Eye on the Trail: March 17th Late in Nome

The finish line was busy during the final hours of March 17th.  Becca Moore, Alan Eischens and Bob Bundtzen arrived just in time to say they spent St. Patrick’s Day in Nome, Safety and White Mountain.  Becca, Alan and Bob were all greeted by joyous friends, fans and family to celebrate their completion of Iditarod XLIV.

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AL Eischens into the chute in Nome with 16 dogs

Becca Moore is an adventure seeking mother of two.  She completed her second run to Nome in 52nd place with a time of 11 days, 7 hours and 32 minutes.  Her rookie Iditarod run was in 2015 when the race started in Fairbanks.  She shaved more than a day off that run and has established a new personal best.  Becca and her husband, Ramey Smith have had a team in the Iditarod since 2005.  Ramey ran from 2005 to 2014 with Becca taking over the sled in 2015.

Becca is a Yukon Quest Veteran with a desire for adventure.  She enjoys kayaking, backpacking, back country skiing as well as telemarking, snowboarding and  racing bikes.  Her degree in resource management has taken her to remote locations in Alaska while working for the forest service and NOAA.  She has been looking forward to sharing  the Iditarod trail with her amazing dog team.  

One of her personal interests is promoting healthy activities for children.  She will be volunteering with outdoor activity groups for kids, sharing her experiences with young people at the children’s hospitals and mentoring kids to pursue sports and healthy choices.  Becca was happy to be in Nome to see her family and friends.  She came in with a broad smile and an awesome looking team of nine dogs.

The chute was clear for only a couple of minutes before Alan Eischens made the burled arch.  Al’s run to Nome took 11 days, 7 hours and 39 minutes.  He was the 53rd musher to cross the finish line.  Asked if he’d experienced anything special during the race, Al responded that it had always been a dream of his to finish the race with 16 dogs.  With expert dog care he accomplished that.  He came down Front Street with the longest string of dogs to finish Iditarod XLIV.  He was proud of the accomplishment, and rightly so.  That’s a lot of paws to boot, lots of shoulders to massage and a lot of bowls to fill.   It all equals a lot of bending over and time on your knees.  Congrats Al, that’s a fantastic accomplishment.  

Al was greeted by his Iditarider, Remedy, here in Nome.  Al runs for the awareness of pediatric disease and pediatric cancer.  Alaska Airlines secured Al’s Iditarider sled and donated the seat to Remedy.  She rode the distance of the ceremonial start seated with her mother in Al’s sled. Friends and Nome businesses came together covering expenses to bring Remedy and her mother to Nome for Iditarod week.  It’s a dream come true for Remedy and a story that speaks to goodness and generosity.  Al says when he’s having a rough day on the trail, he thinks of Remedy and what she’s overcome.  It quickly reminds him that his challenges are very small.

Rounding out the after supper trio of mushers was Bob Bundtzen.  He claimed 54th place with a time of 11 days, 8 hours and 10 minutes.  Bob, Dr. Bundtzen, has a consultative infectious disease practice in Anchorage.  He became friends with Jim Lanier and it was Jim that lead him to the Iditarod Trail.  Growing up in Anderson, Alaska, Bundtzen used a small team of dogs while trapping.  With encouragement from Lanier, Bundtzen has participated in the Knik 200, Klondike 300,  Tustumena 200 and the copper Basin 300.  He’s finished Iditarod 14 times.  He says he continues to run dogs and do the race because he loves it.

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Bob Bundtzen signs off the trail in Nome

Buntdtzen’s first Iditarod was in 1995.  He finished in 40th position with a time of 13 days, 9 hours and 55 minutes.  His 2016 time was nearly two days faster.  Asked if there was anything memorable about the trail, he said the gravel and sand in the snowless areas of the trail but other than that, things were just fine.  Over his Iditarod career, Bundtzen’s best time was recorded in 2006 – 10 days, 15 hours and 25 minutes.  His best finish was in 1997 – 27th place.