While talking to the Insiders in Kaltag , Bailey Vitello said, “In five days we’ll be in Nome. I plan to do one run at a time, stay positive, have a good time and enjoy the adventure.” But speaking of Nome, what about the burled arch?
Last year after the race, the arch was transported to resting place out in front of St. Joe’s old church and then a few weeks later it collapsed to the ground in a heap of decayed wood. That was the version II of the arch christened back in 1999. Not a bad run for a piece of timber that’s exposed to the elements and sea air year round.
Wanting to keep the burled arch experience for the mushers and spectators intact and not resort to kool-aid for the finish line as they did the first race, Iditarod commissioned Iditarod veteran and log home builder Ramey Smyth to create version III of the burled arch.
Just prior to the race, Greg Heister visited Ramey Smyth at his Willow shop. Smyth shared some details about the new burled arch. The Sitka Spruce came from the Exit Glacier area near Seward, technically very near to the beginning of the Iditarod National Historic Trail. Sitka spruce is exceptionally strong for its weight. It was a long process that began last May to get the permits and harvest the tree. The finished arch cross piece is rumored to weigh 5,000 pounds. Northern Air Cargo flew it to Nome. The finished product will be amazing and very special considering the Smyth family history with Iditarod.
Back to the trail and Nulato. Rookie musher Jenney Roddewig told Insider that the decision to 24 at Nulato was made for her. The drop bags for McGrath, her original choice on the southern route were swapped to Nulato. It worked out well. The trail from Galean to Nulato was fast and hard. When Roddewig and team arrived in Nulato, they could have kept going and that’s the best time to stop. Jenny shared her 24 hour routine. First she gets the dogs on straw, takes their booties and harnesses off then feeds a big meal. Next she tends to each dog with a massage. She happened to be working on a tricep during the interview. She’ll feed again after 8 hours but just prior to that she’ll exercise every dog. After their second meal, she’ll go back through the team and continue working on sore muscles. Then the dogs get another big sleep followed by a final meal before leaving.
Jenny who currently lives in Fairbanks is one of seven 2025 mushers who hold veteran status in the Jr. Iditarod. The other Jr. Iditarod veterans are Bailey Vitello, Calvin Daugherty, Jason Mackey, Ryan Redington, Travis Beals and scratched musher Charmayne Morrison.
Riley Dyche did his 24 hour rest in Galena. When he left, he was carrying a couple of thermos bottles Ryan Redington had left behind. Riley told Insider that everyone helps everyone out when on the trail. Carrying a couple of empty thermoses to the next checkpoint is no big deal. Sooner or later everyone needs help when on the trail so it’s just good karma to help when you can because you’ll need help sooner or later.
Emily Ford talked about her Iditarod experience while resting in Kaltag – south. She said I’ve dreamed about being on the trail with these great mushers and here I am. I’m mostly running alone so it’s like a big camping trip with veterinarians readily available. Speaking of camping trips, Emily has skied across the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Minnesota and has also done a winter through hike on Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail. She’s well acquainted with winter camping.
While in Kaltag, Gabe Dunham, Anna Berington and Michelle Phillips all commented on how mind bending it is to be going south from Kaltag down the Yukon rather than running west to Old Woman Cabin and out to the coast. The three women said their top priority for the loop to Shageluk and back will be to ride the break and keep the speed down so that when they come back to Kaltag they’ll have gas in the tank for the run to the coast and final 400 miles to Nome. Gabe said, “I want to keep them strong so that when I get back to Kaltag we can be at our best to finish strong.”
Final thoughts from Insiders Heister and Lee as they prepare to depart Kaltag for Grayling and Eagle Island. They likened the Kaltag – Shakeluk loop to running a Copper Basin or Kusko 300 plus a few more miles.
Running hundreds of miles on the river makes this race seem really long. Bruce Lee said that a traditional route, either north of south is broken into eco-systems and cultural. From Willow to Rainey Pass its lodges and the Skwentna post office with a gradual gain in elevation. Once teams climb over the Alaska Range and descend into the Interior that’s another eco-system and they visit Athabaskan villages. Then they make the Yukon which is another unique eco-system. They depart the Yukon and reach the coast with Inupiaq heritage and its own weather and challenges. Seems like everyone will be thrilled to return to a traditional route in the future.
Bruce Lee talked to Paige Drobny in Eagle Island where she reported that the trail from Kaltag to Eagle Island was easily one of the ten WORST trails she’s ever been on. Now we anticipate the first musher arriving in Grayling where the GCI Dorothy G. Page Halfway Award awaits.
