Bib 13 IN TO Nome
AT 03-15 09:42

4 Wade Marrs
Bib 33 OUT OF Safety
AT 03-15 08:49

5 Peter Kaiser
Bib 11 OUT OF Safety
AT 03-15 08:57

Congrats to all who finish, or even participate in this grueling competition!

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!

Dog Activities

Iditarod 2016: Standings as of 3/13 @ 7:50 pm Eastern

Leave a comment

Sled Dog RaceThe top five are all out of Shaktoolik, and they have all taken both of their required layovers, so it’s straight on through to Nome now.

1 Dallas Seavey
Bib 16 OUT OF Shaktoolik
AT 03-13 10:27

2 Brent Sass
Bib 32 OUT OF Shaktoolik
AT 03-13 11:25

3 Aliy Zirkle
Bib 13 OUT OF Shaktoolik
AT 03-13 12:52

4 Mitch Seavey
Bib 19 OUT OF Shaktoolik
AT 03-13 13:04

5 Wade Marrs
Bib 33 OUT OF Shaktoolik
AT 03-13 15:52

Dog Activities, Dog News

Drunk Snowmobile Driver Causes Iditarod Tragedy

Leave a comment

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

KTUU has several videos and articles detailing the crash caused early Saturday when a drunk 26-year-old Nulato man drove his snowmobile into Jeff King’s team, killing 4-year old Nash and injuring at least 2 more dogs. King and Iditarod officials claim the attack was intentional and say that the man also harassed Aliy Zirkle, injuring one of her dogs. The man maintains he was blacked out and doesn’t remember a thing. He faces two counts of third degree assault, one count of reckless endangerment, one count of reckless driving and five counts of fifth degree criminal mischief.

Neither musher was hurt in the attacks, and both plan on continuing the race. In fact, Zirkle advanced from 3rd place to 2nd today.

Best wishes to both as they continue their quest, and our sympathies go out to King and his kennel family on the loss of Nash.

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!

Dog Activities

Iditarod 2016: Standings as of March 12th at 12:45 Eastern

Leave a comment

Kamchatka Dog Sled Racing Beringia. Russian Far EastThe top five are now scattered between the Kaltag and Nulato checkpoints. From Kaltag, the next waypoint is Unalakleet, on the coast of the Bering Sea. From there, they circle the west edge of the sea, all the way to Nome.


Here are the leaders’ positions:


1 Brent Sass
Bib 32 OUT OF Kaltag
AT 03-12 08:20

2 Mitch Seavey
Bib 19 IN TO Kaltag
AT 03-12 07:41

3 Aliy Zirkle
Bib 13 OUT OF Nulato
AT 03-12 06:16

4 Dallas Seavey
Bib 16 OUT OF Nulato
AT 03-12 07:14

5 Wade Marrs
Bib 33 OUT OF Nulato
AT 03-12 07:17

Dog Activities

2016 Iditarod Standings: 09 March @ 3:40 pm Eastern

Leave a comment

Limited North American Championship Sled Dog RacesDallas Seavey has taken over the lead, while his father Mitch has fallen out of the top five, lagging at Takotna checkpoint while the leaders have progressed through Ophir. Four mushers (Gatt, DeNure, Steves, and Koenig) have scratched. The five mushers at the top of the standings are:
1 Dallas Seavey
Bib 16 OUT OF Ophir
AT 03-09 02:21

2 Noah Burmeister
Bib 39 OUT OF Ophir
AT 03-09 05:52

3 John Baker
Bib 66 OUT OF Ophir
AT 03-09 06:02

4 Robert Sorlie
Bib 37 OUT OF Ophir
AT 03-09 08:24

5 Jeff King
Bib 61 OUT OF Ophir
AT 03-09 08:50

Dog Activities

How do you start a sled race when there’s no snow?

Leave a comment

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player KTUU is reporting that seven rail cars full of snow had to be brought into Anchorage from Fairbanks for the ceremonial start of the Iditarod this year. (Global warming: myth or reality??) Continue reading How do you start a sled race when there’s no snow? →

Dog Activities

Iditarod 2016 Ceremonial Start

Leave a comment

Dog SleddingI wish I had known this earlier, I would have given you advance warning. For the first time, the Iditarod ceremonial start is being live-streamed FOR FREE at Iditarod.com. Take a few minutes and check out these powerful working dogs and their handlers. The last racer is scheduled to take off at 1:04 pm Alaskan time, which is 5:04 pm in the East.

The actual timed race will begin on Sunday at 2 pm Alaksan time (6 pm Eastern). I’ll be bringing you the standings every day until it’s over – usually about 10 days.

One of the problems for planners this year has been the lack of snow, leaving a very icy trail. We’ll have to see how that impacts the race as it progresses. This being an even year, they are taking the Northern Route, which one would assume would mean more snow.

The live stream broadcast is really a good idea, I think. For all of the haters who think the dogs are being forced or whipped to do something they don’t want to do, this shows that the dogs CANNOT WAIT to get started. There are, in fact, people holding them back until it’s their turn to go.

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!

Dog Activities

Ramping Up for the 2016 Iditarod

2 Comments

Iditarod raffleAlthough the 2016 Iditarod doesn’t start until March 5th, organizers are already getting ramped up. According to their Facebook page, more than 70 competitors are already registered from places as distant as Norway, and they are looking for volunteers to help out with the race. You can get all the details at the official website.

They are also running a raffle (details pictured here) to help pay for the race. Only 4,000 tickets will be sold, each priced at $100. Four lucky winners will each receive a Dodge truck, while 16 more winners will each receive $1,000.

The Iditarod is one of my favorite dog-related annual events. I, of course, love seeing the beautiful dogs in action, but I’m also interested because I cannot imagine why anyone would want to put themselves through the incredible challenge, battling solitude, weather, and distance.

Some day, I want to go to the race and observe or even volunteer, but I’ll be home wrapped up in a blanket watching it this year.

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!