Mikhail Telpin and his Chukchi dogs spent a little extra time under the burled arch this morning.  Telpin said that he’d heard from Quest mushers that Iditarod was easier.  After signing in and completing Iditarod 41, Telpin is a veteran of both races.  Mikhail said that Iditarod was equally as tough if not tougher than …

A windy morning in Nome had an international flavor. Brazilian Luan Ramos Marques crossed the finish line at eight minutes after eight. Russian Mikhail Telpin lead his team under the burled arch just a few minutes before 10:30. Both the Brazilian and Russian flags had been flying over the burled arch earlier in the week …

IDITAROD XLI ADVISORY   DATE:           March 16, 2013   TO:                 Race Officials Race Veterinarians Media Volunteers   FROM:           Mark Nordman, Race Marshal   The gross necropsy on Dorado, a five year old male from the team of Paige Drobny, has been completed.  The procedure was conducted by a board certified veterinary pathologist.  …

Shortly after 23:00, a faint glow appeared far in the distance and then it disappeared – ditto, ditto, ditto. Several minutes later, the faint glow expanded to a recognizable light bobbing up and down, right and left. Light snow fell, no stars, some wind with moderate Nome temperatures. Some minutes later the light turned into …

Spectators in Nome have two choices for premier Iditarod watching. The obvious is along the chute on Front Street in front of the Nugget Inn. The other requires a bit of a hike toward the east end of town to where the mushers come off the Bering Sea and follow the ramp onto Front Street. …

7PM Anchorage—The Inside Story of the Dropped Dog         I’m on my way home and took the afternoon flight from Nome to Anchorage.  Before catching another flight I stopped by the  Millenium Hotel which serves as the Iditarod headquarterters for logistics, communication, and a processing center for outgoing veterinarians, officials, volunteers, AND …

Musher arrival in Nome for Thursday capped off with the Beringtons and Jodi Bailey. Iditarod volunteers enjoyed a thanksgiving dinner at the bunk house/dinning room and then headed to the burled arch to welcome and give thanks for three more mushers safely into Nome. Again, when asked about the trail, the three women spoke of …

Here a few more shots of yesterday afternoons finishes. More tight races with Travis Beals edging out Justin Savidis. Matt Giblin brought a nice puppy team to the finish line for the Kennel of Mitch Seavey.  Today I flew back to Anchorage, nice weather almost all along. Not much sea ice between NOme and Shak. …

IDITAROD XLI ADVISORY   DATE:           March 15, 2013   TO:                 Race Officials                        Race Veterinarians                        Media                        Volunteers   FROM:           Mark Nordman, Race Marshal   A five-year old male named Dorado from the team of Fairbanks musher Paige Drobny (bib#14) died early this morning in Unalakleet from an incident caused by …

Travis Beals was anxious to get to Nome. Every Iditarod musher looks forward to Nome but Beals, but the youngest musher on the trail, had a special reason. He left Safety at 13:46 behind Matt Giblin, Karin Hendrickson and Justin Savidis. He put the pedal to the metal, shifted into high gear and sped the …