People, Places, or Dogs
When the lead dogs of the race champion are draped in yellow roses, the celebration of success concludes. Roughly 700 mushers, volunteers, fans, friends and sponsors gathered at the Nome Community Recreation Center to laud and applaud the accomplishments of the finishers of an Iditarod that will be remembered for a very long time. It’ll …
Throughout the race when there has been enough bandwidth to support a SKYPE call, I’ve talked with several schools back home in Wisconsin. The students at one school had created a list of numbers, similarities and patterns. Aliy has captured second place in three consecutive Iditarod races. The time difference this year was 2:22. Dallas …
Monica Zappa, Lisbet Norris and Marcelle Fressinea, all rookies, have arrived in Nome. The last musher to make the burled arch is asked to extinguish the Widow’s Lamp, an act that signifies all mushers are off the trial. The newly fallen snow slowed the trio of final mushers. Compared to the icy trail the coaches …
There’s so much for your senses in Nome, eyes and ears especially. I’ve taken lots of notes and as the race wraps up, I want to share some of the flavor of Iditarod along the trail and in the Community of Nome. Here goes… Last year in Unalakleet, I noticed this little stuffed critter hanging …
Welcome to Nome was the announcement/proclamation heard on Front Street this morning at 0220. The incoming Iditarod finisher was Tommy Jordbrudal. The rookie finished in 44th place with an average speed of 3.22 miles per hour. Tommy didn’t have his first mushing experience in his home land of Norway but rather in Juneau, Alaska. That …
Jamaican born Newton Marshal came down Front Street this afternoon and was greeted by a large enthusiastic crowd. To make his arrival in Nome even more festive, several of his favorite tunes were broadcast over the public address system. Since beginning his career in mushing almost ten years ago, Newton has finished the Yukon Quest …
It was very dark at 0500 when folks started to trickle to the chute to welcome Anna Berington into Nome. As the people gathered, the snow fell as it had for about twelve hours. In Nome the winds were calm but they might not have been coming over Topkok or out on the Safety Flats. …
Two more teams completed Iditarod 42 during the dinner hour on Thursday. That brings the total to 38 teams that have run the course. This group of mushers tells a different story about the coast. Shaktoolik is the first word out of their mouths when asked if there was a particularly difficult part of the …
The number of mushers in Nome has reached 36 as of late Thursday afternoon. Folks in the convention center, also known as the Mini, are chatting with mushers, collecting autographs and waiting for Richard Beneville’s Robert Service reading including “The Cremation of Sam McGee.” It’s an annual happening that is much anticipated and well attended. …
The first musher to reach Nome on the 13th of March was Rick Casillo. On his fifth trip to Nome, he claimed 26th place. Casillo grew up in New York then came to Alaska as a fly fishing guide. Watching the Iditarod sparked his interest in sled dogs. Casillo and his wife Jennifer operate Battle …
