Archive
On an unexpected stop in Galena, I was able to talk with a couple of mushers who were preparing to take the trail toward Nulato. It was a picture perfect morning for the mushers and dogs – sunny, light winds and temperatures slightly below zero. The dogs were smiling! Katherine Keith was preparing to leave …
Sebastian has mentioned a couple of terms common to mushing, ski-poling and a fan hitch. A musher holds a ski pole and rhythmically swings the arms up and down, pushing against the snow with the pole tip to give the team a little assist with forward motion. Sebastian has nicknamed Aliy “Spiderwoman” because she’s using …
Norris = Mushing = Siberians. Lisbet Norris has been around Siberians all her life and not long ago she announced she was interested in running the Last Great Race, Iditarod. Grandparents Earl and Natalie Norris established Alaskan Kennel long ago and today it’s the oldest Siberian kennel in the world. Norris, a third generation musher …
It’s clear, frosty and minus 18 degrees in McGrath. The final mushers, six of them, departed the checkpoint in the wee hours of the morning. Monica Zappa hitched up her team of dogs that were definitely ready to be on the trail and departed McGrath around 03:00 this morning. At that hour, she had plenty …
Scott talks about the trail, his crash, injuries and rescue with Iditarod Live.
Trail conditions and number of scratches. Of course, with being on the trail, I have been asked about my opinion on this subject. I have seen the trail first hand, bumped my snowmachine across it. Let me start off before the race. I, like some of the mushers, sure had reservations about the trail. But …
Cindy Abbott was at the dropped dog lot adjacent to the airport waiting with her dogs for transportation out of McGrath to Anchorage. I was pleased to catch up with her to hear her impressions of her run. Abbott attempted Iditarod in 2013 but injured herself at about mile twenty. Thinking it was a groin …
Swiss born Marcelle Fressineau has worked as an adventure outfitter. After learning about Iditarod, Marcelle moved to Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory because it was a good place for dog mushing. She’s been living a life of adventure with dogs ever since. Before attempting the marathon races she’s run mid-distance races in Canada and Alaska. …
John Dixon earned his rookie belt buckle in Iditarod 2000. Fourteen years later he’s decided the time was right for him, for his family and for his dogs to run to Nome again. Dixon, born in Texas always dreamed of living in Alaska. Attending the University of Alaska – Fairbanks, Dixon realized his dream. With …
Monica Zappa is taking her 24-hour layover in McGrath. The space and hospitality of the checkpoint make that wise choice. Zappa who’s been around mushing all her life says that some parts of the gorge made her fearful, “My mouth was dry and I needed a drink of water. When we’d get wedged by a …
